Lighting question

[Urnesha]

Hey guys,

I'm hoping for some help with a lighting question I have. There are 4 aquariums in my office and three of them (2 10-gallon and 1 20-gallon) have the regular hood and light with the fluorescent 4,200K 15W bulbs. The smallest tank however (6-gallons) has a mini compact fluorescent bulb and the plants in that tank are doing MUCH better than the other tanks. I want to change the bulbs in the three bigger tanks but the hoods themselves are made for the long fluorescent style bulbs and have nothing to screw the mini compacts into as the long bulbs just slide into the slots and don't screw in. Help?

[Bk718]

I was going to suggest pulling a diy on the light strips (2 light sockets + 2 screwin cf bulbs giving tops 28watts per tank) but they are at your office so not sure you will be able to do that.

[Urnesha]

I'm a grad student so I share my office with 2 other students. The tanks belong to the three of us though I take care of all of them so I can do whatever I want with them. :) So you're suggesting that I remove the entire light sock for the old, long bulbs, replace it with new sockets and cf bulbs?

[Bk718]

I'm a grad student so I share my office with 2 other students. The tanks belong to the three of us though I take care of all of them so I can do whatever I want with them. :) So you're suggesting that I remove the entire light sock for the old, long bulbs, replace it with new sockets and cf bulbs?

well you got a few options
1- a whole new fixture for each tank
2- shoplight stretching above all tanks (thats if they are together)
3- Ahsupply kit
4- diy with either single light sockets or double (this is with screwin bulbs not the long pc bulbs)

pick one and ill try my best to help you

[Urnesha]

Hmm.. well the whole new fixture for each tank will be too expensive for me right now and the tanks are not all together so the shoplight stretching won't work.

Gah. Just checked the prices of the AH Supply kits. Seems like this is a project that will have to wait a while. Thanks for the advice though! I'll bother you again when I have the necessary dinero. :)

[Bk718]

Hmm.. well the whole new fixture for each tank will be too expensive for me right now and the tanks are not all together so the shoplight stretching won't work.

Gah. Just checked the prices of the AH Supply kits. Seems like this is a project that will have to wait a while. Thanks for the advice though! I'll bother you again when I have the necessary dinero. :)


the diy with screw in compact fluorescent bulbs would cost you $30 tops to fix up all of the lights