Light setup, need help

[BreellaBlue87]

Hey, I've got a 35.5x14.5x19.5 TruVu acrylic tank, it came with a really nice stand too, my problem though is that I'm unsure how to go about lighting the tank. Should I buy a flourescent strip from Petsmart or just do what I did with my reptile tank and go with home depot?

I'm worried since it will be so close to water. I have never really worried about tank lighting before but now I'd really like to have some live plants in it.

So, any ideas?

[beviking]

I personally would go with the local hardware store. A two light 36" fixture should work. Gut it, build a nice hood to match your stand and put the guts from the light in it. Better/cheaper yet, check craigslist or local swap-n-shop paper for lights. I know everyone worries about lights over water (I did too) but I have tanks without glass tops with lights bolted right into the wood canopy. Of course they are plugged into a GFI and I'd recommend that for any tank.

[Joetee]

If this is going to be a planted tank, I would order my lights from http://www.aquabotanicstore.com/ which I did and I am real happy with them.
Same as AH Supply but a little cheaper.
Joetee

[BreellaBlue87]

I personally would go with the local hardware store. A two light 36" fixture should work. Gut it, build a nice hood to match your stand and put the guts from the light in it. Better/cheaper yet, check craigslist or local swap-n-shop paper for lights. I know everyone worries about lights over water (I did too) but I have tanks without glass tops with lights bolted right into the wood canopy. Of course they are plugged into a GFI and I'd recommend that for any tank.

It does have a nice hood, abut three inches tall, matches the wooden stand.

*ponders* Well the tank is still empty, and I have some time before I'll have the money to really start anything.