View Full Version : 48" light fixture
whyzee250
11-18-2009, 6:26 PM
the one on the 75g i just got is a one-bulb setup. I dont particularly care for it, but will it work? I'm sure it'll be okay for freshwater, but I might decided to try my hand at a marine tank.
Also, what mail order places do you guys usually order from? I used to go the THATFISHPLACE.com but there might be some with better prices.
bigwave
11-18-2009, 7:08 PM
The single bulb is probably okay for any fish only tank. For a planted or reef tank you will need more light.
AH supply sells a nice DIY kit, but I haven't ordered from them for several years. Dr Fosters and Smith seems nice, and they ship for cheap.
I am sure others have suggestions too, but these are my 2 cents.
CWO4GUNNER
11-18-2009, 7:12 PM
I get all my light fixtures at the hardware store or Walsmart. Some member on this forum suspended a 48" dual bulb metal garage light fixture on chain or cable. Actually looked pretty good and cost about $20.
whyzee250
11-18-2009, 7:50 PM
thanks CWO4GUNNER and BIGWAVE....any and all ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated
I get all my light fixtures at the hardware store or Walsmart. Some member on this forum suspended a 48" dual bulb metal garage light fixture on chain or cable. Actually looked pretty good and cost about $20.
ditto. I have cheap ($8) dual 4' tube shoplites over several tanks. cheap & works well. Or...you can also find nicer diamond plate 'shoplite' style lights for a a bit more $$
If you have glass tops and can hang a light above, I suggest that for cheap lighting
bgcoop8784
11-18-2009, 8:42 PM
I use the 2 bulb 48" shop light fixtures from lowes, cost around $17 and i paint them black. I even mount these under my canopy's i build for my tanks, easier to just buy a new fixture than to replace parts.
rainbowcharmer
11-18-2009, 9:22 PM
The 75 gallon that I picked up also came with a single strip fixture, which was definitely not sufficient. The plants I had in there were dying off because the wattage was just not enough - and we were unable to find any decent bulbs to fit the fixture that would work well for even a low-light setup like ours.
Ended up getting a shop light fixture at Lowes - a lot like this one here: http://www.lightingdirect.com/light-concepts-1245-shop-light-contoured-reflector/p397905?source=ntg_397905
It holds 2, 32 watt bulbs (we got daylight bulbs at 6700k each), and the difference between that old fixture and this one is phenomenal. The plants are growing back, and the tank looks 300% better. The light fixture sits over the glass top of the tank - the bulbs do not touch the tank - they're a good inch or so away from it, just like they were in the original fixture. We still have the 48" strip that came with it, but not sure what we'll do with it at the moment. Probably storage for now.
I'm still unsure how the guy prior to me used that single bulb to keep his SW tank going. I believe it was a FOWLR setup, but even so, I would have thought it would need more light than what that fixture provided...
In the living room, where this tank is, there is no way to hang the shop light since the ceiling is 15' high, so it has to sit on the tank (unless we can come up with something else). Not sure what your situation is, but hanging a fixture like this may work for you.