Cheap Lighting

[Weather Loach]

Would it be ok if I used 2 of these

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Fluorescent-Lighting/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zare3/R-100148706/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

which would be only 40$ for 160 watts for a planted 75 instead of the 450$ lighting fixtures on Drs foster and smith

[odinthejd]

They actully would mostly likely work really well. Make a holder out of wood or plastic or something it would look great!

[petluvr]

If your tank is covered then I would think that would be ok. If it is open water, as mine are, the ballasts tend to burn up rather quickly.

[odinthejd]

Yeah gotta make sure you have a glass top.

[Weather Loach]

No mine has a cover, it has weather loaches which tend to fly so I would never leave the cover off. ;)

[odinthejd]

You got a lot of loaches I saw your signiature. Would you have the lights just hang abouve the tank or make a holder and put on the tank?

[Weather Loach]

Not sure yet, probably a holder because the tank is far from the ceiling.

[odinthejd]

You could hang wire or a thick rope with attachments to the ceiling to the tank.

[JimL]

I opted for the T5 version of that setup. I fit 2 strips in a rain gutter caped off the ends and set it on top of the tank. Looks like it was made to be that way. HO T5 bulbs can be had at 54 wats per bulb.

[peanutbowl]

Ditto. I went with the 22" version with coralife T5 HO's. The whole thing fit right into my standard All Glass hood. Worked great. I plan on doing this some more in the future. I'd say the only thing missing is good reflectors. But there has to be a way.

[odinthejd]

peanut you could just wrap some tin foil in the inse of the light and that would work great. I wouldn't expect that it would be moving much. Just tape it down!

[peanutbowl]

that's what i did. it worked good, but i thing reflectors would direct the light better. there was a good bit of light that spilled out the sides of the tank. still had good growth though. better than the original single T12, that's for sure.

[Mgamer20o0]

Would it be ok if I used 2 of these

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Fluorescent-Lighting/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zare3/R-100148706/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

which would be only 40$ for 160 watts for a planted 75 instead of the 450$ lighting fixtures on Drs foster and smith
with t8 and t12 you pump a lot off watts for little amount of light. if you really looking into plants you dont need a $450 fixture these will work. http://www.fishneedit.com/t5ho-ligh.html

more light per watt plus efficient reflectors.

[odinthejd]

Those look nice and good prices!

[Mgamer20o0]

not the best out there but are good for the price. those will get more light into the tank and take up less space then 2 of the shop light fixtures.


People that use shop lights over tanks. Sure they are better than a standard strip light but they still suck. I once had a 55 gallon tank with 160 watts of shop lights over it. And it sure did look bright. But I had problems with a lot of my plants. I switched to a single 2x55 watt kit from AH Supply and actually got more usable light into the tank. Sure the shop lights gave better coverage in the tank and into the surrounding room but the AH Supply kit basically blows the light straight down into the tank where it belongs.
http://www.rexgrigg.com/light.html

[cichlidcichlid]

I think I would be intersted in something like this because I do need another fixture.

Do the bulbs have to come from them though?

The prices are very reasonable but the 8 dollar shipping charge everytime you would go and buy replacement would add up.

Or would the best thing be ordering in bulk so that you have a few years supply?

Also what is the little box on the end of the cord?

Did they take the electronic balast out of the fixture and used a power supply inline with the cord?

This would work great because you would have most of the heat source removed from the fiture and separate which would deffinitely make thigs alot cooler.

[rocker92]

when i got my 72 gal tank, we went on to ebay and got a broken aquaeon fixture, this model came with 2 bulbs and a broken ballast, it had a verry good reflector, and even had a third hole cut for a third bulb, my dad and i went out and bought a 3 tube ballast, some wire, some clips and hooked it up, works like a charm and the whole thing cost less than $50, for a triple tube T8, that aint bad!


good luck!

[Trigger1985]

Wow... wish I knew about that brand before.. After buying the lights, power cable, wood, screws and stain I spent 40 bucks on basic hood that doesn't look anywhere near as good as those fish need it ones... and I still have to buy bulbs

I do have a AH supply 55 watt kit on my x-mas list for my 25 gallon, hoping with wither some minor alterations, or I'll be able to fit it in my Eclipse 2 hood, other wise the hood is getting chopping, hell I may just lose it completely and switch to a HOB while I'm at it, haha.

[cichlidcichlid]

Lol, I just like the fact that the bulbs aren't expensive like compact florecents.

By the way anyone know where to get those cheap?

[peanutbowl]

Check ebay for compacts. I bought one for $13 plus shipping. A 65 watt. If i had bought 3 or 4, they would have been less than $10 a piece.

[cichlidcichlid]

How well are they built though?

I like the fact that these fixture have cheaper bulbs! With 2 of them it is 16 vs. having 32-40 for pc.

[peanutbowl]

The power compact I got off of ebay was much better built than the one that came with my AH Supply kit. In fact, the 55 watt that came with the kit was broken when i took it out of the box. Grrrr.
Don't get me wrong though. T5's are probably the better choice in the long run.

[Mgamer20o0]

you are right. my ahsupply lights are great but right t5 ho is better. they run cooler tend to give more even light spreed.