Not for aquarium use?

Flying_Diamond

Flying_Diamond

RAWR
Dec 20, 2006
780
0
0
Michigan
i found these light fixtures at petsmart pretty cheap and would like to use them on my aquariums, because they'd be a lot cheaper than buying legit aquarium lights with the wattage i want, but on petsmart's website it says that they aren't for use over aquariums. i'd like to know why this is though because there doesn't seem to be any reason not to use them on aquariums unless it's the fact that they promote buying the special reptiles lights that fish probably wouldn't benefit from with it or because it doesn't have anything to go between the aquarium and the light, but wouldn't a plexi-glass/acrylic hood fix that?

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752557&ab=hp_ln_reptile
 
it appears to not have any sort of plastic which would prevent water from entering/splashing into the fixture and shorting it out. it probably also doesnt have a good enough UL to be considered 'safe to put on top of an aquarium'

get a glass lid, put it on top of your tank, make sure you dont get water on/in it
 
I think it's the lack of a splash guard too, but yes, a glass top should fix that.

Aqueon themselves also make incandescent fixtures up to 30", and would be a easier fit if you're using their glass tops as well, but they only use 1-2 bulbs.
 
wont the glass tops be problematic? gas exchange and cutting the lights efficiency? Im not sure about the gas exchange part in fresh but I know in saltwater thats a problem as I just tossed out the tops to my 210g
 
that's exactly what i thought the problem was, thank you.

and i plan on making my own hinged plexi-glass or acrylic tops, so i won't be using aqueon, but i'll check that out anyway, thanks.

55fresh said:
wont the glass tops be problematic? gas exchange and cutting the lights efficiency? Im not sure about the gas exchange part in fresh but I know in saltwater thats a problem as I just tossed out the tops to my 210g
Click to expand...

i believe generally you're supposed to have something dividing the light on freshwater tanks from the water, something to do with algae maybe? but i plan on putting some vents in the tops anyway when i make them, and hinged lids, so i think it should be okay.
 
If it wasn't for the fact that I got most of my fixtures and some extras with my craiglist aquarium buys, I would use the cheapest plastic desk-reading office fixtures I can find. I have two of these $12 mountable 24" fixtures onto the inside top of my 120 canopy which comes complete with fixture, defuser (more protection then an aqua fixture no defuser) and 24" bulb all for $12 at Walmart. I used them for 5 years in terrariums with iguanas spitting on them and never once had a problem. Believe me the reason they don't want you to use them is because it would affect "aquarium fixture sales".
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I use a 4' t5 shoplight from HD, sits right on top of my 55 perfectly. I have the clear plastic bulb protectors on it too, just for added safety.

Don't listen to the MAN, it'll work.
 
thanks. haha, i think i'm gonna try it.
 
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