right now my tanks only lighting is two lamps

bluemeate

bluemeate

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Sep 9, 2008
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im trying to setup lighting sutiable for growing a reasonably bushy tank that just looks nice, i dont want a lot of rare or fancy plants, just some hardy low light requiring ones that i can make my tank look nice with. but my goal is to make this for as cheap as possible, maybe if someone can suggest where i found bargan or used hoods, and if i can get the right kind of lightbulbs for cheap at home depot or something. its a avg shaped 55gal with no lighting fixtures
 
You can get a 4' shoplight and put the appropriate bulbs in. I think you can get them in 2 x 40w, which would bring you to just over 1 WPG for your tank. In this lighting, you can grow a decent variety of low light plants.
 
okay i got a 2ft hood from some starter tank that has a bulb rated at 15W. do i need a hood that can handle a lets say 50W bulb or something, or can a cheap hood run a higher wattage bulb just fine?

can you find 2ft shop lights at home depot? hoe much you all figure itll cost?
 
the ballast on that hood will not fit that high of a bulb.

yeah you can find them at home depot or lowes.
 
WeedCali said:
the ballast on that hood will not fit that high of a bulb.
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so your say i CAN or CANT go and put like a 60w 2ft bulb inside that hood i have?

also where in norcal are you? near san jose?
 
4' shoplight=$30-40
a 2ft light won't be enough and no you can't put a 60w bulb in a 15w slot. well, you could if it fits but that doesn't make it work better.
 
4' ~ 40 watts
2' ~ 20 watts maybe 15
that's for t-8 other bulbs are different. so, no you're not going to find a 2' 60 watt t-8 bulb.

your cheapest, easiest most available and reliable solution without blasting t5 in there will be the 4' shop lights. about perfect lighting for an easy low light 55 too with 2 bulbs. :thumbsup:
 
dundadundun said:
your cheapest, easiest most available and reliable solution without blasting t5 in there will be the 4' shop lights. about perfect lighting for an easy low light 55 too with 2 bulbs. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
uhhh how much you figure that will cost?

from what ive read, t5 = expensive
 
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