55g owners using shop light for planted tank

[FastFly67]

what bulbs are you using? the fixture i'm looking at is 4 bulbs. how do you have it mounted over your tank? i'm going to be moving things around the my current light is staying on my 29g
help!

 

[Fishy_Fun]

You could just hang them by chains over the tank.As for bulbs, i just used what they came with probably 6700K or so.You can buy different ones from a hardware store but i didn't mind the yellow tone it put out

 

[sed03f]

we have an old entertainment center that my hubby attached the fixture to the top of it with screws. We also have a fixture hanging from the ceiling with chains. Its attached to a 2x4 in the rafters.

 

[Bansart]

Im using a shop light also. i modified it to have 5 bulbs. I use a 6700k daylight bulb and a T12 bulb designed for aquatic plants.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147471&page=7

Heres a link to my setup. i have mines mounted above the aquarium via two chains.
warning about some shop lights: The opening on the body of the shop light where you attach the chain sometimes could bend then the chain will come loose and it will fall on top of your aquarium (could lead to a disaster). I usually bend those in a bit more.

 

[excuzzzeme]

I use a shoplight as well and for lamps I use the GE Aquarium lamps (T12). Since the tank is not planted due to occupants, this works out well enough. It sure won't win any beauty prize as it is inside the canopy, out of sight but functional. Later on during the summer I will build a better box to mount it in.

 

[bluekrissyspike]

most hardware stores sell daylight bulbs. i buy a two pack for $7.99. i just found a new one that is ge daylight + and it's supposed to have better colour but i haven't tried it yet

 

[omarboy79]

I made my stand whit 2" extra on sides and made a canopy,it stands in the extra 2"; I have 2 lamps, 2 bulbs each, because was cheaper than buy the 4 bulb lamp, also u can set diferent timers, I got 2 dayligths and 2 gro-lux. The lamps were on sale for 10 and the 4 bulbs for 22, so I paid around 30 for my set up. and 10 for the 2 timers.

 

[jake gillespie]

u can get great results for little money check this out, bulb comparisons

 

[jamesstill84]

My shop lights didn't come with bulbs. I bought the plant lights they sell at wal-mart and the tanks are lit up quite nicely. Mine is only 2 lights though but they're as long as my 55gal.