Cheap Lighting

[Weather Loach]

Would it be ok if I used 2 of these

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...splay?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.