Fish Room Lighting

[carpediem]

Hello All,

I'm in the process of setting up a fish room containing (among other things) 12 - 33 gallon tanks. I've built 4 shelving racks to hold the tanks and I've installed outlets on the ceiling for power. I'd like to mount the tank lighting for each tank on the shelf above it and plug all 12 of the lights into 2 switched receptacles allowing me to turn the tank lights on and off with a wall switch.

I bought a few GE 28" fluorescent fixtures but I'm not satisfied with the light output. I'd like to stick with single bulb lamps. Does anyone know what type of fixture to use? Because I want to utilize the switched receptacles, I need fixtures with plugs. Purchasing 48" tank light strips is just not economical. Any suggestions?

Thanks and best regards.

 

[tre8160]

Depending on how you have the tanks laid out you could use 4' shop light fixtures. The fixtures are cheap and ready to go. How longs the tank rack? Are you using glass canopies? You don't give much info about the way you have your stuff set up. It would be best to put all your lighting on two timers IMO.

 

[blitzen25bm]

you can try changing out the bulbs on your current fixtures.

 

[mostwanted]

I would make sure that there is nothing else on that circuit. 12 lorescent fixtures on 1 15amp cuircuit is sure to ripp the breaker.