Shop Lighting in Fish Tank?

GT3050

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Apr 14, 2003
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I am setting up a new 75 gallon tank soon and was wondering if I can use standard fluorescent tubes which are used for shop lighting, or if I have to buy the expensive fish light sold at my LFS. I asked someone at the LFS about it and they said that stardard fluorescent tubes with cause algae to grow in the tank. Is this true? The reason that i am asking is that I can get normal fluorescent stips, like the ones for lighting rooms, for about 5% of the price of the fish lights. Thanks a bunch!
 
Sure can, I use a 2x40 watt strip light over my 55. You can seperatly buy aquarium bulbs if you wish, but there are a few bulbs sold at home depot that would work fine that are only a couple bucks.
 
What kind of bulbs do you use from home depot?
 
See if you can find either the Philips Daylight Delux or GE Chroma50 bulbs.
 
Philips also makes Philips "Natural Color" bulb...very similar to the GE chroma50...it has a 5000k color temp as well, and a CRI of 92. I use both the "Natural Color" and the "Daylight Deluxe" on my 55 planted tank.
 
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