Shop lights for a planted tank?

laurenrocksth

laurenrocksth

AC Members
Jun 24, 2008
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Milford, NH
I will be setting up a 55g planted tank in the very near future. I have read here that you can use shop lights from home depot for lighting. The fixture that I found is 48 inches long and has a metal skirt (for lack of a better word) around the top of it. It will hold 2 48" T8 bulbs. If I bought this fixture along with plant growth bulbs, would it be ok? Would I have to make any modifications to it? At a total of $40 including the replacement bulbs, it's about $75 cheaper than the fixture I was planning on buying. Also, what would be my best option for T8 bulbs?
 
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No modifications if it has a metal reflector. That's kind of what I wil use in my 55 galon tank also. What K temperature are the bulbs? On the actul light itself t one en, it will have lot of nubers and letters copy the lettes and numbers and post them here. They should be 32-40 watts each.
 
I don't have the fixture or the bulbs yet. I wanted to make sure that it would work first. I will be buying the bulbs online. I'm thinking about life2glo bulbs just because they say that they simulate noon light. Or maybe one of those and another of something else. They are 6700K.
 
You can buy those same lights, a 6700K 4' T8, from Lowe's for like $7 for 2 pack. As long as it is the same K temp and wattage, it will be the same light. And you don't have to pay shipping. ;)

EDIT: I just checked google, and yeah, it is the same light at any hardware store.
 
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Wow. I can't believe that I almost paid like $125 for a light when i could've paid about $30. Goes to show what a little research will do.
 
How would it be more efficient?
 
more light per watt. plus the reflectors suck on shop lights. they are made to light a big area not focus the light in a small area. i had tanks with t8 set up and put 33% less watts in cf and got better looking plants and growth. if you can afford it go with t5 ho or cf set up its well worth it.
 
I got a light at my local store that has a good reflector on it and uses T-8 bulbs for $20 plus the bulbs. It even has a curved end cap on the light fixture so the curved ends actually sit on the rim of the tank and basically all the light goes into the tank. It was designed to be hung from a chain but I am finding I have enough clearance that I can set it right above the cover glass.
 
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