Seriously, there are shop lights that are made very similar to aquarium lights that cost a lot less. I mean the reflectors can be a little different, but why does that change an $18 shop light into a $90 2 bulb aquarium light. Sorry just been checking out the lights if I was going to buy a light specifically made for aquarium use and they look like such a ripoff!!
why are aquarium lights so expensive!!
- Thread starter Yoemen
- Start date
I agree with Ulan. Lots of folks on this forum just buy flourescent light fixtures and bulbs from Home Depot or even Walmart. I'd be wary that those might short from moisture, though. If you're interested in special high-output lighting for plants, watch out! Those run in the hundreds of dollars 
what about these
http://www.catfishlighting.com/06lights.html
anyone know anything about these guys??
http://www.catfishlighting.com/06lights.html
anyone know anything about these guys??
Well, I can't specifically answer your question as to why they are so expensive, although I have an idea. If anyone is interested in my idea as to why there is a price difference... its because of presentation and profit margin. Seriously there is probably as close to 0 difference as possible between an Aquarium light and a regular fixture from Home depot. Well, unless you believe a molded plastic housing with a nice fancy switch is worth the extra $70. 
In retail it worksthat way. When we buy from Motorola we have a packaging choice that can swing the cost of the same product as much as 10%... for packaging. :rant2:
Currently my plan is to build my own setup using 3 - 36" Power Compact Fluorescent lights. A friends dad works for a rather large Electrical supply company and I am getting the Ballasts and sockets to make this project happen for a whopping $17. Lights should cost me about $30 from aquariumguys.com, and I'll have 90 watts of lighting, with the correct K ratings and what not, to support my live plant setup with about 1.8 watts per gallon.
In retail it worksthat way. When we buy from Motorola we have a packaging choice that can swing the cost of the same product as much as 10%... for packaging. :rant2: Currently my plan is to build my own setup using 3 - 36" Power Compact Fluorescent lights. A friends dad works for a rather large Electrical supply company and I am getting the Ballasts and sockets to make this project happen for a whopping $17. Lights should cost me about $30 from aquariumguys.com, and I'll have 90 watts of lighting, with the correct K ratings and what not, to support my live plant setup with about 1.8 watts per gallon.
You'd be hard pressed to find (small )high output fixtures at home depot.
A generic DYI fixture is great if you are on a budget and have 48" of tank to span.
However, if you want to span a smaller tank, with high WPG, and do so in a manner that is attractive/less unattractive, then the custom made high output lights are the answer while providing a wide choice of bulbs tailored for growing plants, etc.
I agree though that they are over-priced.
A generic DYI fixture is great if you are on a budget and have 48" of tank to span.
However, if you want to span a smaller tank, with high WPG, and do so in a manner that is attractive/less unattractive, then the custom made high output lights are the answer while providing a wide choice of bulbs tailored for growing plants, etc.
I agree though that they are over-priced.
Not really.coupedefleur said:
It's a matter of economics; economies of scale and profit margin.
Home Depot, Lowes, Wally World, etc. sell many lights. Economies of scale bring production costs down. These lights are marketed for a variety of applications. Since they sell more units and have a smaller unit cost, they can price lower.
Aquarium lights, on the other hand, are manufactured for a very small market, aquarium owners. Thus, there are little economies of sale. Think about how many people own aquariums. Of those, how many upgrade their lighting systems? Not many. Since they sell few with larger unit cost, they get a higher price.
For ease of example, let's say you want to make $100 at the end of the day.
Cheap light cost $2 to make and sell 10 per day. If they sell for $12, they make their $100.
Aquarium light cost $4 to make and only sell 1 per day. They would have to price each light at $104 to make the same money. The profit per item is notable higher. This is normal for servicing a niche market.
To be honest its purely a profit thing. I mean it's not like those flourescent strips made for aquariums are water tight or even water resistant. I've never even seen a made for an aquarium flourescent strip light that uses a water resistant end cap. Also they even state that they are not to be used over open water so the difference between a flourescent light strip made for an aquarium or for shop use seems to come down to aesthetics. Well, I forget that most shops lights use magnetic ballasts vs electronic for aquarium lights, but a standard electronic ballast doesn't justify a $80 price difference.
I ran into the same issues when I was looking for 4 foot lights for my 50g and ended up making a 8" tall hood instead. Used a kitchen light fixure in it and spent about $90 all together. It could have been much cheaper, but I went with nicer wood and I have a 48" piano hinge on it rather than normal hinges. Also since it sits over open water I wanted a kitchen light fixture that included a plastic cover. Still looks much nicer than a $90 2 strip aquarium light.
I ran into the same issues when I was looking for 4 foot lights for my 50g and ended up making a 8" tall hood instead. Used a kitchen light fixure in it and spent about $90 all together. It could have been much cheaper, but I went with nicer wood and I have a 48" piano hinge on it rather than normal hinges. Also since it sits over open water I wanted a kitchen light fixture that included a plastic cover. Still looks much nicer than a $90 2 strip aquarium light.