paswed

I have been told you can take shop lights and put saltwater bulbs in them and use them for fish tank lights does anyone know if this is so

MagpieTear

My only concern would be the quality of the reflector... how much light would you loose? A shop light is meant to spread the light across a huge area, where you're wanting to focus the light in a 18" or so area.

paswed

can you tell me where do I find the ballest to set up the lights in the canpoy

Tio

home depot sell balast and the ends for the bulbs seperately but it may be cheaper to buy a shop light and strip it down.yoyu could also get the shop light and try spray painting the reflector with silver paint and a couple pieces of wood along the length of the light also painted silver to direct the light straight down.

SereneReyn

use caution if spray painting... highly flammable and such.

Butterfly

I have a 2 bulb shop light hanging over my 55g and seems to be doing fine
Carol

Tio

or use sheet steel like stainless steel polished up

≈ D ≈

Chief_waterchanger

The fumes can harm the fish also.

But we use shoplights in the fishhouse. The metallic dome type things with a light bulb and the graspy thing you squeeze to open... (The dome reminds me of the hoods they put on dogs sometimes, just wider.)

It works great and looks like they are giving you good advice. Just one warning!

DO NOT let water splash up onto the light. I had a pleco splash water at the light when I was trying to catch it and glass went everywhere.

Drea

D` I bet you were so happy! you found a reason to use the new barf smilie!

Tavel

I use shop lights for my hydroponic kit. Mylar works great for optimizing the reflectors, far better and cheaper than any other option. Get yourself some spray adhesive and duct tape too. (spray adhesive on the reflector, apply the mylar, and tape the edges. E-Z)

I got mine from this place, I think it's some dude in his living room...but it's cheaper than wrapping paper from hallmark!

http://www.mylarstoreonline.com/25ft.html

You can use it for all kinds of things too, it's fun stuff.

addicted2fish

hi this mylar stuff looks cool, i just finished my 45 /55 canopy and i have put in shop lights, this works well, i used 2 fixtures, and 4 bulbs i bought the plant bulbs , so i now have 160 watts on a 45 planted tank, I have just filled it today with eco complete and water and a few rocks, i will post pics soon !! i also have 2 other 55 that are awsome !!! glad I found this new forum !! i want to know if anyone has some of this mylar silver mirror stuff they could sell me and ship to me for cheaper . i do not need 25 feet !!! and you probally didnt ethier, just wondering ? if anyone hAs some my zip is 29505 so you could figure out shipping . please let me know if anyone has some of this they could sell to me I only need about 6in, at 4ft long. I dont have a saltwater tank, but thought this would intenisfy my lightuing for my plants .. let me know, thanxs !!~~~~~~~ starla

sirdarksol

I was actually thinking something similar. They make the compact fluorescent bulbs that screw into a standard outlet. You can get track lighting for really cheap, and I was thinking of mounting the track to the wall over the tank. This way, I can adjust the bulbs to highlight different parts of the tank, and provide a high wattage at relatively low cost (and it would be more attractive than the shop lights)