Amanda

Ok, here's the deal - lighting confuses me. My 55 gal. has two standard 24'' hoods. They each have (1) 15 watt bulb. I want to get morem wattage so that I can have a planted tank. Is there any bulb that I can replace these with that is better? Or do I have to replace the entire hood? That seems a bit expensive. Dr. Foster & Smith have a lot of choices for flourescent bulbs - but the 24" are all 17 - 20 watts. Which isn't enough for a planted tank.

Christian Patti

Well you can buy a higher wattage bulb but if you put it in that fixture your only going to get what that fixture is rated for. You really need to buy 2 higher wattage bulbs and 2 higher powered ballasts. Ballasts are what supply the light with power. If you are not technically inclined and feel uncomfortable wiring 2 new ballasts in to your hood light fixtures than I suggest buying a premade fixture/hood unit with the power you need.

DIY lighting will cut costs in half however.. did for me

Amanda

Well, I hate all kinds of technology - DIY lighting fixtures included. I'm not technology inclined. And as a college student - I can't afford whole new lighting fixtures. I can't find any bulbs with high wattage. The largest I can find is 20 watts.

Cody

zoo meds have bulbs made for planted tanks

PetSmart

Power compacts will blow your mind....and your bank.

Amanda

College student college student college student

au01st

Amanda, I also have a 55 gallon. Mine didn't come with lights, just glass hoods. I picked up a 48" shop light for $25 and some lights for $6. It's 64watts total between the two bulbs. They also had lights there that would hold 4 bulbs, so that would bump up to 128watts. I just hung it from my ceiling and it looks great (still have to get pics). All in all, about $35 worth of stuff for something that, IMO, looks professional.

clinton1621

Basically 'tank lights' (unless you get compact flourescent or metal halide)only cost more because they are sold for tanks... shop lights are much cheaper and have the same effect if you get the correct wattage and spectrum of bulb... make sure you get the proper spectrum bulb though as some shop light bulbs are obviously for lighting shops and not growing plants lol.

cpk

Hi your ballast in your hood is only probably rated to provide for that lamp.you cannot get a higher wattage lamp as the higher the wattage is relative to length.you could however if you have room put another ballast in and expand your lighting that way using the same wattage tubes and ballasts and you can duplicate what already exsists,I am an electrician so if you have more questions I am happy to help where i can

mitch

i have 55 gal and going thru the same thing. No you can't get bigger bulbs for your 24" hoods. It's time to buy, to start you will need glass tops. if you go with 48' single you'll get about 40w, if you get 2 bulb it will double, but still be lite on watts. I've read u need
1.5 watts per gal. the why i see it you my have to go with the big dollar one. i dont know what i'm going to do , still looking

mitch

Butterfly

The double bulb shop lights are the way to go(and cheap). Mine are white and look very nice. Then you can choose the flourescent bulbs you want, can even choose a plant bulb if you want it
Carol

cpk

Hi just some more info,my tank at 200 l has three tubes at 39 watts each and they are t5 type,i run two during the day one redder spectrum and one more white great plant growth good illumination,in the other i run a actinic blue primarily designed for marine use but I like the effect for a few hours at night and get to observe some interesting behaviour

Amanda

Wow, thanks for all the info! I'm going to look into shop lights next time I'm out. Can I go to Lowes or Home Depot? Or do I need to go to a specialized hardware store?

Butterfly

Bought ours at Walmarts(4ft fixture with bulbs) $12 and some change. I didn't like the bulbs in it so bought a pack of 2- daylight bulbs for $6.99. so for $20 got light and bulbs. The gro lights are a little more expensive but my plants do great under these.
Carol

Amanda

Great to know, thanks!

au01st

Yup, got my nice shop light setup at Home Depot for $22. Got some 6700k bulbs for $6, and got a chain setup at Target for $4 total (2 chains, 2 hooks). Looks professional IMO and the fish look great in it.