aaron

Whats the difference in "aquarium" fluorescent lighting and the fluorescent lighting that you can buy for $20 from a hardware store?

I was thinking about purchasing a glass top, and a 48" fluorescent fixture from lowes to set on top of the glass top. Would this work? I have a 55gallon and I am only looking for 80watts total which would be easy to get with the double strip fixtures.
Any input is appreciated.

Reid

There are a couple of things you have to take into consideration before you go out and buy lights from the hardware store.

This question is directed at your 55g in your aquarium info right? What kind of light do you need for the plants you have? Can you get by with only 80 watts?

Just search the forum for all of your answers, there is more than enough info on here to answer your question.

Here is a link from a different post on DIY lighting that I found helpful. Hope it gives you the info you need!

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...-w-lights.html

aaron

nice link.

Not really what I am trying to do. I was talking about just buying a fixture from lowes and setting it ontop of a glass top. My tank does not have a hood so all I would be doing is putting the glass top on and then leting the fixture sit ontop of it.
I dont know much about lighting so sorry if this is a crazy idea.

also
yes the information is directed toward my 55 gallon. umm for plants right now I just have anacharis, java fern, and soon to have java moss. I think 80watts should be plenty from what I read of these plants.

pepetj

I use the brightest white light I can find in standard compact fluorescents.

I've seen some compact T-2 around, just not the right wattage for me.

Since my tanks are all planted, I aim at 6,700K with the highes lux or lumens possible. Unfortunately some manufacturers provide less than minimal information. High end Ks lamps, say 18,000K or 20,000K might be needed for deep tanks (e.g. over 26" H).

A full spectrum bright white light might go from around 5,000K to 6,500K; a super bright white light (not available locally) might work better.

I am using cheap clip-base lamp assemblies to lit the rear end of some tanks. Those standard clip-base goose neck lamps have a fairly good reflector. My plants are grateful for that. I'm trying several CFs models (from 11W to 27W).

I purchased and still using until upgrading the lamp, several sealed garden lamp assemblies from a hardware store rated at 3,000 and 3,300K. This light is really yellowish looking but kept my Black Amazon Swords OK for months. I am installing those incandescent-socket ready, bilt-in ballast, 21 to 27W CFs in those units, so I'm only using the case (keeping the 13W transformer and 2 clip socket as spare parts) added a socket and tested for temperature problems: none so far, and these are lit 12 hours per day.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

aaron

how about something like this
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...E3-&lpage=none

or
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...349&lpage=none