55g lighting question

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Steph_D

Large Fish
#1
Feb 27, 2006
123
0
0
Noel, MO, extreme SW corner of the state
#1
I asked this on another board, but I thought I'd post it here too. I'm looking for helpful suggestions, please.

Ok, I have no electrical experience and don't know the technical terms. That said, please bear with me while I try to explain this

I absolutely can not afford the AH Supply 2x55 watt bright kit and I can't justify spending $100 on lighting for a fish tank to my hubby (would be over $100 after bulbs and shipping). Would it be possible to mount the "innards" from a 2x40 watt shop light inside my current hood (gutted out, of course, asking a retired electrician friend for help) and possibly use the AH reflectors? Am I just day dreaming here? I know that still wouldn't give me 2 wpg, but that's the best that I can afford right now. Or would I be better off just hanging the shop light from the ceiling and using it straight out of the box? Hubby says I can get the shop light, and I already have the bulbs, so that's not a problem. He's looking at the cost of a shop light ($10 at most) vs. the cost of the AH Supply kit, which is way out of my price range with the bulbs.

I know that the AH Supply kit would be better overall, but I'm sure that the shop light would be better than my stock lighting, right?

Any help is appreciated!
 

NoDeltaH2O

NoDeltaH2O

Superstar Fish
#2
Feb 17, 2005
1,873
0
0
52
SC
#2
ODNO!

Over-Drive Normal Output. I do this, and it is the CHEAPEST way to get LOTS of light for little money. The idea is really simple. Just put short lights in ballasts (innards) designed for longer bulbs. I would go with 2 of the 4-ft shop lights. Then use four 24-inch bulbs instead of four 48-inch bulbs. You'll get WAY more light out of them.

Shop Light at Home Depot: $8
Four 24-inch bulbs: $20
120 watts of light for $28: PRICELESS*thumbsup2
 

S

Steph_D

Large Fish
#4
Feb 27, 2006
123
0
0
Noel, MO, extreme SW corner of the state
#4
NoDeltaH2O said:
Here is the link to a good ODNO thread:

http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11829

This is also linked to in my signature below.

Make sure you buy the $8 shop light that has ELECTRONIC ballasts. magnetic will NOT work for this
Click to expand...
Thank you for the suggestion! If I get brave enough, I might have to try that. I'm definately bookmarking that thread.
 

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