Aquarium Flo Lights vs Household Flo Lights

[Flex26]

I want to grow plants in my 20H. I was looking in petsmart to find higher wattage bulbs for my current hood. However, the highest wattage I found was 20 watts. So, I am thinking of building a canopy that would house a light for higher wattage bulbs.

Are aquarium flourescent lights any different than normal household flourescent lights? What are the differences? It seems to me that they are not different.

The reason I ask is because I think it would be cheaper if I bought a light from Home Depot or something. I haven't been to a store yet to see what they have. They may not even have what I am looking for. I just thought I would ask this aquarium vs household lights question first.

 

[dahuang]

the lighting spectrum are different. flourescent we use has not much spectrum or we call mixed spectrum(with everything a little) but the flouescent use for aquarium are different, they have 4000k, 6000k 9000k 10000k the bigger the # is the more spectrum it will get , and stronger lights. like 4000k are more likely the sun rise or sun set light. yea don't go to home depot. go to hellolights.com or http://www.angelfire.com/ca7/petsupply/ they have good deal.