Floodlight?

[rml2314]

Hi, can I use floodlights in stead of flueressent lights in my fishtank?

 

[tony-da-tiger]

yes, but if they use incandescent bulbs they will not be sufficient for live plants. some flood lights use flourecent bulbs though.

 

[AndyL]

Halogen flood lights also wont work. Metal Halide flood lights will work .

Andy

 

[tony-da-tiger]

halogen also generates a lot of heat. and ive never seen metal halide flood lights but i would imagine they would be very expensive if you could find them.

 

[rml2314]

Thanx for all your replies.

 

[AndyL]

Metal halide is right in the same range as PC/CF - They can be a bit expensive, but almost all lighting is.

Andy

 

[tony-da-tiger]

if you have a 4' or larger tank you can get good lighting for cheap though. most hardware stores have 48" dual bulb flourecent fixtures for around 7$, they are the kind you would see hanging from the roof. then just dissassemble them and mount the fixture and ballasts too your hood and buy some 6500k range bulbs from the hardware store, i got 2 for 9$. i mounted 2 of those fixtures in my hood equalling 4 bulbs. so i got

2x fixtures = 14$
2x bulb packs = 16$

each bulb is 40watts so i got a 160watt flourecent light setup for....30$

 

[AndyL]

My 55 currently has the same setup, notice how maintenance isn't the easiest thing in the world?

I'm looking at upgrading to MH for my 55. Using 3 of the newer 70w HQI's They'll fit nicely into a 6"x48" light fixture which will be mostly reflectors and ballast/cooling fans.

More expensive - yes, but easier maintenance (good when you have to do water changes twice a day)