On Dec 21, 6:02*pm, "Reel McKoi" wrote:
"TSJ of course" wrote in ...
*By the way, unlike like lamps specialy made for aquariums, ordinary house lamps would not light up
the whole aquarium the same way.

====================
OK, the sites just sell bulbs. There's no explanation of what's best for FW
tanks or tanks with algae problems. *Now the problem with my buying bulbs to
help with the algae would be a hard sell to my husband since the Flourish
Excel fiasco. *I was assured over and over that algae turns white and falls
off when FE is used. Although I found that almost impossible to believe,
like a fool I bought the stuff. * I bought a lot of it, and it's totally
useless. *Then the same man from the plant group tried to get me to purchase
some other expensive crap from his friend who sells fertilizers. *I can
spend well over $100 on bulbs and still have the algae problem. *So you can
see why I hesitate to start buying expensive bulbs when the FE did nothing..
--

RM....
Zone 6. *Middle TN USA
~~~~ *}((((* *~~~ * }{{{{(ö

YOu should be able to get bulbs for approx 12-15 bucks
each.............and since your gonna have to start somewhere go with
the Coralife Nutri Grow Plant Lamps. NO guarantee though as I am not a
plant kind of person, so you may have to try another type of bulb if
that did not work. A few more things is really needed to help with
the picking of the bulbs though. DSo these lights thata you have set
on top of the aquarium frame or are they suspended over the tanks,
and how high are the bulbs from the water surface and tank substrate?
2, 40watt bulbs ought to be plenty of light for a 55 gal
tank..............I prefer the compact florescent fixtures myself,
over NO types of florescent tubes, but they will cost more initially
and for bulb replacements every 12 months or so........but they pack a
lot more watts into the same areas than NO types of florescents do.
Those places that sell bulbs all have discriptions of the bulbs and
what to use them for........Coralifes "aqualight" is super when it
comes to aquarium lighting, but it will set you back better than a C
note for a 55 gal tank...............Please explain how you have the
lights installed over the tanks.............and are you using a
polished metallic reflector or a plain white reflector.

YOU can call Hello lights or any of these other places and talk to
associates. Hello lights is especially knowledgeable..........AH
Supply makes a great compact florescent light assembly that can be
retrofit into the typical strip lights commonly found on a lot of
aquariums......(standard basic strip light as supplied by factory
which nornmally has tube florescent light bulb in it) YOU can pack
lots more wattage in that same area with a retro kit from AH
supply...........probably be easy to put 2 x 96 or 2 x 65 watt CF
lights in the typical strip light / hood with minimal renovating a
typical hood.........and then you could easily grow virtually
anything. I just put two 55 watt PC lights over a 29 gal tank in
original strip light (1 x 18 watt bulb standard) and its super
bright............and I have no doubt its bright enough to allow me to
plant more Helvola water lilys in that tank as well....and have them
bloom all year round.......