"Tynk" wrote in message
...

YOu should be able to get bulbs for approx 12-15 bucks
each.............

* I would need 8 of them so that's kind of out of the question unless I know
for sure they'd get rid of the algae.

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?

* They're shop lights that sit right on the tank's rim about 2" from the
water's surface.

2, 40watt bulbs ought to be plenty of light for a 55 gal
tank.............

* Not if you want to grow plants. All I got were spindly sickly plants and
diatoms with only 2, 40w bulbs.

..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.

* They're just the cheap white shop reflectors sold in all the Hope Depot
type stores for under $15. They sit side by side on the tank's rim.

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)

* These tanks didn't come with Aquarium strip lights. I've always just had
shop lights on them.

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........

* I don't have those regular tank strips for the 55s, they're just the 10s.
I use 2 40w CFs on the 10s and plants thrive.

..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.......

* These are just common shop lights that I put cool white and warm white
bulbs in. Before I spend "big bucks" on bulbs that may make no more
difference than the Flourish Excel made, I'll let the plants die and use
water lettuce and hornwart. Together they'll just shade and starve the algae
out but that is very dissapointing. Having live plants in my tanks is all
part of the "fishy" scene.

I did add another rubberlip pleco to that tank today. Massive water changes
and serious gravel vacuuming has made no difference either.
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
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