Lighting my new tank with shop lights.

Since I got a larger tank for my anubias plant. I was
wondering about the shop light. I looked on google and some
people use them, is that good enough? I plan on getting other
plants, even high light requiring ones.

I was at the hardware store earlier and the lights don't cost
too much, but I can't find the sunshine bulb that was
mentioned.

Thanks for the info.

Aaron wrote:
Since I got a larger tank for my anubias plant. I was
wondering about the shop light. I looked on google and some
people use them, is that good enough? I plan on getting other
plants, even high light requiring ones.

I was at the hardware store earlier and the lights don't cost
too much, but I can't find the sunshine bulb that was
mentioned.

Thanks for the info.

What size tank? What kind of shop lights? Do they have one or two
bulbs, how long are they, etc.....

60gallon, the tank is 4 feet long which is the size of shop
lights.

In article 1113513528.082561.122180
@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com, says...

Aaron wrote:
Since I got a larger tank for my anubias plant. I was
wondering about the shop light. I looked on google and some
people use them, is that good enough? I plan on getting other
plants, even high light requiring ones.

I was at the hardware store earlier and the lights don't cost
too much, but I can't find the sunshine bulb that was
mentioned.

Thanks for the info.

What size tank? What kind of shop lights? Do they have one or two
bulbs, how long are they, etc.....

Aaron wrote:
60gallon, the tank is 4 feet long which is the size of shop
lights.

In article 1113513528.082561.122180
@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com, says...

Aaron wrote:

Since I got a larger tank for my anubias plant. I was
wondering about the shop light. I looked on google and some
people use them, is that good enough? I plan on getting other
plants, even high light requiring ones.

I was at the hardware store earlier and the lights don't cost
too much, but I can't find the sunshine bulb that was
mentioned.

Thanks for the info.

What size tank? What kind of shop lights? Do they have one or two
bulbs, how long are they, etc.....


I lit a 55 with a mix of a shop light sitting on a glass canopy and
sunlight. It worked fine. I spray painted the shop light black with
Rustoleum to match the tank stand. If you want to grow high light
plants, you will need two lights for a 60 gallon, for a total of four
40W tubes.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

I grow java fern in my big tank with a shop light. 48", 2 bulbs, 1 bulb
25 watt, the other a 40 watter. Am trying some anubias and crypts as
well now. Later!

"Aaron" wrote in message
a.net...

Since I got a larger tank for my anubias plant. I was
wondering about the shop light. I looked on google and some
people use them, is that good enough? I plan on getting other
plants, even high light requiring ones.

I was at the hardware store earlier and the lights don't cost
too much, but I can't find the sunshine bulb that was
mentioned.

Thanks for the info.

I use 2 X 36W tubes (1 Plant Spectrum and 1 Philips Aquarelle) in a shop
light fitting on a 4ft tank.

The plants going gangbusters and growing like mad, so yes you can use those
types of fittings

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

Actually, shop lights come in 1,2,3,4 and 8 foot lengths. I suggest
you buy 2 or three double bulb shop lights. That should work out fine.

"Aaron" wrote in message
a.net...

Since I got a larger tank for my anubias plant. I was
wondering about the shop light. I looked on google and some
people use them, is that good enough? I plan on getting other
plants, even high light requiring ones.

I was at the hardware store earlier and the lights don't cost
too much, but I can't find the sunshine bulb that was
mentioned.

Thanks for the info.

I built the lights for both of my tanks.

Tank 1 is a 3' 55 gallon. I lit this with a kit from AH Supply. Very nice,
easy to build.

Tank 2 is a 4' 75 gallon. I lit this with 2x 2 light T8 shop lights. I ended
up stripping out the ballast and sockets and building them into my own hood.
I didn't really save much, as the T8 lights are not as cheap. Plus it was a
bit of a PITA to make my own reflector and attach the sockets. But I should
save on bulbs in the long run.

Aaron wrote:

60gallon, the tank is 4 feet long which is the size of shop
lights.

You'll need to know a couple things. First see what diameter (T12, T8,
etc) bulbs your shop light fixture uses. This should be in the
docmentation for the fixture or you can ask the store where you bought it.
Also see if it uses a magnetic or electronic ballast. This will determine
what kind of bulbs you can buy.

I want the cheap ones that people hang in the shop and buy the
standard size, I saw some for $15 that will fit 2 bulbs. I
don't know what T size that is. But I saw in the store a plant
bulb with pictures of plants that looks standard size.

Thanks for the info.

In article ,
lid says...
Aaron wrote:

60gallon, the tank is 4 feet long which is the size of shop
lights.

You'll need to know a couple things. First see what diameter (T12, T8,
etc) bulbs your shop light fixture uses. This should be in the
docmentation for the fixture or you can ask the store where you bought it.
Also see if it uses a magnetic or electronic ballast. This will determine
what kind of bulbs you can buy.