Cheap, effective 4' Tank Lighting

[enchanted]

Well, I picked up all these tanks, as many of you know. I have 6 tanks and they are flat breaking the bank.

I really wanted Power Compact Lighting, but at $200+ I could not realistically afford it right now. That is a per tank to get 220W+.

I have had a lot of people telling me my major problem here is lighting so today I made a trip to Home Depot. I would guess you could get the same items, equivalent pricing, in other countrys also.

I purchased:

2 - 2x40W Shop Lights by Commercial Electric - $7.99 These are great because all the components (ballast, etc...) screw in and the snap in light fixtures have screw holes also. This means you can build a hood at anytime and install them directly into the hood.

1 - 2 Pack Phillips Daylight Deluxe 6500K Bulbs - $6.57 I already had two bulbs so I only needed one.

1 - 6 Outlet Strip w/ on/off switch. This allows easier control of the on/off (don't need the chain), more length to the cord (five feet isn't enough if the tank is on a stand), and the ability to easily put multiple lights on a timer.

That was it. My total cost today was $27.01 and if I had needed the other two bulbs would have cost only $6.57+ tax more.

Here is how it looks:

 

[lizard]

Oooh, thanks for the information! I need to come up with some sort of lighting system for my 29-gallon (and for my mom's 55) that's more permanent and has more watts than what I have now. I shall have to check out the local Menard's, Home Depot, or the like! I'd never thought of using the shop lights....

Thanks! Now I'm all excited!

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[enchanted]

If you buy these from home depot, pull the ballast and the light fixtures out, you could mount them in a hood for your 29. You might need new light fixtures though to fit the right size bulb. These were cheaper than any of the ballasts I say. Cheapest ballast was $13.00 and would run the bulbs.