Light fixtures

[guppymonkey]

Can I just go get a cheaper flourescent light fixture from a hardware store that uses the same wattage as aquarium lighting? The plant gro lights should work the same in any fixture that is the correct size and wattage shouldn't they? Or does it really matter that much to have the reflector and all of that?

 

[endparenthesis]

I've given up on hoods. I say go for it. A reflector is very helpful... but if you're using 3 times as much light (which you could find a way to do with hardware store lights, whereas with hoods you're usually stuck with one fixture) you're still in better shape. I put reflective tape on a shop light I'm using. Who knows if it helps but it was a lot cheaper and provides a lot more wattage than any hood I could have bought.