DIy lighting for a 20long

[Incredulous_Ed]

So I want plants in my 20 long. But I dont want to pay for nice lights, because im a tightwad. What do you suggest?

The tank is 30 inches long (which make slfe difficult).

Is there any problems with using a 24 inch shop light? Besides the obvious, of course.

[cocoa_pleco]

if you could make a canopy, you could retrofit a couple of 65w PC fixtures

[MelonMan]

im in the same boat as you so ill jsut have to sit back and listen

[Drumachine09]

Make a canopy, and then you can rig up some CFL lights with 6500k. Four or so should be good, at 15-20 watts a peice. That might be overkill though.


That would require basic electircian skills though.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Make a canopy, and then you can rig up some CFL lights with 6500k. Four or so should be good, at 15-20 watts a peice. That might be overkill though.


That would require basic electircian skills though.
Dang. How much would something like that cost? Because I can get a T5 ficture for like 45$

[Dsoto87]

The bulbs in a 30" light are only 24" so its up to you if you want to usethe 24" one. you might get some dark edges and corners

[xoolooxunny]

If you want to use a shop light, make sure its specified as being ok to use in humid locations. When I was shopping for mine, I was having a hard time deciding until I saw that on the box.

[Tigerbarb]

You could go to a hardware store, and get one of those fluorescent lamps that you see on store ceilings in long columns. The lights for those are very cheap, but I am not sure what you would need if you were to build the reflector.
Another suggestion for lighting is to get a heat lamp (such as this one>> http://www.petsmart.com/graphics/product_images/pPETS-3757509t400.jpg )from the reptile section of a petstore, and hang it above your tank/set it on top of the canopy. I know you don't want a heat lamp, so you can replace the lamp's light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb, or just a bulb that doesn't produce alot of heat.
Also, I'd suggest getting a used picture frame and taking out the glass, so then you can cut it to fit and make a glass canopy. This is what I am going to do if I setup another tank.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Thanks everyone!