Another lighting DYI From the start

[Patman]

Ok sense i'm kinda a cheap skate and i'm pretty handy with stuff i believe i can build my own light unit,,But i will need some help with a few points. Also if i can get enough useful info it might help others out.

I have an engineer friend at work that i can get to design a top for my 55g long tank using polished alclad aluminum as the reflector. I need his help so the angle will be right for the light to reflect down into the tank and a fan to keep it cool.

I plan on using the newer CF type bulbs that are replacements for standard bulbs as there cheap and easy to replace and the sockets are available at Home depot,Lows or most hardware stores.

The real questions most would have i think are what type CF bulbs and how many? This i'm unsure of. My thoughts are 4 or 5 of the daylight type 6500k
But again unsure

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
I'll post pics of the progress and the plans after i get them.
Pat

[cocoa_pleco]

if youre looking for cheap lighting, you can get 2x40w 48" fluorescent fixtures for about $15, and 6500k bulbs for $3 each

[Patman]

Thanks but i need a little more light then they provide as i plan on having plants and i was told in a different thread that 6700k is the best but 6500k is close enough i would think. Also i would need more watts per g then 4 40w bulbs can provide.
Pat

[gunk]

Well I have a 40 gallon tank and I'm using two 40 watt bulbs at 6500k in that cheap 48" shop light fixture, and my Swords and Moss are doing just fine.

It's a shame that I can't find bulbs with a color temp higher than 6500k that don't cost $15 a pop, but from what I've noticed so far, 6500k is okay. And the fixture itself is much cheaper than lighting designed for aquariums. I was looking at $60 for the light strip itself on my 40g, not including the $15 bulbs. The shop light fixture from Wal-Mart was like $12 and two bulbs were about $5.

If you can rig up a way to suspend 2 fixtures above your tank, you'd be getting about 3 watts per gallon for maybe $30.

[Patman]

The thing i dont like about the cheap shop light fixtures is this. They will shorten the bulb life. They are instant on. A little better one will have soft start that warms the element before going full power.
Anyway im sticking with the CF bulb style. They offer more light and are not that expensive. If one burns out all i got to do is take the one from the lamp to replace it,,But i need to remember to tell the wife the one in the lamp burned out;)
Right now i plan on using 4 60w bulbs. The plants should like that!
Pat

[Incredulous_Ed]

6500k will be fine. What size tank is this going on?

[Patman]

It just a standard 55G tank
Pat