Are any of these bulbs fish safe?

[terd ferguson]

Please excuse my ignorance, but I know nothing about fish tank lighting. On my other tank, the bulbs came with it from petsmart. I just got a used 55 long with a shop light type light setup that takes 48" bulbs. Will any of these work or will they boil my fish? lol

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=132655-3-24406&lpage=none

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=63884-3-25146&lpage=none

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=148051-371-40257&lpage=none

These are so much cheaper than the ones at the LFS (if they'l work for me that is). Thanks again for this great forum.

 

[Red Devil]

Please excuse my ignorance, but I know nothing about fish tank lighting. On my other tank, the bulbs came with it from petsmart. I just got a used 55 long with a shop light type light setup that takes 48" bulbs. Will any of these work or will they boil my fish? lol

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=132655-3-24406&lpage=none

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=63884-3-25146&lpage=none

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=148051-371-40257&lpage=none

These are so much cheaper than the ones at the LFS (if they'l work for me that is). Thanks again for this great forum.

The bulbs for fish tanks are flourescents but thinner then the fluourescent lights you would use for work shop light.. and you must have the protection from the water etc with a regular fish tank light fixture.. anything else would not be safe.. but no you would not boil your fish with flourescent lights of any size..Do these bulbs you mention fit into the fish tank lighting fixture that goes with the tank? if they do then it should be fine.

 

[ShadowBass]

A lot of aquarium strips take T12 bulbs, just like in those shop lights. Most of my normal aquarium strips don't have any protection from the water, they are open on the bottom, most cheap strips are, so I'm not sure the shop lights are anymore dangerous as long as you have a hood on your tank and don't splash water or all over it or drop it in the tank.

There's nothing wrong with running shop lights on your tanks, they just don't look as good. I had them on my 125g native tank for a long time, they were just really ugly.

 

[CichlidsGoneWild]

It should be ok for your fish but I advised making a cover to shield the light from the water. Fish do get crazy and jump toward the light sometimes. You can buy acrylic sheet from Home Depot for $9 a piece and break it to the way you want it. If you want I can show you a picture of my custom acrylic tank cover.

 

[hayden]

i am doing the acrylic thing soon show me a picture please.

 

[terd ferguson]

The bulbs for fish tanks are flourescents but thinner then the fluourescent lights you would use for work shop light.. and you must have the protection from the water etc with a regular fish tank light fixture.. anything else would not be safe.. but no you would not boil your fish with flourescent lights of any size..Do these bulbs you mention fit into the fish tank lighting fixture that goes with the tank? if they do then it should be fine.

I'm not sure what you mean by protection, but the tank has a full glass hood if that's what you mean.

 

[Red Devil]

I'm not sure what you mean by protection, but the tank has a full glass hood if that's what you mean.

yes that is what i mean.. as long as there is protection between light and water it will be fine.

 

[terd ferguson]

yes that is what i mean.. as long as there is protection between light and water it will be fine.

Thanks very much. Between bulbs and a hood, you probably saved me $100.

 

[Red Devil]

Thanks very much. Between bulbs and a hood, you probably saved me $100.

Great!!