I need some help on buying bulbs from Home Depot!

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Casper2000

Casper2000

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 19, 2008
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New York City
So the bulb on my 72 bowfront finally blew out yesterday and I need to get a new one. Can you guys recommend me a good bulb from Home Depot? I've always bought my lighting from an LFS so this time I'm thinking of using a HD one since I've seen a lot of other members here using them. Do these bulbs screw in the exact same into my hood as the regular LFS brand bulbs do? Or am I gonna have to buy a whole new holder/hood for the bulb as well? Tank is 4' long by the way. Thanks in advance!
 
If you have plants, you'll need to get a special bulb for plants (Home Depot does not sell these kind). Also, what type of bulb is it? Fluorescent, Compact, T5, etc... Does it have 2 pins on each side or 4 pins on one side, etc... Look to see what the rating is, its located near the ends of the tube.

If you don't have plants and its just a regular fluorescent, you should be able to find a replacement from Home Depot/Lowes. You just need the wattage and length.
 
My local Lowes sells bulbs in color temperatures from about 2,500k - 6,500k, which is more than enough range to grow plants. The LFS bulbs are nothing special unless you need higher K ratings for Saltwater. FW planted tanks would do fine with a 4,500k and 6,500k bulb.

I just got a T8 48" Light fixture and 2 48" 32watt T8 6,500k bulbs last night for $20 out the door at Lowes. ($13 for the Fixture and $7 for the pack of 2 bulbs)
 
It's a freshwater set up, no plants. Just a bunch of datnoids and bumblebee cats. I just pulled the bulb and its a Coralife F40 T12 BP. 20,000k (lol a bit high but it came with the tank) and has 2 pins. Thanks guys! Appreciate the fast responses.

Polish - did you have to get the light fixture or would that bulb fit normally in any tank hood?
 
It would fit any T8 hood. I needed a new one though.

You can find T12 bulbs at Home Depot, but nothing close to 20,000k. That is pretty much purple. 6,500k is just white, I would go with that. Once you get lower the light will have some yellow to it like standard light bulbs.
 
check out th garden centers too. they got bulbs made specifically to grow plants in their hardwarree sections.

home depot has them too in their light bulb dept.
 
Lowes also sells a special "aquarium" bulb in the regular light bulb aisle
 
polish;4032611; said:
It would fit any T8 hood. I needed a new one though.

You can find T12 bulbs at Home Depot, but nothing close to 20,000k. That is pretty much purple. 6,500k is just white, I would go with that. Once you get lower the light will have some yellow to it like standard light bulbs.
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Ahh I see I see. Ya the 20,000k looked sky blue when the lights were on, it made the arowana I use to have in there look real nice though haha. I'll pick up the 6,500k and see how that looks. Thanks again

fwiffo;4032620; said:
check out th garden centers too. they got bulbs made specifically to grow plants in their hardwarree sections.

home depot has them too in their light bulb dept.
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I'm not keeping any plants right now but I'll keep that in mind when I set up a planted tank for my mini monsters, thanks!
 
Casper2000;4032630; said:
Ahh I see I see. Ya the 20,000k looked sky blue when the lights were on, it made the arowana I use to have in there look real nice though haha. I'll pick up the 6,500k and see how that looks. Thanks again


I'm not keeping any plants right now but I'll keep that in mind when I set up a planted tank for my mini monsters, thanks!
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my bad! i thought you were askign for plant bulbs! either way though, the BORG (aka, home depot) cheaper than the lfs' prices on bulbs!
 
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