Light Fixtures

[Pulcher]

I have never setup a planted aquarium before and i am slowly learning that there is a lot more work than expected. I went to my LFS and they had a 48" light fixture for my 55 gallon aquarium that would be sufficient for the plants i want to grow.

My question is, I just have a regular 48" light fixture that can hold 2 tube lights and is the same thing as the one at the LFS. The one at the LFS costs 130$ and the one i have came from home depot and was a lot cheaper.

Could i just use the one i already have and put different tubes in it?

 

[FLESHY]

A lot of people are just using shoplights these days on planted tanks, and they work fine.

Do some more research into what you are specifically buying though before you make any decisions.

 

[WyldFya]

As long as the bulbs are the same diameter, K rating, and wattage, the only difference may be a reflector, and aesthetics.

 

[Pulcher]

I just looked at the ones at home depot and all of them you would of have to hang on the ceiling.

I was thinking of this one (http://store.seacorals.net/cuusa48noext2.htmlhttp://store.seacorals.net/deblsoho2do4.html) but would i have to change the lights out?

 

[jcardona1]

I just looked at the ones at home depot and all of them you would of have to hang on the ceiling.

I was thinking of this one (http://store.seacorals.net/cuusa48noext2.htmlhttp://store.seacorals.net/deblsoho2do4.html) but would i have to change the lights out?

That's T5HO, totally different animal than a standard T8/T12 fixture. If you're not using co2, do not use a T5HO fixture.

A shope fixture doesn't have to be hung from the ceiling, you could set it on the tank. They're a little ugly, but they are the cheapest option. You could always put aluminum foil inside the housing to increase the light output, but the white metal usually does a good job.