lighting

[Bode]

Can you take a flourecent lighting fixture, the ones you can buy at Menards for garage use, and use aquarium bulbs in them instead?

 

[bob965]

Yes, as long as you get the correct type of lamps for the fixture. Or, you can just buy the lamps at the hardware store too. Fluorescent lamps with a color temperature of 6700K or above are adequate for aquarium use.

 

[phatallen]

thats exactly what i did with my tank. as you mentioned, use aquarium bulbs ie. take your light fitting with you and try the bulbs in the fitting before you buy

 

[Liquidplants]

yes, but be aware that the moisture above the tank will eventually corrode a regular fixture. in my opinion its worth it to replace it with another cheap fixture than spending a fortune on a sealed plastic fixture.
~LiquiD~

 

[dr_sudz]

if your using lids moisture shouldn't be an issue. The bulbs are a standard, so as long as your able to find say for example a 48" fixture would take a bulb of 46" and you would be looking for a pin setting known as t8 those are common bulbs and sizes.