My new super cheap Lighting setup...

At home depot they have some shop light fixtures that are 9 dollars a piece, they can take 2 T12 bulbs up to 40 watts. that means for 18 dollars you can have a perfect fitting 4' fixture that puts out 80 watts of light.

then If you want to really grow plants or something, you can fit 2 fixtures on a 55 gallon or maybe even 3 on an 80 gallon.

anyway. Its just about the cheapest thing ever and they work great. The fixtures are made by Lithuania lighting co.

Cool. I've been using regular shop lights for years. But the ones you found look like a better deal. I also use GE Sunshine bulbs ( 5000k ) or GE Daylight bulbs ( 6700k ) Sylvania also makes similiar bulbs with the same kelvin rating. The lights and bulbs are way cheaper than ones sold especially for aquariums. I'm all about keeping the cost of my hobby as low as possible. I'm not a skin flint, but a $20 deal beats $80 to $100 or more for a strip light and aquarium bulbs. Especially if you have 17 tanks to light.

yea, for sure. I use daylight bulbs as well. they have the highest lumen to wattage ratio that I have found. the expensive aquarium bulbs just don't seem worth the expense. I have been growing plants with great success on 80 watts of light, now the bottom tank has 160.

the really cool thing is that a 48" t12 or t8 can't fall into a 55 because of the way it fits. so a little peace of mind there...

I also "cheap out" and use rocks and drift wood from local rivers. No worries, because there is no industrial waste in the rivers up here. I get my sand and gravel locally as well. Gotta save the cash for the gas station!!

Do yourself a huge favor and silicone the heck out of the fixture. You WILL get the end caps wet. You WILL fry ballasts if moisture gets in the housing. Be sure you visually inspect the unit often.

well done... good lighting systems can be in any price range!

Yea, thats a good idea about the silicone for sure. I'll prolly do that tonight.

I just cant understand how anyone could make a light fixture for 9 dollars... thats the same price as the freakin light bulbs... lol

my old planted tank had that same setup. it worked nicely and it was hidden under a canpoy.

yea, If i wanted to get really fancy I could make a little canopy. that way the entire house isn't lit up like july 4th

yes good canopy can be built fairly cheap... if you good with tools...

Some rumors about t12. Gonna quit making them soon. Not
'green' enuff i guess..check it out. Ask Al Gore..:)

link to site below....

http://nuwnotes1.nu.com/apps/clm/eventcalendar.nsf/557f17d999896b5c85256a850067f85f/6feae9ce87dcb7968525770a0074d8ea/$FILE/Lighting%20phaseout%20optimized.pdf

till you get in to par... shop lights are good for low light plants, but not all light fixtures, reflectors, and bulbs are the same.. you will notices that those bulbs will fade and go yellow in a few months.... , the type of bulbs how far away they are from each other, and what type of reflectors play a very inportant part along with par.. c02 also plays a inportant part too. you can grow dwarf baby tears in 2wpg of t5 ho lighting with c02 in a 75 gallon and carpet the front in 3-4 months... higher lighter means you will need more c02, and more ferts...

lighting has got really confusing now.. t2,t4,t5,t,6,t8,t12 no,ho,vho, etc.... this article will help.

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html

hey thanks for that article, your right lighting has gotten really confusing