Why Pay Top Dollar For "aquarium" Lighting

[iroc]

I was wonder why it is that ppl pay $200.00+ for a 4' light from the fish store when you can buy a work light and some aquarium lightbulbs from a home depot type store for like $30.00. I have one of these types of set ups and my plants are doing wonderful. Anyway if anyone knows please let me know



Pics of my set up below

 

[confusion]

being one who just did that, I'll say that it was for appearance. I got one of the "currnet usa" 4 bulb deals for my 55G and a 2 buld one for my 30G. If I had a decorative wood top to put on them, I could have gotten away with a shiplight, but I was looking for something a little more attractive for my family room and office.

 

[Callum]

if you mean the t5 luminaires or the metal halides its because people want faster plant growth or high lighting plants or they like they way it looks also it is a lot better than the units you find in a hagen aquarium roof or a jewel

 

[fish-r-fancy]

If you go to home depot they sell black lights also known as grow lights, so I don't see why you coulden't buy one of those I'm sure it would allow the plants to grow quick. Also the appearence would be like a moon light. Thats what I'm doing on one of my 20 gallons. I'll let you know how it works out. There also very cheap.

 

[CBBP]

Well.. unless it si high power compacts.. I buy 1 4' 3 tube 32 watt thing.. for the looks and then put a shop light behind it. thus, the expensive one hides the ugly cheap one. I like it. haha. but.. yeah. if I had a larger tank. I would definatly make a wodden hood and use all shop lights.

 

[voo]

The standard lighting you get for cheap will be sufficient for most people. However if you check the planted forum, there are those that need the higher powered lighting for their plants. The plants some people try to grow in their tanks require a lot of light, carbon dioxide and fertilisers.

There's also those that just like the look of them

 

[RRasco]

well, take me for example. I have a 55 gallon that i am working on planting. I am building the hood for it. I need atleast 3W/G to produce the kind of growth i am expecting. so 55G x 3W = 165W atleast. So i need to get a 2x96W system. I just cant find that in a hardware store. if someone can, please let me know. cause the system is about $150.

 

[andywg]

If you really want cheap lighting just buy shop Metal Halide lighting, or industrial T5 ballasts. I did both and am loving the savings on what a 2x150MH pendant would have cost (a lot more than the £70 I paid on ebay, that's for sure!).

 

[iroc]

I mean to me the oppertunity is out there and I guess thats why I meantioned it, I bought a 24" light for my 20gal for 79.00 110 watts and most would consider that almost to much light plants do great but it was expensive on the other hand I have a shop light for my 55 gal 2 55 watt bulbs so same deal 110 watts the bulbs are for growing plants and the look is great.

 

[CBBP]

I mean to me the oppertunity is out there and I guess thats why I meantioned it, I bought a 24" light for my 20gal for 79.00 110 watts and most would consider that almost to much light plants do great but it was expensive on the other hand I have a shop light for my 55 gal 2 55 watt bulbs so same deal 110 watts the bulbs are for growing plants and the look is great.

shop light with 55 watts? do tell. are they regular t-8 tubes or something else? I could use that light on my 72 gallon gallon as it only has 2.2 WPG right now.,

 

[iroc]

I mean to me the oppertunity is out there and I guess thats why I meantioned it, I bought a 24" light for my 20gal for 79.00 110 watts and most would consider that almost to much light plants do great but it was expensive on the other hand I have a shop light for my 55 gal 2 55 watt bulbs so same deal 110 watts the bulbs are for growing plants and the look is great.

shop light with 55 watts? do tell. are they regular t-8 tubes or something else? I could use that light on my 72 gallon gallon as it only has 2.2 WPG right now.,

I bought them at HOME depot I didn't read the box so I will have to try and find them online (hard to do for Home depot since everyone seems to carry different products) but it was a shop light fixture that could take 25, 40, or 55 watt blubs and I found some bulbs that were 55 watts and for plants or aquarums

 

[CBBP]

picture please?