Lighting advice please anyone?

[Nicolette]

I am looking for a cheap way to light my tanks. Both are planted. no hoods just glass tops.

I have been looking at

http://www.lightingplus.co.nz/afawcs0114218/ID=3385/SID=233731673/productdetails.html

would or could that work? What else would I need to do to ready it for my tanks

I am willing to make my own if it turns out to be cheaper. I had thought of making one around 4ft long as they are horrendously expensive to buy.

Or if anyone has any other diy ideas or whatever please let me know..

[John Rimbauer]

I think the spectrum of the light might be too low for good plant growth at 4000K. Most people use 6500K or so for plants, it is a more blue/white light like sunlight. 4000K is pretty yellow, not so good for the plants.

[lickindip]

on my 4ft tank i went to mitre 10 and go 2x twin tube 2ft lights for about $30 each ... i brought/was given 2ft aquarium lights (2x the pink plant ones, 1x brilliant daylight and 1x blue sky royal)

plants are growing wayyyy 2 fast and most of papakura can probably see my house glowing at night if there on

one thing i did have to do tho was wire up the 2 light units in parallel as they did not come with a plug ... but hey it was the cheapist way 2 do it with mine at the time

if u do decide to do sumthin like this, plan it carfully i.e orientation above the tank etc and make sure u have sumthin reflecting the light back down ... just gives it all that little bit more of a wow factor

[Caryl]

On my 4ft tank I have 2 lots of "bright white" or "daylight" tubes (the name depends on the brand) and they work well. They are the common ones you buy from wholesalers.

[Nicolette]

I am not too worried about the bulb side of things its more the hood and setting that seems to be so expensive.

[Caryl]

Mine just sit on a glass lid under a plain reflector. You can also use the plastic guttering.

[lickindip]

build up a frame like mine would be the best lookn way

http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/hi-all-just-introducing-my-4ft-tank-vt21821.html

the double 2 ft lights are just screwed up in side it,

the who thing sits on the sides of the tank just outside the glass lid ... if u want any better pics of it tell me and ill put them up

[Nicolette]

That looks awesome. Yes please lots of pics if you prefer just pm me and I will give you my email address and you can send them to me directly.

Thanks.

[Caryl]

Here are some guttering ones that will sit on a sheet of glass

I don't know why wood was used on the ends as I would buy end caps and cut a gap for the cord to fit. Longer ones have a light at each end

Note the tinfoil used to reflect more light downwards

[Nicolette]

may I ask why you used standard bulbs rather than the long skinny ones?