ashleynicole
Aquarium Advice Addict
So .... still trying to figure out what to do with my 55 gallon, was going to get the new aquatic plant LED fixture but man is it expensive. T5HO fixtures are affordable but use a lot of energy. Compact flourescent fixtures are expensive too. So I was thinking of another option.
with a glass top I can use really cheap utility lights like this:
Amazon.com: Coleman Cable 05932 6-foot 18/2 SPT Reflector Light with 8.5-inch Reflector: Home Improvement
It would be ugly, but I could put daylight spectrum compact flourescent lights in it, and build a DIY canopy to hide the lights. I could do like for of these lights over a 55 gallon tank. This would cost about $40 not including the cost of lightbulbs and I can get a 4 pack of daylight CF bulbs at biglots for about $14. not to mention the price of building a canopy which I haven't even priced yet and I don't have any woodworking tools so I would have to get someone to cut the wood for me, buy tools, etc etc etc.
Then I also saw this online:
Exo Terra Compact Fluorescent Terrarium Canopy - Specialty Pet Month - Featured Products - PetSmart
ok it says it is for a terrerium I know, but they are compact flourescent and I could buy two 24" canopies for my 55 gallon tank. and put compact flourescent bulbs in it. This would cost 34.99 for each fixture, not including the price of bulbs. I wouuld need two fixtures so about $70 but I would not have to build a canopy because I think these would look nice without a canopy.
Thoughts? Suggestions???
should I just buy a T5HO? or would these save more money in energy since I can use compact flourescent lights and buy cheaper standard compact flourescent bulbs???
with a glass top I can use really cheap utility lights like this:
Amazon.com: Coleman Cable 05932 6-foot 18/2 SPT Reflector Light with 8.5-inch Reflector: Home Improvement
It would be ugly, but I could put daylight spectrum compact flourescent lights in it, and build a DIY canopy to hide the lights. I could do like for of these lights over a 55 gallon tank. This would cost about $40 not including the cost of lightbulbs and I can get a 4 pack of daylight CF bulbs at biglots for about $14. not to mention the price of building a canopy which I haven't even priced yet and I don't have any woodworking tools so I would have to get someone to cut the wood for me, buy tools, etc etc etc.
Then I also saw this online:
Exo Terra Compact Fluorescent Terrarium Canopy - Specialty Pet Month - Featured Products - PetSmart
ok it says it is for a terrerium I know, but they are compact flourescent and I could buy two 24" canopies for my 55 gallon tank. and put compact flourescent bulbs in it. This would cost 34.99 for each fixture, not including the price of bulbs. I wouuld need two fixtures so about $70 but I would not have to build a canopy because I think these would look nice without a canopy.
Thoughts? Suggestions???
should I just buy a T5HO? or would these save more money in energy since I can use compact flourescent lights and buy cheaper standard compact flourescent bulbs???