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Light fixtures at lowes?

10K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  watertown28 
#1 · (Edited)
While I was at lowes hardware store buying items for my acrylic lid. I shot over to the light section and checked out some of their light fixtures. I was surprised by how cheap they were. There was a 4ft light fixture for only $10. Could these be used for the lighting of an aquarium? I just made me an acrylic top for the aquarium, but I am planning on building a canopy for my tank to hide all the lights, filters, ect. It is a 125gal. I dont plan on having a heavily planted tank either. Could I use these?

Heres a website you can go to to check it out. This one is not the exact one (could not find the one I saw on lowes' website), but its along the lines.

http://www.truevalue.com/mobile/catalog/product.cmd?productId=21489
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#2 ·
I would say yes. Just be careful that it doesn't come in contact with water. Aquarium fixtures are more insulated than shop lights. Also, try to keep the tubes up off of the acrylic panel. I'm sure there is a lot of advice and more expert knowledge than mine to come, so read on. Good luck.
 
#3 ·
They can be used but you need to modify the cover for the bulbs and they are best hung above the aquarium panel not directly on it.

check ebay for fixtures, you can get some good fixtures on there.
 
#4 ·
They can be used but you need to modify the cover for the bulbs and they are best hung above the aquarium panel not directly on it.

check ebay for fixtures, you can get some good fixtures on there.
What exactly do you mean by modifying the cover for the bulbs?
 
#7 ·
LOl, yeah I think so. I made an acrylic top to help with the evaporation. And now I am going to build a canopy to hid all the mess like, lights, filters, and tubing. I plan to have whatever light fixture, connected to the top of the canopy on the inside. I will be painting the inside of the canopy white to reflect better. That is my plan as it stands now.
 
#9 ·
Definately... You could probably go with some good low-light plants later if you wanted to. 2 full-length bulbs would do.

(especially if they can take t5 or t8 bulbs)

I've thought about lining up all my 10's on one shelf with one of those fixtures over all my tanks... the tubes are much cheaper than the CFL's I use now.
 
#12 ·
Highly doubtful, too many organizations still use them mainly because they are lazy and don't think of long term energy savings, I know where I work we buy T-12s by the pallet and as long as their is money to be made the bulbs will still be made, it would take an act of congress to get people to stop using T-12. Its probably going to be 10-20 years before you see a phase out of T-12 bulbs.
 
#13 ·
I'm thinkin if the fixture has an acrylic cover, it would work just fine in a canopy even w/o the acrylic you just made. Just needs marine varnish on the inside of the canopy.
 
#14 ·
Marine varnish?
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#15 ·
Yes....It's the type of varnish used to treat exposed wood on BOATS - it holds up and protects the wood under harsh marine conditions.
 
#16 ·
You can use a normal shop light to light the tank and grow plants. I use it now with one tank. Its a basic 2 bulb setup with 2x T8 daylight bulbs. Color temp is 6500K per bulb and 32w each. Its on a 72 gallon bow front. I currently have 3 plants in the tank, and they seem to be doing well.

Also, what is said about being careful about the exposed bulbs is right. Make sure no water can it it, I got mine sitting up about 2 to 3 inches above the covers.
 
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