Good plant light?

[playaslk]

hey guys and gals,

So another odd question: Im trying to find a cheaper way to get some decent plant lighting into my 55 gallon for medium light plants. Here is a bulb i found from sylvania. I was thinking of having 2 of these bulbs about 1.5 feet above the tank (one on each side of the 55 with the plastic brace being the cuttoff point. I realize that i cant exactly funnel all of the light into the tank and some will go wasted. I was planning on not having a top for the tank and keeping angels in it. Any ideas? suggestions?

http://www.sylvania.com/ProductCatalogs/

Part: 14898

120 watt spot-gro


Abbrev. With Packaging Info. 120BRGRO 120V 6/CS 1/SKU
Average Rated Life (hr) 2000
Base Medium
Beam Type SP
Bulb BR40
Class C (gas)
Color Rendering Index (CRI) 100
Color Temperature/CCT (K) 2850
Diameter (in) 5
Diameter (mm) 127
Family Brand Name Spot-GRO
Filament CC-6
Lamp Finish Spotgro
Maximum Overall Length - MOL (in) 6 1/2
Maximum Overall Length - MOL (mm) 165.1
Nominal Voltage (V) 120.00
Nominal Wattage (W) 120.00

[lhforbes12]

Play,
I know some of the aquatic plant "pros" use these, but I never have. I have heard people getting good results from them though. I think I would place them a bit closer to the tank though. Hopefully someone that has actual expierence using them will reply.

Larry

[playaslk]

they are much cheaper to set up than say a 48" light. even a jebo. I didnt want to get it too close because im afraid of water splashing onto the bulb--glass breakage

also found: http://www.bulbs.com/products/product_detail.asp?page=products&inventory=12598

[Alight]

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/21257-odno-measurements-power-consumption-vs-light.html

Check out the thread above for another inexpensive solution. For moderate light (2.3 watts per gallon) you could buy two ShopLights (brand name shoplight) from Home Depot, canabilize the electronic ballast from one, add it to the other fixture, and 2X overdrive two 48 inch T-8 bulbs for around $20 including tax and bulbs. This is the right size to fit nicely on a 55 gallon tank.

I really don't advise an open top tank. Fish do jump, and water does evaporate--really fast in a warm water tank--leading to problems with GH, KH, etc, not to mention dried up husks of former fish.

But if you must, the shoplights even come with hangers and chains for hanging the light above your tank. I'd suggest some inexpensive glass covers instead, and just set the fixture on your tank--it will fit quite well. These don't get hot at all. Cool enough to pick up, even with 2 X overdrive.