Tank lighting?

Question

Ok I know I sound cheap. I saw some flourescent lights at Petco for $150. I saw the same size flourescent lights at Home Depot for like $30. They both held 2 lights. Why so much for the tank ones? Could I use the Home Depot ones if I changed the light bulbs out for some aquarium ones? Its the same thing, right?

Its for a freshwater tank. I just have goldfish and some bottom feeders.

The ones from Petco did have a hood and everything. And I might have been exaggerating a little with $150 it might've been around $120 or so, either way too much.

Answer 1

The light spectrum and strength is really important when operating a marine tank and for the photosynthesis of planted tanks. If you only have goldfish you will be fine with Home Depot bulbs. Your tank ballast will tell you the maximum watts allowed as well as the fit (T8 or T6 etc).
A

Answer 2

150.00 is outrages. Different bulbs put out different types of light. Look at the information on the bulb packaging . It sounds to me that you might be talking 150.00 for a full hood with light (That is still to much). The Aquarium lights I Use need a starter other lights like Shop-lights have a ballast in the fixture. You need different type of bulbs depending if it is rapid start (Ballast) or if the bulb requires a starter. When I was breeding fish I had over 100 tanks. I used cut to size pieces of Plexiglas's as covers. I cut out the insert for heaters and filters and drilled a hole to insert an air hose into the tank Above the stands I mounted on the ceiling 4' Shop-lights. the clear Plexiglas's let the light into the tanks. Do not put a shop light of non-water proof light on top of your hood if water is splashed on the light or hood you may electrocute yourself.

Answer 3

There is a wide variety of lighting available. You may wish to have a particular spectrum or intensity of light to encourage plant growth, discourage algae, or enhance appearance of fish. To determine if the offerings by the two retailers are equivalent, evaluate the spectrum and luminosity of each setup. The bulb and the ballast are primary determinants, but reflector may play some role. I use electronic ballast fixture with 3 48" t-8 bulbs for my 70 gal. It is expensive fixture by All-Glass. It is far superior to two 48" 2 bulb t-12 cool or warm white with magnetic ballast.

Answer 4

Yes the fixture is the same. Whate size are you going to use? If it is 48", Wal-Mart sells a twin tube flourescent "shoplight" fixture for around $10. Buy the fixture from whoever has it cheapest, buy the bulbs online or from the LFS with the correct light spectrum, or if it is strictly for you seeing in the tank, just use their bulbs that are a normal daylight spectrum. I used shoplight fixtures with the correct bulb for my planted tanks.

Answer 5

Well, that depends on the light source. Just plain flourescent lights from either store is fine. BUT, if your tank, like salt water tank, requires another type of light source, you are going to have to pay the bucks for it.

Good Luck and Take Care

P.S. $150.00?? That's ridiculous, we should all call Petco and tell them we think it is ridiculous, I don't care what type of light source it is.

Answer 6

I have Goldfish and bottom feeders and I never use any light. Just the light in the room. They do just fine and I never get any algea growing or any fish diseases.

Answer 7

The property of the lights are different. Read the specifications on the box.

Answer 8

That would be fine. The ones at Petco will be so much because they will fit the aqaurium perfectly