Lighting: Will this work?

[buggerdtp]

Hi Everyone,

I went to pick up a crazy cheap 36x18x18 Exo Terra from a guy on craigslist for $50. He claimed it to be brand new. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and it wasn't even the size specified. Dumb!

Anyway, he had some other aquarium stuff, trying to get rid of everything really cheap, so I took a lamp fixture for $3. I have no idea what type of lighting I'll need for my build, but figured for $3, it couldn't hurt to pick this up.

On the label it reads 24" Fluorescent Aquarium Reflector 120v 60hz 15 watts. FH-20F-DX

I'm (slowly) building a 20H tank that will have living plants. I'm afraid this won't be enough lighting for the plants. Is there anything I can do to salvage this?

Thanks,
Dave

[Mentat]

Sorry; but no. If light works, you can use it to provide daylight to an enclosure or aquarium; but the regular fluorescent fixture (T8 or T12) will not provide enough light to a planted vivarium. Next time someone uses bait and switch trick to sell anything... run, run, away !

[deranged chipmunk]

This is one of the very rare times that I need to disagree with Carlos. You can grow plants under a strip light. You won't get a lot of light, but you'll get enough for very slow growth. Multiple strips would help, but only for coverage purposes. Better off looking into more efficient lighting, like led lighting. You'll save money in the long run with an led.

If you decide to stick with strip lighting, you'll need a bulb in the 6500k color temp range. Most pet store sell them as planted tank bulbs.

[buggerdtp]

Good info, thanks. I don't want very slow growth. And I don't know much about LEDs. Maybe I'll throw a 6500k bulb in the housing, and mount some LEDs under the housing as well? I'll look into that. I'm hoping to actually have some free time to work on my build soon.

[Mentat]

If it was an incandescent fixture, could recommend you get screw in LED's made for vivariums; but that is not the case in here. Even if you have the electrical know how; modifying the fixture is IMO not cost-worth it.

If searching for bulbs and there is none in fixture to match; try looking for an 18 in. T8 plant bulb. Good luck !

[deranged chipmunk]

Good info, thanks. I don't want very slow growth. And I don't know much about LEDs. Maybe I'll throw a 6500k bulb in the housing, and mount some LEDs under the housing as well? I'll look into that. I'm hoping to actually have some free time to work on my build soon.

This would work. I have the 18" version over my white's tree frog paludarium. It throws off a good amount of light and my plants love it

http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Aquar...t-p/56544p.htm