Shop light fixtures and moisture ...

thornomad · 03-08-2013, 03:50 PM

Hey everyone - first post. Thanks for having me.

I am thinking of setting up my first tank. I want a 20L so I can put it on some empty counter space in my kitchen and I only have about 18 inches of clearance under the cabinet (19 inches under the lip).

My thought was to get a shop light fixture (24 inch) and attach it to be the bottom of the cabinet and buy appropriate bulbs.

My question is about moisture ... There will probably only be six inches of clearance between the top of tank and lights (depending on the fixture) ... Do I need to worry about that?

I do want plants and fish in the tank and haven't planned that far yet. Was pricing out the hardware.

Thanks

Psycofc1 · 03-08-2013, 04:50 PM

Moisture shouldn't be an issue unless u are enclosing it. Just make sure the fixture you buy has a ground on the plug and is sutible for use in high humidity enviroments. I use the 24in version of http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/1006543...m0&R=100654395.
Sits right on top of my tank. Note that these do not come pre wired so you will know how to do that or know someone that can do it for you.

**oblongshrimp** · 03-08-2013, 04:53 PM

They may rust if they are the very cheap ones and get water splashed on them but otherwise should be ok. I would suggest plugging them into a GFCI outlet or to buy a adapter plugin.

thornomad · 03-08-2013, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycofc1

Moisture shouldn't be an issue unless u are enclosing it. Just make sure the fixture you buy has a ground on the plug and is sutible for use in high humidity enviroments.

That fixture you recommended is the idea I was going for. Glad it hasn't been an issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oblongshrimp

They may rust if they are the very cheap ones and get water splashed on them but otherwise should be ok. I would suggest plugging them into a GFCI outlet or to buy a adapter plugin.

That is an excellent suggestion ... I will consider getting one as a power strip ... Since all the electronics are in the water. Thanks

peter_l · 03-08-2013, 08:17 PM

Will the tank be covered or not?

I have gone the el cheapo route on a few of my tanks using $4 clamp lights from the local hardware store with 6500k spiral fluorescents. I really like the look better than a light that spans the whole tank.

Diana · 03-09-2013, 12:20 AM

Fixtures that are labeled as "Suitable for use in a damp location" will be fine supported under the cabinet, 6" above the tank.
I use fixtures so labeled, and sit them on top of the tank, glass lid over the tank. Those fixtures are fine.
Others, purchased at the same time, but not so labeled, are falling apart.

**GraphicGr8s** · 03-09-2013, 12:31 AM

Outlets in a kitchen area are required to have GFCI protection anyway. Think about adding a GFCI outlet instead of the strip. One outlet will protect all the outlets downstream of it.

**thelub** · 03-09-2013, 02:09 AM

I have a lowes shop fixture above my tank. It was sitting directly on top of the tank. Before I made a light bar and it started to rust, but after I hung it over the tank instead of sitting directly on top it seems to have stopped. One of the bulbs burned out prematurely too but I don't know if I can blame it sitting directly on top or if it was just a faulty bulb.

DanSanDiego · 03-09-2013, 02:46 AM

If you get a fixture that you have to do the wiring for, I use the wire nuts that are used for outdoors. They are usually blue, and they have some type of Gel in them to keep your connections dry. I use them just in case something gets more damp than it should.

thornomad · 03-09-2013, 06:28 PM

Thanks for those suggestions; I checked out the fixtures at Lowes and Home Depot but couldn't find any that were for high humidity environments. They actually didn't have a great selection either for 24" fixtures. They run $15-$30 without bulbs. And they only offered T-12 or T-8 (was sort of hoping for something with a lower profile). Could look some more online but ...

I also stopped at the local aquarium shop and they recommended the AquaticLife Dual-Lamp T5-HO (30") ... looks really nice. It's on Amazon for about $110. Twice as much, at least, as the DIY route but I may end up going with that ... looks prettier and I think my wife would be happier seeing that on her kitchen counter all day. Smile.

Anyone used those? Any luck?

Thanks!

03-08-2013, 03:50 PM	#1
thornomad Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: New England Posts: 49	Shop light fixtures and moisture ... Hey everyone - first post. Thanks for having me. I am thinking of setting up my first tank. I want a 20L so I can put it on some empty counter space in my kitchen and I only have about 18 inches of clearance under the cabinet (19 inches under the lip). My thought was to get a shop light fixture (24 inch) and attach it to be the bottom of the cabinet and buy appropriate bulbs. My question is about moisture ... There will probably only be six inches of clearance between the top of tank and lights (depending on the fixture) ... Do I need to worry about that? I do want plants and fish in the tank and haven't planned that far yet. Was pricing out the hardware. Thanks

03-09-2013, 12:31 AM	#7
GraphicGr8s Banned (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Land O Lakes, FL Posts: 1,535	Outlets in a kitchen area are required to have GFCI protection anyway. Think about adding a GFCI outlet instead of the strip. One outlet will protect all the outlets downstream of it. __________________ Quote me as saying I was misquoted. The problem is you don't know what you don't know. Life is simple…People complicate it. On the west coast of the east coast of North America Here's to our wives and sweethearts - may they never meet. I can't live life at 140 characters

03-09-2013, 02:09 AM	#8
thelub Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: SE Washington Posts: 597	I have a lowes shop fixture above my tank. It was sitting directly on top of the tank. Before I made a light bar and it started to rust, but after I hung it over the tank instead of sitting directly on top it seems to have stopped. One of the bulbs burned out prematurely too but I don't know if I can blame it sitting directly on top or if it was just a faulty bulb. __________________ My 45g low tech jungle My 1g nano planted shrimparium Don't buy styrofoam for your DIY background

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03-08-2013, 04:50 PM	#2
Psycofc1 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Pottstown Pa Posts: 105	Moisture shouldn't be an issue unless u are enclosing it. Just make sure the fixture you buy has a ground on the plug and is sutible for use in high humidity enviroments. I use the 24in version of http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/1006543...m0&R=100654395. Sits right on top of my tank. Note that these do not come pre wired so you will know how to do that or know someone that can do it for you.

03-08-2013, 04:53 PM	#3
oblongshrimp Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (82/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 1,572	They may rust if they are the very cheap ones and get water splashed on them but otherwise should be ok. I would suggest plugging them into a GFCI outlet or to buy a adapter plugin.

03-08-2013, 08:17 PM	#5
peter_l Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Maynard, MA Posts: 93	Will the tank be covered or not? I have gone the el cheapo route on a few of my tanks using $4 clamp lights from the local hardware store with 6500k spiral fluorescents. I really like the look better than a light that spans the whole tank.

03-09-2013, 12:20 AM	#6
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,012	Fixtures that are labeled as "Suitable for use in a damp location" will be fine supported under the cabinet, 6" above the tank. I use fixtures so labeled, and sit them on top of the tank, glass lid over the tank. Those fixtures are fine. Others, purchased at the same time, but not so labeled, are falling apart.

03-09-2013, 02:46 AM	#9
DanSanDiego Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 30	If you get a fixture that you have to do the wiring for, I use the wire nuts that are used for outdoors. They are usually blue, and they have some type of Gel in them to keep your connections dry. I use them just in case something gets more damp than it should.

03-09-2013, 06:28 PM	#10
thornomad Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: New England Posts: 49	Thanks for those suggestions; I checked out the fixtures at Lowes and Home Depot but couldn't find any that were for high humidity environments. They actually didn't have a great selection either for 24" fixtures. They run $15-$30 without bulbs. And they only offered T-12 or T-8 (was sort of hoping for something with a lower profile). Could look some more online but ... I also stopped at the local aquarium shop and they recommended the AquaticLife Dual-Lamp T5-HO (30") ... looks really nice. It's on Amazon for about $110. Twice as much, at least, as the DIY route but I may end up going with that ... looks prettier and I think my wife would be happier seeing that on her kitchen counter all day. Smile. Anyone used those? Any luck? Thanks!