my friend gave me this lighting fixture and it has an external ballast, it seems to give a good amount of light for my 55 gallon. i do not think it was intended for aquarium use but i can waterproof it and retrofit it into the canopy. the information on the ballast is pretty scratched up and i found out this much about this: UL Listed ballast 619L CAT. PT340tp, volts 120, 30 or 40W
my questions:
1. there is a bit less than 48" fluorescent bulb already but i'm not sure what it is rated, is there a replacement bulb rated for 6500k-10000k?
2. can it moderately support a standard 55 planted tank? if not, what tank size would be suitable?
unfortunately all I can tell you from your info is that its an outdoor lighting ballast and most likely a T8 or T12 bulb. if its T8 then yes there are lots of 6500k replacement bulbs. T12 is very old tech and don't recommend it unless you plan on low tech low light tank.
1) You can use either a T8 or T12 bulb in your fixture. I would pick up either a "Daylight" T8 bulb (preferred) or T12 bulb, if you check the cardboard sleeve of the lamp the "K value" should be listed. Any value in the 6000K - 7000K should be fine.
2) Truthfully, probably not. A single T8 or T12 bulb over a 21" tall 55 gallon will not even provide light in the "low light" range. If I really wanted to use that fixture I would put it over two (2) 15 gallon tanks put end to end; at that height it would provide "medium/low" light.
If you can make a simple aluminum reflector to fit under the bulb, shaped like \_/, with the bulb in the middle, with the outer "legs" bent so you can see a reflection of the full bulb on each side of the bulb, then you will get plenty of light for a 55 gallon tank. The aluminum doesn't have to have a mirror polish, just so it is shiny. You can use aluminum flashing to make it, and find a way to attach it under the bulb. That type of reflector doubles the light you get from the bulb.
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