Fluorex Lighting question

Bunny13 · 06-13-2006, 08:05 PM

I am looking at DIY lighting for a 30gallon tank. Becuase of an unusually shaped piece of driftwood I am making a custom top and I have been exploring different types of lighting. I came across the Fluorex bulbs. I understand the restrike with them is fairly high and if they are kept in their normal casing overheating tends to be a problem. My plan is to take apart the casing and retrofit them into my custom hood which will hang above my aquarium.

Now my question is, can these light bulbs just screw into a normal lighting fixture or do I have to buy the whole Fluorex floodlight fixture? Thanks!

Wasserpest · 06-13-2006, 08:16 PM

I am pretty sure the Fluorex bulbs do not contain a ballast, so you can not screw them into a regular fixture, only in the correct Fluorex fixture.

Also check out AHSupply.com, a little more expensive but something like two 36W kits will give you possibly more light.

Bunny13 · 06-13-2006, 08:24 PM

I have used AH supply in the past and I have been very satisfied with them but due to the shape of the hood I need something much smaller and compact. I was looking at the Lights of America website and they have a general purpose light that looks like it might work at 45watts. However, it only has a color temp and lumens of 2,700. Will that cause problems later down the road?

Wasserpest · 06-13-2006, 08:40 PM

It will look very yellow, I'd suggest to find a "Daylight" colored one (~6500K). They are for sale at Home Depots and such.

If you need something very compact, another option would be a quad 96W which some ppl use. It's about 18" long, not sure if this fits the space.

06-13-2006, 08:05 PM	#1
Bunny13 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Delawhere? Posts: 45	Fluorex Lighting question I am looking at DIY lighting for a 30gallon tank. Becuase of an unusually shaped piece of driftwood I am making a custom top and I have been exploring different types of lighting. I came across the Fluorex bulbs. I understand the restrike with them is fairly high and if they are kept in their normal casing overheating tends to be a problem. My plan is to take apart the casing and retrofit them into my custom hood which will hang above my aquarium. Now my question is, can these light bulbs just screw into a normal lighting fixture or do I have to buy the whole Fluorex floodlight fixture? Thanks!

06-13-2006, 08:16 PM	#2
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,669	I am pretty sure the Fluorex bulbs do not contain a ballast, so you can not screw them into a regular fixture, only in the correct Fluorex fixture. Also check out AHSupply.com, a little more expensive but something like two 36W kits will give you possibly more light. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

06-13-2006, 08:40 PM	#4
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,669	It will look very yellow, I'd suggest to find a "Daylight" colored one (~6500K). They are for sale at Home Depots and such. If you need something very compact, another option would be a quad 96W which some ppl use. It's about 18" long, not sure if this fits the space. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

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06-13-2006, 08:24 PM	#3
Bunny13 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Delawhere? Posts: 45	I have used AH supply in the past and I have been very satisfied with them but due to the shape of the hood I need something much smaller and compact. I was looking at the Lights of America website and they have a general purpose light that looks like it might work at 45watts. However, it only has a color temp and lumens of 2,700. Will that cause problems later down the road?