DIY Canopy From the Hardware Store?

[nkunleashed]

This might be a question better suited for the beginner thread, but it's about lighting. I'm starting a 20H reef that's going to have mostly mushrooms and leathers and the last thing on my shopping list is lighting. I'm a fan of DIY and I saw a small 100w halogen "specialty" light bulb at the hardware store. There was no spectrum analysis on the package or anything, and I have no idea how many degrees Kelvin it would be, but assuming I could keep them cool, and figured out how to wire in an actinic bulb or two, could I build a sufficient canopy with these bulbs? Does anyone know if these kind of bulbs are over 5,000K?

 

[reefman23]

I dont think that these halogen bulbs are suitable for reefs. Im thinking that they MAY use them for planted tanks, but i could be wrong. I have NEVER heard of someone keeping this kind of lighting on a reef though

jesse

 

[skipm]

:welcome to nanotank!

Jesse is right, the spectrum of halogen lighting is not suitable for reeftanks.

 

[sadielynn]

Welcom to nanotank.
I agree wrong spectrum light ,
check out illumig.com ( I think thats the name)
or www.hellolights.com
for DIY lights :mrgreen:

 

[reefman23]

the site is www.illuming.com and yes that is a great guy to buy from. I got my 70 watt MH kit from him and I would do business with him again. You may want to check this out, he should still be selling the 70 watt kits plug-n-play for $130 shipped ---> http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.p ... opic=70369 HTH

jesse

 

[nkunleashed]

Thanks

Thanks for the replies! I figured it was a long shot since I had never heard it done before. I'll certainly check those sights out first, but I may just abandon the DIY idea and spend the $$ and buy a new Coralife Double Strip. Thanks again for helping a new nano-reefer out. This sight rocks.

 

[reefman23]

You know, a suggestion I would seriously look into is a 24" t5 ho fluorescent fixture. I say this because when I went to pick up some frags today from a member on another site he had a 48" t5 fixture on his tank and I have never seen as much color in corals before. The colors were jumping. They are rather inexpesive, are very efficient as far as their 95%+ reflectiveness, and produce a fraction of the heat that other forms of lighting produce as well... check this link out.... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113175 .