Solved my tank lighting issue!

mandelyn82 · 07-12-2008, 09:19 AM

So... long story short.. you can't put US florescent bulbs in a German 220 fish tank lighting system and use an adapter plug. You can spend over $100 on bulbs from Europe and then do it. And Europeans don't make fish tanks the same size as they do here. My tank is 46 inches long, Standard goes from 38 to 48 inches. Standard size tank hoods or light strips that size start at like $45 and up, plus bulbs.

BUT, good 'ol Walmart sells a florescent shoplight kit for $14.95. It's in silver and black, like my tank. I like that it's 2 inches too long, it allowed me to do some generic engineering to make it fit safely, to avoid any um... accidents with electricity.

They also sell plant bulbs that are 48 inches long, for $10 each!!! I was paying well over $50 for plant bulbs specific to fish tanks. (gives the fish their "sunlight" without the water looking yellow from "fish" bulbs.. healthier than standard florescent)

I have a few alterations to make, to include a black wooden "lip" around the top of the tank to ancor the casing to. Need to tap holes for hinges for the lid piece that still fits. Going to have some glass cut to fit under it to prevent splash onto the bulbs and such, and to close the back of the tank to prevent evaporation since the rear panel won't fit any more.

So it'll have glass from the back to the front of the light, then a hinged lid for access. With lot's of light!

Now that I can see in the tank (a lot better than the temporary desk lamp I had sitting on the front lid, aimed over the back lid that I left open...)

Big guy on the left is the male Jack Dempsey, the 3 in the top center with the red are the Red Belly Pacus, the two below them are the female Jacks, and the yellow one off to the right corner is one of the 2 Red Devils. There's 3 little fish on the top left side, I forget what they're called. I got them as "pretty filler" since everyone but the Pacus would hide in the rocks. They swim fast and are very active... it keeps them from getting eaten.

With good light though, they all come out now. Not bad for a grand total of $35.

Lady_MCSE · 07-12-2008, 10:50 AM

Looks great! And here I was debating about whether it was worth moving a 75 gallon 300 miles . . .

DustyTrailsHorseRescue · 07-12-2008, 11:28 AM

Nice aquarium you got there!

mandelyn82 · 07-12-2008, 09:03 PM

LOL... this one moved what, 3,000 miles?

OSUJillyBean · 07-13-2008, 01:59 AM

Good job Mandy!! I love your tank!

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07-12-2008, 09:19 AM
mandelyn82 Coming two Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ft. Campbell, KY Posts: 1,962	Solved my tank lighting issue! So... long story short.. you can't put US florescent bulbs in a German 220 fish tank lighting system and use an adapter plug. You can spend over $100 on bulbs from Europe and then do it. And Europeans don't make fish tanks the same size as they do here. My tank is 46 inches long, Standard goes from 38 to 48 inches. Standard size tank hoods or light strips that size start at like $45 and up, plus bulbs. BUT, good 'ol Walmart sells a florescent shoplight kit for $14.95. It's in silver and black, like my tank. I like that it's 2 inches too long, it allowed me to do some generic engineering to make it fit safely, to avoid any um... accidents with electricity. They also sell plant bulbs that are 48 inches long, for $10 each!!! I was paying well over $50 for plant bulbs specific to fish tanks. (gives the fish their "sunlight" without the water looking yellow from "fish" bulbs.. healthier than standard florescent) I have a few alterations to make, to include a black wooden "lip" around the top of the tank to ancor the casing to. Need to tap holes for hinges for the lid piece that still fits. Going to have some glass cut to fit under it to prevent splash onto the bulbs and such, and to close the back of the tank to prevent evaporation since the rear panel won't fit any more. So it'll have glass from the back to the front of the light, then a hinged lid for access. With lot's of light! Now that I can see in the tank (a lot better than the temporary desk lamp I had sitting on the front lid, aimed over the back lid that I left open...) Big guy on the left is the male Jack Dempsey, the 3 in the top center with the red are the Red Belly Pacus, the two below them are the female Jacks, and the yellow one off to the right corner is one of the 2 Red Devils. There's 3 little fish on the top left side, I forget what they're called. I got them as "pretty filler" since everyone but the Pacus would hide in the rocks. They swim fast and are very active... it keeps them from getting eaten. With good light though, they all come out now. Not bad for a grand total of $35. __________________ "The more people I meet the more I love my German Shepherd"

07-12-2008, 10:50 AM
Lady_MCSE Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 3,502	Looks great! And here I was debating about whether it was worth moving a 75 gallon 300 miles . . . __________________ Yes I can spell the way Webster tells me to. But why? I might spell correctly Tuesday thru Wensday tho.

07-12-2008, 11:28 AM
DustyTrailsHorseRescue Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montgomery, Alabama Posts: 1,487	Nice aquarium you got there! __________________ www.dthr.org "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke

07-12-2008, 09:03 PM
mandelyn82 Coming two Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ft. Campbell, KY Posts: 1,962	LOL... this one moved what, 3,000 miles? __________________ "The more people I meet the more I love my German Shepherd"

07-13-2008, 01:59 AM
OSUJillyBean Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,008	Good job Mandy!! I love your tank! __________________ "And speaking of Italy and sports cars that I stole there, you still owe me a yellow Porsche." — Alice Cullen