grow light

[randallcentral]

do grow lights work for fish tanks? something like this? preety good deal? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/grd/363172158.html

[snulma1]

Grow lights should work, but im not sure about the reflectors, you may have to swap out the bulb housing.

[seapug]

"Grow lights" are good for santa cruz weed growers, but probably not your tank. The hoods on those fixtures usually aren't sealed/shielded/vented properly for aquarium use and the bulbs are probably 5500-6500K so it'll look like someone peed in your tank. Algae will love it, though...

[papagimp]

Alot of SPS show better growth with the 5500-6500k range, most reefers just prefer the more natural looking "bluish" color.

If they are MH bulbs, than just a good reflector, possibly a uv shielding of sorts and it should work.

Keep shopping around and you'll find 400w MH for reeftanks for that price...just takes a little patience. I paid $50 for a 250w retrofit a couple months ago. Paid $50 for a 110g tank. See, lot's of good deals with the "right" equpiment instead of taking a chance on something not designed for use near high humidity area's or on aquariums in general.

[snulma1]

IF you are handy, you can buy that grow light, and use the ballast. Its probably just a magnetic ballast anyway. And then u can buy whatever kind of relfector and socket you want!

[jthao]

I actually have that same grow light unit. I'm not using it now because I upgraded tanks. When I did have it, I used it on a 40g, overkill 400w on a 40g. But my corals loved it!! anyways, here's what I gotta say about it: a magnetic ballast is a magnetic ballast!! so you can use a ballast from hydrofarm and just buy a different bulb of your choice. of course it's more of a retrofit unit, unless you want to go ghetto like me and just put that grow hood right over my 40g. it worked fine for me. imo, if you are going the 400w mh route then it's fine, but I ended using 2x250 on my 100g now, and have no use for the 400w. I'd rather run 2 or 3 175w lamps than 1 400w lamp.