lighting dummie, help please

[nanoreefer]

ok iam making a 2.5 reef tank for some zoos,shrooms ect i was going to use a 20w coralife screw in light but aparently they arent the best and there about $20 at big als, so i was going to go with two 9w or 13w PCs in DIY hood but iam not sure ware to get the soccets(or watever they fit into)for them in the lower mainland(i tryed homedepoe today)and iam not that sure how to wire them up ect(my grampa knows some stuff on it thoe)dos anyone know ware i can get them around me? or could direct me to a site for the lighting/electronicaly chalenged?

thanks!

[Static]

I've seen a desk lamp that uses pc bulbs at costco the last few times I was there. I don't know the wattage, but it has 4 tubes in paralle about 6 inches long, if you're doing a retrofit, it might be a good source for a $20 ballast and reflector

[nanoreefer]

thanks static

is that the one right neer paul's aquarium?

[Willow]

try this

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...t_ID=pc-al0909

[nanoreefer]

i thought about that but read the same thing about it as the screw ins(hot, ineffective)

[AndyL]

The coralife 20w screw-in's aren't as bad as they're made out to be. My 2.5 ran on them for pretty much a year, many people have had good success with them (until they upgraded). Not exactly a metal halide, but they'll light a small reef pretty effectively.

Walmart sells a rubberized splashproof socket - wiring is pretty simple, white to white, black to black.

Andy

[Static]

Originally Posted by nanoreefer

thanks static

is that the one right neer paul's aquarium?

I don't know where you are, and I don't know where Pauls aquarium is, but I saw it at the Costco in Langley. I could only guess that they would be at all the Costco's in Canada.

[nanoreefer]

iam in langley too so i will check out costco tommorow

thanks

[Willow]

that light i posted is all that lights my 3.5 gallon nano thats packed with coral.