Argh! People say no one really reads the aquaria.tech newsgroup, my post
there never got answered and here's the 2nd best place to repost...

Some of us know that much equipment packaged and marketed for us
aquarists is overpriced, and cheaper generic industrial/home DIY
versions are available. Therefore we grow plants with shoplight
fixtures, etc. Is there any other generic equipment available that's
cheaper than the aquarium-market equivalent? For example mercury/halide
lamps?

Sebastien