netDenizen wrote:

chaz wrote:

I am looking at a new light, please see these specs

*********two 65W bulb 12000K DAYLIGHT & two 65W actinic BULB a total
of 260W **********

What do you think? I would replace my existing hood since I dont want
to take up my accesss point.

That sounds like a marine reef lighting setup not directly suitable
for freshwater plants, and expensive. My setup is a plywood home-made
hood with hardware store fixtures and Grolux WS plant tubes plus
full-sun type tubes - also from hw store. I have glass under the hood
but suppose it's not that safe...

There's also the alternative of the compact fluorescents with a built in
ballast. For example, AllGlass makes a 10 watt one designed to fit in
incandescent hoods. Walmart sells a knockoff for under $5. Put 10 of
them in a homemade hood and you've got 100 watts for around $100,
including sockets, wire, and switch. For a few more bucks you could
add some moonlight LEDs.

BTW, aluminum flashing makes reasonable reflector material.

--
It's turtles, all the way down