using cheap flourescent lights as a supplement...

[peiji]

I've got a 96w SmartLight PC strip. I have my old cheap flourescent lights that came with the tank when I bought it. Could it help me or will it actually do some harm? I want to increase the lights as much as I can without having to spend a lot right now. I've had it sitting around so I just thought if it would help, I would use them. It puts a pinkish light to everything so I probably need to replace the bulbs anyway. What do you think?

[TimBeR]

peiji, I realy don't think it will harm the tank any I would try to replace the bulb with a 50/50 white daylight or a blue attinic if possible. What size is your tank?
Not as a set rule or anything but I would try to shoot for a min of 3 - 4 watts per gallon depending on the tank and it also realy depends on what you plan on keeping in the tank.
Hope this helps a little but I am sure others here will be able to give a you more knowlagable advice.

[Freckles]

I have a 55 watt PC light strip and a 15 watt NO light strip on my tank. The NO strip came with my tank. For the 15 watt NO, I am using an actintic bulb, and the 55 has a 50/50 bulb. I have it set where the actintic comes on 1/2 hr early in the morning, and goes off half an hour later at night. Also, check on Ebay. There is a guy on ebay who sells the plastic PC light strips for really cheap, imo. I got the 55 watt PC with bulb for $55.00 And, it works great. As soon as i get more money, I am thinking of ordering another one

[peiji]

What do you mean by plastic PC light strips. I've never heard of that. Do you need a canopy, etc? Maybe I'll look into that as a temporary solution. Eventually, I will add a canopy and upgrade my lights. Right now I just want to make sure my frogspawn, xenia and mushrooms will do OK in my 46g. tank. I was told be several LFS that my 96 w would be sufficient but I want to add whatever I can.

[Freckles]

The light strip itself is plastic. You know how some light strips are metal?