Newby question about DIY lighting

[b-baby80]

First off Hi and thanks for your help

O.K. we are going Tuesday to pick up a 55gall and some 20's.DH is gonna build the stand and canopy.I think we're gonna use one of the 20's a a sump or fuse?is that right?Don't even know how to do that yet

Anyway about the lighting.Could we buy our own fixtures from like the store?and put them in the canopy and then just use the good bulbs??
Sorry if this is dumb i'm just trying to find out the best way to do this for starting out.Oh and we're gonna have fish and probably some corals too.Just FYI

I'm so clueless on this but want to do it right.So any info on drilling the tanks,sump,fuge and lighting please??

 

[al mc]

If you are going to set up a 'fish only' tank then any lighting will do. However, if you want a reef tank (with corals), then you will need more powerful lighting. There are many threads on this site about lighting..the different types and what might be the best one to support the type of corals
or clams that you might have in your tank.
Generally you have power compact fluorescents
T5 fluorescents (more light output)
Metal Halides
While there is debate about which lighting types are the best, in my opinion, you will be unhappy with the results if you try to use the too little lighting with corals.

 

[b-baby80]

Originally Posted by Al Mc
If you are going to set up a 'fish only' tank then any lighting will do. However, if you want a reef tank (with corals), then you will need more powerful lighting. There are many threads on this site about lighting..the different types and what might be the best one to support the type of corals
or clams that you might have in your tank.
Generally you have power compact fluorescents
T5 fluorescents (more light output)
Metal Halides
While there is debate about which lighting types are the best, in my opinion, you will be unhappy with the results if you try to use the too little lighting with corals.

Yeah i read about the types.What i'm wondering is will those bulbs work with fixtures from the hardware store?
Has anyone ever done DIY lighting before and had success?

 

[mach03infront]

bumop