[Ashlar2006]

I am happy to say that I saved enough to get my new aquarium light , the wife is happier than I am because she was tired of hearing me complain about my old single bulb light . Now to start it all over to save up for a new canister filter in which I have wanted for a few years now.

[Brenda_Lee]

I guess our money always goes towards gasoline because we love exploring America. We just came back from a couple of weeks of driving around. We went to North Carolina to visit family and then to Georgia. Our favorite stop was the Georgia Aquarium. We have decided that we are going to see America one Aquarium at the time.

[Ashlar2006]

North Carolina is my favorite place to go , I love it there on the coast , and Florida a very close second .

[Custer148]

My extra money, when there is any, goes into a hobby that my dad got me started in, old 2-cylinder John Deere tractors. I enjoy the feel of bringing them back to life after sitting idle for many years and I just love the sound of them when they are working the ground.

[Jason]

Ashlar, I wish I would have thought of you earlier. Where do you buy your lighting? My wife talked me into taking my brothers 55 gallon setup for our little half dollar size turtle. But it needs new ballasts. Where do you get yours? I need a heat one for him. I found one locally that was to help with the shell, but I was told he still needs a heat style one. I would like something simple, that just plugs in without having to wire it up. Any help would be great.

[Ashlar2006]

I get my ballasts and starters at my local electrical shop . This new lighting is a HO (high output) light with two special bulbs , one bulb for the plants and the other bulb for the fish . The bulbs run around $20 a piece but worth it . I will have to order replacement parts (other than bulbs) straight from the manufacturer , it's German made , and they make some of the best equipment for aquariums .

For reptile lamps I would check Big Al's , here's a link Reptile Supplies - Reptile Supply & Products Store at BigAlsOnline.com . Big Al's on-line has some of the best prices out there .

You could also try Foster's and Smith's web site , here's a link to there site .... Reptile Cages, Pet Reptile Supplies and Reptile Cage Products ? Drs. Foster & Smith . They have some good prices also .

I buy from both of them and have never had any complaints .

One thing you need to remember about the tank itself , once you use it for reptiles or small animals if you ever want to switch to fish you will need to strip out all the sealent in it and reseal it . The urine/waste from reptiles and furry critters will soak into the seals and leech into the water of the fish and will keep the ammonia at high levels which in turn causes damageto the gills of the fish and/or kill them outright .

Oh and one more thing . From what all my reptile friends have told me , use a lamp , as you are doing , and not the heating rocks . The rocks have a habit of getting to hot and burning the reptiles .

[Ashlar2006]

Jason , did those links help you any ? I have never built a light for reptiles , only for freshwater aquariums .

[Jason]

Sorry, forgot to respond. I was busy looking at the links. I think they will help, yes. Thank you.

[Ashlar2006]

Wow , no sooner than I get my new light , the motor of my aquarium filter is starting to act hinky and it was my back-up as my other filter motor burned up on me a few months ago . I will now have to get a new Hang on back filter , but I really want a canister filter .
It never ends , but that is the price one pays for this hobby .