DIY lighting or buy it?

[Spaceman Spiff]

I'm going to purchase a new 66 gal tank soon and have been toying with the idea of a diy lighting strip. I can purchase the fixtures and build the box without problems, but can anyone offer drawbacks? I want to get around 240 watts onto the tank. That's 6x40 watt bulbs.

I"ve checked out  ahsupply's site and do have a compact fluorescent on my 27 gal. However, I want to do the new tank cheaply as possible. 220 watts of compact fluorescent is going to cost me just short of $300. I can do the same roughly for ~$200 using 4' tubes.

Can anyone offer suggestions on what they've done and what works and what doesn't?

Thanks.

[dattack]

I really don't have first hand experience with power compacts because I have been using the regular 4 ft. flourescents for awhile on my 60 gallon using 4 bulbs.  But I have read many people are really happy with their power compacts because in the long run, it probably saves a lot more money in terms of electricity bill then the fluorescents I have on my workshop lights.  Also, the power compact is probably going to be much lighter and take up less space than the fluorescents.  If I had to do it again, I would probably save up money for a power compact or electricity prices were lower here in California, I would go with metal halides in an open aquaria.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Any suggestions on how you built your light canopy? I don't think that it will be that hard to build it, just attach the 3 fixtures to the top and attach a power cord and switch.

Any problems with the 4' tubes on top of the tank? What is the clearance between the glass and the tube?

I'm running all options thru before I decide. Build it, or buy it. Buying it is easier, but building it saves money for other accessories.

If you could pass on some further details, that would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Ovrclckd]

Thats going to be a lot of tubes over a tank that size, it might be difficult to access it for maintenence. If your a capable dyi'er, go with metal halide lights, in a barebones kit from your local hydroponics store. I can get a 250w metal halide kit with bulb for around $150 Canadian, should be about $100 US. There are a lot more aspects to consider when using mh, but its worth it.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I can get the bulbs at Home depot, but the fixtures are the killer. 175 watt fixture ~200. I might as well go with compacts at that price. I can place them directly on top of the tank over top of the glass cover without any problems.

[dattack]

I believe the bulbs at Home depot are not full spectrum and the color is really yellowish.  The color is said to be ugly for the aquarium and not great for plants either.

You have to watch what tubes you buy.
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/2637/spectra.html