Reddit reviews Four Bros Lighting HB-4/T5 4 Bay Lighting 4-Lamp Fluorescent Fixture High Output T5 HO, 120-277V

That fixture just has a single bulb. You will get much better coverage out of a 2 or 4 light system (obviously).

You can do much better for less money.

edit: here's a simple 4 light setup for similar $. http://www.amazon.com/T5-Fluorescent-Lighting-Fixture-120-277V/dp/B00GWAJGW0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427567322&sr=8-1&keywords=4+light+t5

You would need to fab up a simple stand - I use "metro" style open shelving and the adjustable chains that already come with the light fixture.

With those plants yes you do need c02. And very high lighting. That light probabaly won't be enough. I'd guess you'd need two of those. Personally if you're trying to save money I would just go buy a 48 inch t5-t12 4 bulb shop light and hang it above the tank. For the c02 if you want to save money you could buy a paintball c02 tank, a small adaptor, and then a regulator/solenoid for that. And then you will want to buy and diffuser/atomizer/reactor. Personally I would go with an inline reactor you'll save a ton of c02 and there for more money. All of these things I just mentioned can be bought on amazon.

Lighting: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GWAJGW0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_Xvk-wb1EQ4JXR

(Bulbs for lighting: www.amazon.com/dp/B005OLL5IG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_yyk-wbCP0NEWE)

C02: (tank) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_Bzk-wbCKB2M5G

(Adaptor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M49QDC/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_DAk-wbPXGA6R8

(Regulator) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydroponics-Extoic-Injection-System-Regulator-Grow-Room-Flow-Meter-Control-CO2/221446697164?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D35626%26meid%3D2b21bf0137344d8aa2d826341e206413%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D321217917654

(sorry for the long link)

(Reactor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DGJDXQ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_2Ck-wbWCH2VM5

^you do need a canister filter for that so if you don't have one of those here's a cheap one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00896IILA/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_VGk-wbNBS50GK


Realistically this is just the beginning of things you'll need to get a tank like that. But that is a cheap and good start. If you have any questions feel free to ask. It can be daunting but it's worth it!

>I feel like it would be a lot cheaper to build a fixture? Those light bulbs with a casing are around $30-60 if you just put it together yourself.

This is the fixture he's talking about. Do you have electrician's skills to the extent that you'd be able to purchase the bulbs, starter, and wiring separately, and then wire it all together into a fixture? and then wire it into a shelving unit of some kind? Or into a hood in order to suspend it on chains? If so, then yes, it's cheaper to DIY. But not if you're not an electrician.

Depends how much you pay for power. 48-inch T5HO with 4 bulbs is $119, two Ray2s is $360, $240 more.

However, the T5 bulbs together use 216W while a pair of Ray2's use 78W, that's a difference of 138W. Where I am power is expensive, $0.25/kWh, so if I use a 16 hour photoperiod at that rate I'll make up the $240 difference in 15 months. Maybe your power is cheaper, and it's closer to 2 years, but it is a very big difference, and if you plan on keeping them it's worth it. For reference the Ray2 is rated for 40,000 hours, it should last almost 7 years under normal conditions, fluorescents last half as long, so you're talking like an extra $33 spend on the fluorescents to even get to the same lifespan.