flourecent lighting

[Seanc]

Hi
i have a bunch of 4' florecent lights, but i have no 4' tanks to use them on. could I use 3' and 2' bulbs, on the 4' fixtures. would this be any more dangrous then making it high output?
thanks

[BigDaddy]

So, you are going to move the end caps over and drive a 2 foot bulb (or 3) with a ballast designed for 4 foot?

If so, you might end up overdriving the bulbs.  Not a problem really... people do it all the time to get more light over their tanks.

Be aware, though, that the bulbs will generate more heat and will burn out much, much quicker.

[Seanc]

yeah that was what i was thinking, I thought it would work but just wanted to make sure. thanks Big D

[darkdep]

Depends on the ballast...some (especially electronic) ballasts will run shorter bulbs at their rated wattage.  Detects it somehow.

[rockgarden]

http://nemesis.lonestar.org/reference/electricity/fluorescent/overview.html