DIY Icecap...its not what you think
- Thread starter reefburnaby
- Start date
od lighting
od lighting
Sorry,but my tank just had a spill cause of my overflow and needed to
move tank and clean under neath.The tank has been back in place but not put together yet .besides my tank is nothing to brag about as a limited budget has kept me from getting what I have wanted(it has also prevented me from making some poor purchases)love the hobby though .ANYBODY WANT A KIDNEY FOR CHEAP!LOL
but will centrally post some pics
od lighting
Sorry,but my tank just had a spill cause of my overflow and needed to
move tank and clean under neath.The tank has been back in place but not put together yet .besides my tank is nothing to brag about as a limited budget has kept me from getting what I have wanted(it has also prevented me from making some poor purchases)love the hobby though .ANYBODY WANT A KIDNEY FOR CHEAP!LOL
but will centrally post some pics
mswt5
New member
I just found this thread tonight and couldnt believe it.....its the answer to all of my dreams!!!!!........reefburnaby i love you!!!!.......ok..ok....ive settled now......ran over to Lowes ....i think i have everything figured out.....( oh yeah.....found CLEAR 1 1/2 inch tubing for anyone whos ever looked for the stuff.....its with the flourescent bulbs...used for storing them....but enough of that).....Gonna get started tomorrow....Wish me luck!!!!!
Thanx again!!!
Thanx again!!!
Overdriving T12s
Overdriving T12s
I tried using an REL2S40RHTP ballast to overdrive one t12 tube. All I got was a faint glow it was wired as follows:
Both yellow wires to one side, blue wires to one opposite pin and the red to the other. I also tried one red & blue to each side with the same results. Is it the ballast? According to the info page it's an electronic one. Did I miss something in the previous posts? I really would like to OD some NOs. Maybe I need to go the T8 route.
Overdriving T12s
I tried using an REL2S40RHTP ballast to overdrive one t12 tube. All I got was a faint glow it was wired as follows:
Both yellow wires to one side, blue wires to one opposite pin and the red to the other. I also tried one red & blue to each side with the same results. Is it the ballast? According to the info page it's an electronic one. Did I miss something in the previous posts? I really would like to OD some NOs. Maybe I need to go the T8 route.
Snook,
Sounds like you're missing your ground to me. Try adding a grounded reflector, or grounded aluminum tape near or on the bulb. It should fire right up then. I ran into the same problem myself when I installed the lights for my refugium. I added a reflector to them, and it's worked fine ever since.
Sounds like you're missing your ground to me. Try adding a grounded reflector, or grounded aluminum tape near or on the bulb. It should fire right up then. I ran into the same problem myself when I installed the lights for my refugium. I added a reflector to them, and it's worked fine ever since.
mswt5
New member
just got new lights and overdrived!!!!!
my aquarium is a 29 gal so i had to go with 2 24" inch 20W bulbs...one 6500 and one actinic......I overdrived each with a 4X32 ballast......so if my math is correct thats 6X.....but if i go any lower than that it doesnt seem like im getting that much more power and i will be moving into my 75 in about 2 months so i didnt want to get any less powerful ballast......my 6500K bulb doesnt seem to get that hot but my actinic gets HOT!!!.....but usually they run hotter right???.....so the question is do yall think im going to end up burning down the house???
my aquarium is a 29 gal so i had to go with 2 24" inch 20W bulbs...one 6500 and one actinic......I overdrived each with a 4X32 ballast......so if my math is correct thats 6X.....but if i go any lower than that it doesnt seem like im getting that much more power and i will be moving into my 75 in about 2 months so i didnt want to get any less powerful ballast......my 6500K bulb doesnt seem to get that hot but my actinic gets HOT!!!.....but usually they run hotter right???.....so the question is do yall think im going to end up burning down the house???
GROSSR
Active member
I've been running 1 bulb 4x and I have had no problems. So long as you follow safe/smart electrical guidelines you should not have any problems.
Simply, make sure all your connections are secure and no opportunity for water to make contact, and you should be ok.
Worst case is you burn out the bulb.
Simply, make sure all your connections are secure and no opportunity for water to make contact, and you should be ok.
Worst case is you burn out the bulb.
Slartibartfast
New member
Just FYI, there is a GE bulb, part number GE40904 that is supposed to by 9325 K. I see some of them for sale online, but I haven't seen any in the store.
Home depot doesn't seem to carry T8s in 36" size, so I am going to have to go to a specialty store.
Does anyone know if you can overdrive a 12" tube for a nano?
Home depot doesn't seem to carry T8s in 36" size, so I am going to have to go to a specialty store.
Does anyone know if you can overdrive a 12" tube for a nano?
Slartibartfast
New member
Right. But I don't know if you can find a 4-way ballast that is designed to run 12" tubes. 
The 4-way ballasts seem designed for industrial applications, and I can't image an industrial application that would need a bunch of 12" tubes.
Maybe Santa's workshop....
The 4-way ballasts seem designed for industrial applications, and I can't image an industrial application that would need a bunch of 12" tubes.
Maybe Santa's workshop....
Slartibartfast
New member
This is my attempt at documenting the difference in the lights. This is a 3' 30W T-12 actinic bulb. I used "exposure lock" on my camera, so the exposure should be the same between these two shots.
1X overdrive:
4X overdrive:
And here is the PC vs NO:
Appearance-wise, it does seem brighter than my 96 Watt PC from AH-supply (as I would hope it would). The PC is of unknown age, so I am sure that is a factor. Also, I can touch the NO indefinitely but the PC for only a few seconds. Clearly I am losing a lot of watts on the PC to heat.
Slartibartfast
1X overdrive:
4X overdrive:
And here is the PC vs NO:
Appearance-wise, it does seem brighter than my 96 Watt PC from AH-supply (as I would hope it would). The PC is of unknown age, so I am sure that is a factor. Also, I can touch the NO indefinitely but the PC for only a few seconds. Clearly I am losing a lot of watts on the PC to heat.
Slartibartfast
Last edited:
Slartibartfast
New member
Here is "before"
Here is "after"
This is basically the result of switching from an old PC to a new overdriven NO actinic.
Not a huge difference in the camera, but it is definitely brighter and less yellow to my eye.
Here is "after"
This is basically the result of switching from an old PC to a new overdriven NO actinic.
Not a huge difference in the camera, but it is definitely brighter and less yellow to my eye.
Slartibartfast
New member
mswt5 said:
The bulb is a generic actinic from the pet store. Expensive ($14), but I wanted to play around today.
Still, even at pet store prices it is a lot cheaper than $40 for a replacement PC actinic.The ballast is pretty much the same one everyone is talking about here. Mine is a Magnetek electronic ballast, designed to run 4 lights. I got it at Home Depot for $27, and the box was covered in a huge layer of dust.
mswt15, you are welcome to come by and check it out if you are in the neighborhood. I sent you my email address.
Next, I am planning to swap out the regular PCs, if I can find 3' T8s anywhere that are 6500K. No luck at any of the home supply stores.
