Retrofit help

[Chago09]

I am looking into buying a few T5 HO Retrofit kits and I was looking at this one for my 30" tank.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/l-fl-retro2.php?product_ID=sl-t5tret24

It is 24" I know but for T5 HO there is only 24" or 36". I figured 24" would work fine, it will be raised a bit inside the canopy so I am not to concerned. Or should I ?????

1.) is are these really easy to put together??? Like I'm pretty handy at building projects although electrical I have never touched. Only electrical things I have done is I have changed a lighting fixture in my living room. Is setting up one of these kits any harder then that???

2.) HO bulbs are different then NO bulbs correct??? or is it just the ballast???

3.) Do the T5 HO create a lot of heat???? will the bulbs burn out faster because of the HO????

Thanks for the help

 

[Aadler]

not sure about the canadian pricing but did you check out hellolights? i may be incorrect but the canadian dollar is pretty strong againtst the american $ atm and hellolights seems cheaper.

 

[marduc]

1) should be fairly easy to put together, make sure to take the time to solder the wires together well and either shrink wrap or tape the connections well. your ballast should come with wiring diagrams.

2) HO stands for High Output, NO - Normal Output, so yes you are correct they are different.

3) T5 bulbs do create heat.. not a lot when compared to say halides, but some.. the bulbs in theory burn brighter/more efficiently when cooler. and to correct one thing in your statement, the bulbs will need replaced well before they burn out, they lose efficiency/shift spectrum over time. A couple of computer fans, or 4" radio shack fans or the like are a good investment/addition.

ideally the bulbs should be around 3-4" over the water level, if centered you will only lose 3 inches on either side of the tank from direct coverage.. just don't plan on putting any light loving corals there

 

[ccoral]

Check out these if you do not want to wire have parabolic reflectors units come ready to run

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Helios