Tek Light T-5 Retrofit Kits Question again

[German]

Hi all,

I have a question, actually more of a warm a fuzzy question. I have a 55 gal long tank, and it is 48 inches long. I have two 96W PC in it already, and I'm planning to buy the Tek Light T-5 Retrofit Kits from Hellolights to add to it The inside of the canopy is exactly 48 inches long. I want to buy the 48 inch T5s, but I don't have any wiggle room, should I get the 36 inch instead?

Also, the Tek Light T-5 Retrofit Kits from Hellolights comes with their bulbs, anyone used the TRU bulbs before?

Thanks,
German

 

[duec22]

To be honest I dont' know if the bulb is 48" or if it's 48" with the endcaps on...you might want to post this in the lighting/equipment forum....

 

[rafael13]

bulbs are 48" with the endcaps,49" with the mounting braces

 

[goreefer]

Check with Greg at ReefGeeks,
He can give you the exact length of the bulbs with the endcaps.

 

[German]

Thanks guys, I called reefgeek and hellolights and they told me 47 inches. I will post this on the light equipment forum to for the bulbs, thanks again.
German

 

[Justin74]

Hey sorry I missed this German, being the appointed T5 guru and all heheh
But seriously, since you already got the dimensions down I personally havnt tried that brand but, if it's manufactured by Narva(German Co.) then your good to go with known quality as they also sell them to ATI. If not, you may be on the front of a new frontier, and not much feedback out there.

I just wish I could see your face when it's all set up and you turn them on Your gonna be wondering what to do with those PC's now heheh.

-Justin

 

[German]

Hi Justin,

I was wondering if someone will say that. If the ballast for the PC goes, then I will switch completely to T5s. Currently, the PCs I have are in individual parabolc reflectors from aquarium hobbyst supplies, so I'm curious about which will be brightert. My gut feeling is the T5 will shine brighter.

My plans for this mix light setup is the T5s bulbs will be 10K and the PC will be 03 Actinic blues. Hopefully this will look good.

So how long before a ballasts die? I have mine for a least 3 years, and I think their the work horse ballast.

German

 

[eagleONE]

Hey German

I had PCs a while back and recently transitioned to T5s... Let me just say my friend, you'll like the T5s over PCs. The colouration is a whole lot better.

Jay

 

[goreefer]

If you have the Work Horse ballasts they will work for the T5's.
I use the WH5 ballasts for my T5's.
You will be suprised how much brighter the T5's are over the PC's.
I switched from the 220 watts of PC's to 96 watts of T5's. I could not believe to difference.

 

[Justin74]

Ya thats the ballast Im using, they work for both. So technically alls you would need to do is swap the bulbs and endcaps.

-Justin

 

[goreefer]

You got it!
Some say that the WH ballasts are not the best because they do not have end of life for the bulbs and they are a 'hard start' ballast. Most other T5 ballasts are 'programed start' which is a little easier on the bulbs.
The WH ballasts are mostly used in the industrial field for all sorts of lighting applications.
The way that I see it is I already had the WH, and all that I needed was the bulbs, endcaps, and reflectors. Later on I may consider a IceCap ballast, but for now my system is up and running.
The growth on my montipora digitata and SPS is increadible!
Don't forget to get the good reflectors. They make a huge difference. I am using the IceCap ones from ReefGeek.

 

[Justin74]

Hey goreefer, ya Ive read those conversations too about the life. From what I recall though there was just an increased percentage ratio of bulb life potentially ending sooner, not that it definately will though. So basically it's just splitten hairs on a couple months, but by that time you should be considering getting new bulbs to keep opimal PAR values anyway Im gettin in the habbit of tryin to swap them every year regardless. The detriment color shifting does is just not worth getting that last few months to me, as it can take a couple of months to fix the damage, ie hair,cyano, bleaching corals, etc.

I agree, these are coral growin machines! Dont hear about many people switchen back after they try them too. And the ones that do, only excuses I heard was that it was too bright for some of there stuff!

-Justin

 

[goreefer]

I always like the "Too Bright" comment.
For those that say that, walk outside and look up....
You will never be brighter than the sun with lights over an aquarium.
As far as changing out the bulbs every 12 months, I totally agree with you.

 

[Justin74]

Hey those are some great examples in your gallery goreefer! Some are a lil blurry but you cant help but notice the difference! Great job :thumbsup:

-Justin

 

[goreefer]

Thank you,
My cheap digital camera didn't quite do the job.

 

[duec22]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8927674#post8927674 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by goreefer
I always like the "Too Bright" comment.
For those that say that, walk outside and look up....
You will never be brighter than the sun with lights over an aquarium.

If you think that is true, try this experiment. Take one arm and put it out in the sun for an hour, and then go inside and place your other arm under a MH 250w+ for an hour. When you are done, tell me wich one has a burn.

 

[goreefer]

duec22,
I would, but I run T5's, and they have yet to give me a sunburn.
I'm sure with the correct spectrum that it is possible, ie, tanning booths.
The other question that I have for you is how did you fit 6X24 T5's over your 29? Four was all that I could fit over mine.
Do you use reflectors?

 

[duec22]

I don't think my tank is a standard 29gal, and might be a tad depper than most...it's a Via Aqua, but I don't quite remember the dimmentions. There are only 5 blubs over the main tank, and the sixth is over my HOB fuge. The lights are the standard TEK T5 retros.

Here are a couple of pics from when I built the hood...

This pic doesn't have the brace that holds the fuge bulb on, but it has all five of the tank braces.

As you can see in this one, there wasn't a whole lot of extra room.

The only way I think I could fit the sixth bulb in would be to have the bulbs in an arc from front to back...other than that I can only fit five over the main tank.

 

[goreefer]

Nice setup!
I like the way you hinged the bulbs.
My 29 is a standard one. That is why I could only put 4 bulbs over it. I am overdriving two of the bulbs with the WH5 ballast. I wanted to see what it will do to the bulbs. If they start to blacken at the ends before to other two I may back off of the overdriving, I just have to wait and see.
What type of ballast do you use?

 

[duec22]

I believe they are all the Triad T5 electronic ballast.