Tek T5 Ballasts

[shyland83]

I have 4-24" T5's running on 2 ballasts. When i move them to my new tank i plan on running 2-36" bulbs because thats the only thing i can fit. Can i run the 36" bulbs on the old ballasts? if so do i need to use 1 ballast for each bulb, or can one of the ballasts run both bulbs? I'll go get the number off the ballast if i have to, but it's kind of a pain to get to. thanks

 

[woodworker1959]

Ballasts

Ballasts

Scott the best thing to do is get the name plate data and look for the companies WEB site. I have two different ballast that I use one is a Workhourse and the other is an Icecap. When I go on their sites it shows me what the ballasts are rated at, example of bulb wattages and quantities that they can drive.

 

[shyland83]

Thanks, I guess i was just being lazy to a spectacular degree because it took me 5 minutes to get the numbers and look it up. It's made by triad, and It looks like i can run the 2-39watt bulbs off one of the ballasts. The model number is actually B239, which seems to mean it can run up to 2-39watt bulbs.

 

[puckbs]

if you really wanna push those bulbs Scott, you might wanna think about getting an icecap ballast. I don't know too much about the tek ballasts but I am pretty sure you would be better off with an icecap (maybe just something to think about down the road)

I"m going to be setting up a 24" t5 setup, what are you going to do with your old reflectors? and shoot me a message before you buy the 36" reflectors (if that is your plan)

 

[puckbs]

**sidenote** if you hook one bulb up to each ballast you can do dawn /dusk

 

[shyland83]

I have 2-250watt halides on the tank, the T5 is just for the actinic so i'm not too worried about the output on the bulbs. I like the dawn to dusk idea, but i think i'm going to use the other ballast and 2 bulbs on my frag tank. I will have 2 extra reflectors eventually, i'll let you know.