WTB 48" PC/T5 Lights, somewhat urgently, and help on which

[Dtip]

Ug. I didn't notice, but the fans in my current lights stopped working in the heat, and my ballasts seem to have blown on all but one light socket in my tank (all four bulbs still work in that socket too). I need to buy a new setup asap: I don't know how happy my corals (all softies & LPS) will be for long on one bulb on only one side of the tank (the other side I'm using two 15watt pc bulb fixtures I have as a stopgap, but they can't really cut it, and they are just laid across the top of the tank).

So I'm in the market for some new lights: anyone selling, or have advice on what to get and where to try and get some fast? I have a 48" tank top, and I'm looking for any decent PCs or T5s that can support a non-SPS/clam tank.

I'm short on cash right now, so I can't really afford to use this as an excuse to by some dream-fixture. I'm currently looking at fixtures at or under 250$ new, which basically limit me to the Current Nova T5 lights with a single (ug) reflector, as far as I know, which salty critter dropships (or will have in by Wednesday). I definately can't shell out 650$ for the really good setups, which is sort of a shame since I was hoping to save up, but reality is reality.

 

[itZme]

If you have a canopy that you could retro-fit a couple of IceCap SLR reflectors and 2 T5 bulbs into you could get off relatively cheap. Salty Critter offers a 2 bulb 48" T5 retro with IceCap 430 ballast for $249.
http://saltycritter.com/lighting/icecap-t5-retrofit.htm

That price includes your choice of bulbs too. If you are going to go with that retro kit I would ask how much to upgrade to an IceCap 660 ballast as it would run 4 bulbs if you ever wanted to increase the lighting without buying a new ballast. The 430 will only run two T5 bulbs and is usually only $20 cheaper than the 660.

I kept clams and SPS with only two T5's on a 75g tank with no problems.

I have an IceCap 3000 which could solve your problem if you are looking to just replace the ballast for your PC lights or you could use it to run two T5 bulbs if you chose to. It retails for $89.99 plus shipping.

You would only have to invest in two reflectors ($22ea), two bulbs ($22ea) and two sets of endcaps/standoffs ($15ea) to have enough light to keep all of your stuff alive and happy.

You only need to replace the T5 bulbs about every 18 months so that would be nice compared to the PC lights you had and you will get much more intensity than the PC lights gave off while using less wattage and lowering your electric usage. There are also LOTS of bulb colors to choose from.

If you wanted the ballast I would sell it to you for $45 shipped to your door or $40 if you want to pick it up. If you pick it up I have a few used 4ft T5 bulbs you could pick through and have for cheap to get you going. I am also thinking of replacing a couple of reflectors so maybe you could get them cheap too and just need endcaps to complete a 48" T5 setup from here cheap.

Here's a link to the ballast I could sell you.

Let me know. Good luck with your dilemma.
-- Kevin

 

[Dtip]

I'm not particularly electronic-wiringly inclined: if they "prewire" things, how much more is left to do? Construction work on mounting the thing into my canopy (which is all wood). I also unfortunately don't have much time for installing things, as I'm mostly in and out of town until mid-August. How hard/much time spent would a retro-fit setup be to... set-up? I've never really looked into it: always just had fully integrated fixtures.

 

[itZme]

You would have to push the wires into the endcaps, screw the endcaps into the canopy and then install the bulbs and reflectors into the endcaps. It is not a difficult process but can take some time when routing the wires and getting the endcaps in the proper locations.

Doing a 2 bulb retro into a wooden canopy would probably take 2 hours if it is your first time.

The wiring is all so simple. The ballast I have already has a power plug wired onto the end that goes to the outlet. Then you would just push the wires into the endcaps according to the diagram for your bulb configuration. Some people run two, three or even 4 bulbs from the same ballast so you have to decide that and then the wiring is just color codes. Plug the orange wire here and the purple wire there.

The diagrams are shown on the MarineDepot links that I provided if you wanted to take a look in advance.

HTH
-- Kevin

 

[Dtip]

Where do the ballasts sit relative to the lights if they aren't inside a plastic frame? And what about protecting things from the saltwater?

 

[sagi]

I have a Nova extreme foe sale. I am leaving for vacation, so you'd have to be here by 6pm.

 

[itZme]

The ballasts on my retros are mounted in the basement on a power panel but you could put them anywhere you want up to about 100 feet away from the bulbs according to IceCap. Most people just mount them under tank in the stand. There would only be one ballast if you are running up to 4 bulbs and it has a mounting flange where you could screw it to the inside of the stand to avoid it getting wet.

I know the Nova fixture that sagi has will keep just about any corals happy. It used to grow corals on a 55g tank with no problems.

If you are looking to get into a fixture instead of a canopy it is a cheap solution but hurry up before he leaves

 

[weluvfish54]

i have a 48" PC current orbit..
works great built in fans and looks really good i can show u pics of my tank with coral and the light on..
built in moonlights also
i got it for $100 new..
cant be much more anywhere else.

 

[aznnutty]

I have two pc fixtures 260 watt each 216 534 4402 for details frost

 

[aznnutty]

sorry for the double post but the last one i was in a hurry. i have a JBJ 260watt fixture with two 10k and two blue acitanic. asking 100 for the fixture. everything works. not quite sure how old it is.

 

[welsher7]

I have a 36" 4 bulb tek fixture that you coul have for $200.00. I'm about an hour away from cleveland.