New T5 ballast

tsiebel · 03/09/2011, 07:32 PM

Hi am buying a new ballast for my T5 setup. I have 4 36" 39watt bulbs. I currently have a icecap 660 which has stopped working for the 6th time. And since icecap is going under I am switching to sunlight supply(great customer service by the way. I have their ballasts for my halides, one went bad and they send out a prepaid label to send it back. Within days I recieved a brand new ballast). Anyway I am trying to decide between the workhorse 7 and the advance 4x54watt. Since im use to the icecap overdriving the lamps should I get the advance 4X54? will this ballast do the same thing? If I get the workhorse 7 will it be much dimmer than im used to?

B-Willz · 03/09/2011, 07:37 PM

I just switched from a 660 to 2 work horse 5's, and it does not appear any dimmer

tsiebel · 03/09/2011, 07:39 PM

what wattage bulbs are you running?

B-Willz · 03/09/2011, 07:54 PM

4 54 watt bulbs, I ran 2 bulbs to each ballast for dusk dawn. I found over driving was killing the bulbs faster and no big difference in coral responce or growth.

tsiebel · 03/09/2011, 08:07 PM

were you running 1 or 2 icecap ballasts for the 4 54 watt bulbs

chilwil84 · 03/09/2011, 08:17 PM

coral vue makes a 660 ballast now that they claim to have upgraded from the icecap. i think the icecap employee that engineered the 660 went to coralvue.

rtparty · 03/09/2011, 08:28 PM

Just get 2 spec T5 ballasts. I wouldn't use Workhorse ballasts with T5's but I won't get into that debate in this thread. Search the boards, you will find the info.

Spec T5 ballasts are made by Vossloh Schwabe, Triad, Advance and AccuStart.

Call Reefgeek and they will get you taken care of.

tsiebel · 03/11/2011, 05:40 PM

I just realized that the icecap was pushing 110 watts to my 39 watt bulbs. so even though it was over driven I wont see that big of a difference it light/color?

chuckreef · 03/11/2011, 05:51 PM

I have the workhorse ballsts in my aquactinincs constellation and the advances in a retrofit on a different tank. I like the advance better. The advances may be a tiny bit brighter to my eyes, but, it seems to have "crisper" color to it. Sorry "crisper" is the only way I can explain it. I don't know why there's a difference, but other reefers have coommented on it too. At fist I though it was just different batches of bulbs, but both tanks have been thorugh more than five bulb changes now and the look remains slightly different each time. Honestly, I've though about replacing the ballasts in the aquactinnics fixture on several occasions. Don't get me wrong its a great fixture in every way - its just somehting about the look.
I guess the best wat to say it is: "If one of the workhorse ballasts went out tomorrow in my fixture, it would not get replaced (by me) with another workhorse."

125G Reefer · 03/11/2011, 07:02 PM

Workhorse. IMO. You can buy a couple, then when one goes out, at least your whole tank won't be out.

03/09/2011, 07:32 PM	#1
tsiebel Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: cincinnati Posts: 30	New T5 ballast Hi am buying a new ballast for my T5 setup. I have 4 36" 39watt bulbs. I currently have a icecap 660 which has stopped working for the 6th time. And since icecap is going under I am switching to sunlight supply(great customer service by the way. I have their ballasts for my halides, one went bad and they send out a prepaid label to send it back. Within days I recieved a brand new ballast). Anyway I am trying to decide between the workhorse 7 and the advance 4x54watt. Since im use to the icecap overdriving the lamps should I get the advance 4X54? will this ballast do the same thing? If I get the workhorse 7 will it be much dimmer than im used to?

03/09/2011, 08:28 PM	#7
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	Just get 2 spec T5 ballasts. I wouldn't use Workhorse ballasts with T5's but I won't get into that debate in this thread. Search the boards, you will find the info. Spec T5 ballasts are made by Vossloh Schwabe, Triad, Advance and AccuStart. Call Reefgeek and they will get you taken care of. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

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03/09/2011, 07:37 PM	#2
B-Willz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Aurora Co Posts: 420	I just switched from a 660 to 2 work horse 5's, and it does not appear any dimmer

03/09/2011, 07:39 PM	#3
tsiebel Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: cincinnati Posts: 30	what wattage bulbs are you running?

03/09/2011, 07:54 PM	#4
B-Willz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Aurora Co Posts: 420	4 54 watt bulbs, I ran 2 bulbs to each ballast for dusk dawn. I found over driving was killing the bulbs faster and no big difference in coral responce or growth.

03/09/2011, 08:07 PM	#5
tsiebel Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: cincinnati Posts: 30	were you running 1 or 2 icecap ballasts for the 4 54 watt bulbs

03/09/2011, 08:17 PM	#6
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	coral vue makes a 660 ballast now that they claim to have upgraded from the icecap. i think the icecap employee that engineered the 660 went to coralvue.

03/11/2011, 05:40 PM	#8
tsiebel Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: cincinnati Posts: 30	I just realized that the icecap was pushing 110 watts to my 39 watt bulbs. so even though it was over driven I wont see that big of a difference it light/color?

03/11/2011, 05:51 PM	#9
chuckreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Davis, Ca. Posts: 816	I have the workhorse ballsts in my aquactinincs constellation and the advances in a retrofit on a different tank. I like the advance better. The advances may be a tiny bit brighter to my eyes, but, it seems to have "crisper" color to it. Sorry "crisper" is the only way I can explain it. I don't know why there's a difference, but other reefers have coommented on it too. At fist I though it was just different batches of bulbs, but both tanks have been thorugh more than five bulb changes now and the look remains slightly different each time. Honestly, I've though about replacing the ballasts in the aquactinnics fixture on several occasions. Don't get me wrong its a great fixture in every way - its just somehting about the look. I guess the best wat to say it is: "If one of the workhorse ballasts went out tomorrow in my fixture, it would not get replaced (by me) with another workhorse."

03/11/2011, 07:02 PM	#10
125G Reefer Moved On Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale,AZ Posts: 913	Workhorse. IMO. You can buy a couple, then when one goes out, at least your whole tank won't be out.