T-5 diy lightning

jjmccloud2011 · 10/25/2012, 07:43 PM

hello everyone,
I was thinking of switching to t5 lightning over my 3' 65 gallon mixed reef my question is can I buy a t5 shop fixture from Lowes or something and put aquarium/reef bulbs in them or can you not run the reef t5 bulbs in a shop fixture is the ballast different or something or does it matter or could I just buy regular t5 from there for cheaper and make a DIY fixture any info or help would be appreciated thx so much
Josh

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tkeracer619 · 10/25/2012, 07:55 PM

Aquarium bulbs are ho vs no. So the ballasts won't fire them properly.

You are better off buying a retrofit with waterproof end caps and individual reflectors. T5 bulbs get 50% of their light from the reflector. If the reflector is junk the light output will also be .
Aquacave has good retrofit setups.

Michigan Mike · 10/25/2012, 08:20 PM

I would stick to good retros, but... If I had shallow frag tanks that no one was looking at I may consider a shop light type fixture like this but it may not be worth it.http://www.prolighting.com/rb4t5.html

These are t5HO program start ballasts so they are fine for reef bulbs.

10/25/2012, 07:43 PM	#1
jjmccloud2011 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Columbus, Indiana Posts: 69	T-5 diy lightning hello everyone, I was thinking of switching to t5 lightning over my 3' 65 gallon mixed reef my question is can I buy a t5 shop fixture from Lowes or something and put aquarium/reef bulbs in them or can you not run the reef t5 bulbs in a shop fixture is the ballast different or something or does it matter or could I just buy regular t5 from there for cheaper and make a DIY fixture any info or help would be appreciated thx so much Josh Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

10/25/2012, 07:55 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Aquarium bulbs are ho vs no. So the ballasts won't fire them properly. You are better off buying a retrofit with waterproof end caps and individual reflectors. T5 bulbs get 50% of their light from the reflector. If the reflector is junk the light output will also be . Aquacave has good retrofit setups. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

10/25/2012, 08:20 PM	#3
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	I would stick to good retros, but... If I had shallow frag tanks that no one was looking at I may consider a shop light type fixture like this but it may not be worth it.http://www.prolighting.com/rb4t5.html These are t5HO program start ballasts so they are fine for reef bulbs. Last edited by Michigan Mike; 10/25/2012 at 08:27 PM.