6 bulb tek fixtures still good?

YoungREEFA · 07/28/2013, 09:37 AM

I may be on the prowl soon for a 6 bulb fixture, and know that the ballasts have been switched recently. Do the workhourse ballasts work well enough for a 6x39 watt fixture over my 65 gallon for sps?

TimeConsumer · 07/28/2013, 01:16 PM

They work decently. I use a 6x54w Tek over my 75g and I can grow SPS just fine, not as quickly as a 250w MH, but it works enough for my taste. If you have any DIY skills you can swap out the Workhorse ballasts for spec T5 ballasts from sylvania for about $40. And while you're inside the fixture you can do a fan mod as well for another $40. Both of those mods together will increase the output of the Tek by about 50%.

zachfishman · 07/28/2013, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimeConsumer

They work decently. I use a 6x54w Tek over my 75g and I can grow SPS just fine, not as quickly as a 250w MH, but it works enough for my taste. If you have any DIY skills you can swap out the Workhorse ballasts for spec T5 ballasts from sylvania for about $40. And while you're inside the fixture you can do a fan mod as well for another $40. Both of those mods together will increase the output of the Tek by about 50%.

Can you elaborate on these mods? I have a TEK 6-bulb that I wouldn't mind modding.

YoungREEFA · 07/29/2013, 11:03 AM

Please do elaborate

TimeConsumer · 07/29/2013, 01:02 PM

Fan mod: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1572514

As far as the ballasts go, I recommend replacing them with Sylvania Quicktronic QTP ballasts because they are very well priced. You have to know how to read a wiring diagram to do this, as the Workhorse and the spec ballast are wired differently, and you have to remove the jumper from the endcap, but it's not difficult.

YoungREEFA · 07/29/2013, 03:56 PM

So is there space between the reflectors and the hood for the fan? Also, do the fans connect directly into the power supply or is wiring involved

TimeConsumer · 07/29/2013, 04:56 PM

Yes, I can fit a standard 120mm fan in between the reflectors and the hood of mine. You need a DC power supply to power the fans, I used an old laptop power supply (12v) with a dimming pot to control the speed. Mine has 2x 120mm fans.

YoungREEFA · 07/29/2013, 05:18 PM

But even without the mods a tek is a good deal now a days?

TimeConsumer · 07/29/2013, 06:24 PM

I've always found the Tek to be a good deal. I've had 2 of them and would still recommend them for new tanks if SLS didn't discontinue production on it.

YoungREEFA · 07/29/2013, 06:35 PM

Ive posted a WTB for one an hopefully i get some offers!

jpfishfan09 · 07/31/2013, 06:51 PM

Can you post a link to the "spec" ballast you're talking about? I can only find more expensive ballasts from sylvania...

TimeConsumer · 07/31/2013, 08:03 PM

http://www.amazon.com/home-improvement/dp/B002CYVBVE

This is a good one for 4 bulbs. To determine if a ballast is spec or not, read the spec sheet and look for a ballast factor of 1.0 when operating T5HO.

YoungREEFA · 08/01/2013, 07:34 AM

What makes ati's ballast better than this one do you know?

TimeConsumer · 08/01/2013, 12:23 PM

Not sure, I'd have to see the spec sheet, but there's probably minimal performance difference, if any.

moondoggy4 · 08/02/2013, 12:28 PM

Thanks TimeConsumer for the link I am getting a Maristar II this weekend I wiil check to see which ballast it comes with, I will have to check out the fans apparently they are defective.

Lilmatty5dimes · 08/02/2013, 04:15 PM

i'm replacing my 4 bulb ballast with this one here. already did a dozen socket switch so after this should basically be a brand new fixture.
http://www.amazon.com/Advance-04786-...dvange+centium

YoungREEFA · 08/02/2013, 04:35 PM

That ballast factor is 1.2 , i think time consumer said 1.0 is optimal

07/28/2013, 09:37 AM	#1
YoungREEFA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 895	6 bulb tek fixtures still good? I may be on the prowl soon for a 6 bulb fixture, and know that the ballasts have been switched recently. Do the workhourse ballasts work well enough for a 6x39 watt fixture over my 65 gallon for sps?

07/28/2013, 01:16 PM	#2
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	They work decently. I use a 6x54w Tek over my 75g and I can grow SPS just fine, not as quickly as a 250w MH, but it works enough for my taste. If you have any DIY skills you can swap out the Workhorse ballasts for spec T5 ballasts from sylvania for about $40. And while you're inside the fixture you can do a fan mod as well for another $40. Both of those mods together will increase the output of the Tek by about 50%. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

07/29/2013, 01:02 PM	#5
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	Fan mod: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1572514 As far as the ballasts go, I recommend replacing them with Sylvania Quicktronic QTP ballasts because they are very well priced. You have to know how to read a wiring diagram to do this, as the Workhorse and the spec ballast are wired differently, and you have to remove the jumper from the endcap, but it's not difficult. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

07/29/2013, 04:56 PM	#7
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	Yes, I can fit a standard 120mm fan in between the reflectors and the hood of mine. You need a DC power supply to power the fans, I used an old laptop power supply (12v) with a dimming pot to control the speed. Mine has 2x 120mm fans. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

07/29/2013, 06:24 PM	#9
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	I've always found the Tek to be a good deal. I've had 2 of them and would still recommend them for new tanks if SLS didn't discontinue production on it. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

07/29/2013, 11:03 AM	#4
YoungREEFA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 895	Please do elaborate

07/29/2013, 03:56 PM	#6
YoungREEFA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 895	So is there space between the reflectors and the hood for the fan? Also, do the fans connect directly into the power supply or is wiring involved

07/29/2013, 05:18 PM	#8
YoungREEFA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 895	But even without the mods a tek is a good deal now a days?

07/29/2013, 06:35 PM	#10
YoungREEFA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 895	Ive posted a WTB for one an hopefully i get some offers!

07/31/2013, 06:51 PM	#11
jpfishfan09 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 88	Can you post a link to the "spec" ballast you're talking about? I can only find more expensive ballasts from sylvania...

07/31/2013, 08:03 PM	#12
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	http://www.amazon.com/home-improvement/dp/B002CYVBVE This is a good one for 4 bulbs. To determine if a ballast is spec or not, read the spec sheet and look for a ballast factor of 1.0 when operating T5HO. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

08/01/2013, 07:34 AM	#13
YoungREEFA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 895	What makes ati's ballast better than this one do you know?

08/01/2013, 12:23 PM	#14
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	Not sure, I'd have to see the spec sheet, but there's probably minimal performance difference, if any. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

08/02/2013, 12:28 PM	#15
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Thanks TimeConsumer for the link I am getting a Maristar II this weekend I wiil check to see which ballast it comes with, I will have to check out the fans apparently they are defective.

08/02/2013, 04:15 PM	#16
Lilmatty5dimes Moved On Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: PSJ, FL Posts: 2,235	i'm replacing my 4 bulb ballast with this one here. already did a dozen socket switch so after this should basically be a brand new fixture. http://www.amazon.com/Advance-04786-...dvange+centium

08/02/2013, 04:35 PM	#17
YoungREEFA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 895	That ballast factor is 1.2 , i think time consumer said 1.0 is optimal