T5 Actinic Lighting, New Bulbs or New Ballast?

carolinareefs · 02/08/2006, 03:45 PM

I have some Odyssea HO t5 bulbs (54W each) and ballast that I took out of the casing and am using as suppliments to my halides. They are not very bright at all (my lighting sits about 13" off the water) and are not true actinics. Due to size constraints in the hood, I can either continue to use these lights and ballast, or purchase a 110W VHO ballast and endcaps to retro into my hood.

My question: Is the reason that the t-5's aren't very good (other than the fact that they are odyssea) more that the bulbs suck or that the ballast just isn't any good. Is changing the bulbs to real actinics going to make much of a difference, or is it worth investing in the single VHO?

Would prefer to keep the T5 unit and get new bulbs as long as it would be worth it and bring out the color of my corals.

Thanks!

02/08/2006, 03:45 PM	#1
carolinareefs Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 113	T5 Actinic Lighting, New Bulbs or New Ballast? I have some Odyssea HO t5 bulbs (54W each) and ballast that I took out of the casing and am using as suppliments to my halides. They are not very bright at all (my lighting sits about 13" off the water) and are not true actinics. Due to size constraints in the hood, I can either continue to use these lights and ballast, or purchase a 110W VHO ballast and endcaps to retro into my hood. My question: Is the reason that the t-5's aren't very good (other than the fact that they are odyssea) more that the bulbs suck or that the ballast just isn't any good. Is changing the bulbs to real actinics going to make much of a difference, or is it worth investing in the single VHO? Would prefer to keep the T5 unit and get new bulbs as long as it would be worth it and bring out the color of my corals. Thanks!