How about this trick light idea?

sikpupy · 08/25/2008, 03:44 PM

I won a 8 bulb t5-HO setup from a guy on ezebay in town. As soon as I get it (havnt heard from him yet) I want to get 8 (yup, you heard right) ballasts for it. I will house them in a steel container, like an alarm box, cause I have to hang that many on the wall (Dont want my wall burning down from a short). They will be timmed to come on individually, like the sun rises and sets, one of the reasons in my other post I was trying to find some for cheap. I would also assume if I time the bulbs right and or rotate the on/off sequence, I might get a little more life out of them and have a lower electric bill.

Has anyone done something like this? If so, did they notice happier inhabitants and healthier corals? I know on/off seems to do fine, but, come on, thats not really natural, lol.

grimmjohn · 08/25/2008, 03:48 PM

The light is probably a tek light, in which case it has 2 ballasts and two switches already. Put all your blues/actinic bulbs on one, all your whites on another, get two timers for the two cords and call it a day. No reason to dismantle a fixture and put more money into it.

sikpupy · 08/25/2008, 03:52 PM

I luuuuuuuuuuuuuv making unique things that no-one else has done, one of the reasons I have a stroker and AW4 in my grand cherokee

here is his ezebay listing

"You are bidding on a 48" HO T5 Aquarium Light Fixture made by ULTRALIGHT.

This fixture houses EIGHT T5 bulbs at 54 watts each, that's 432 watts of overall lighting.

This item also includes EIGHT LED lights which simulate moonlight.

The lights can be timed to simulate a full 24-hour light cycle -- 2 separate cords power four T5 bulbs each.

The fixture includes TWO built in cooling fans.

The winner of this auction also receives EIGHT T5 bulbs (four actinic & four 10K) for free.

These bulbs have been used in the tank for about a year and are probably due to be replaced.
I have been very pleased with this fixture, but I'm upgrading and hope someone else can now enjoy this item.

The item does not include mounting brackets, but as you can see in the photo, it sits perfectly on top of a 48" tank.

Approximate dimensions: 48" Long x 11" Deep x 4" High

The fixture is in good, working condition -- ready to go on your aquarium today!
"

Can I link?

>>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=008<<

Intresting thing is I cant find anything on "ULTRALIGHT" on the internet, could use some mounting legs. Also, being I only paid $103 for it, I dont think it would be too bad getting some more ballasts and reflectors. May add $150 or so to the final deal, but, I would have exactly what I want and how unique would that be

Aj Flip · 08/25/2008, 03:59 PM

the bulb that turns on first is the balb that turns off last, which is the bulb u replace first, unless u replace them all together

sikpupy · 08/25/2008, 04:03 PM

I was actually thinking of staggering them. First on on, first one off. Havnt really gotten that far into it yet. I needed a light fixture first and foremost. Now my mind is running with it.

sikpupy · 08/25/2008, 04:04 PM

I still have to get it from the guy though, lol.

Rysam · 08/25/2008, 06:25 PM

what size stroker? 4.6,4.7? Im a 4.0 fan and want to stroke my 92 XJ when it dies.

and to keep it closer to the topic, i have my lights setup (3x250mh) on individual timers and it looks cool coming on in a 15 minute sequence.

crvz · 08/25/2008, 07:19 PM

One thing about that fixture is that it doesnt seem to have individual reflectors. Without those, the benefit of T5 bulbs is mostly lost. But others have done similar things, a lot of ballasts will fire 2 bulbs at a time. There are also some LED fixtures that simulate sunrise, sunset, cloud cover, etc.

sikpupy · 08/25/2008, 07:29 PM

Yea, I have seen those but at $800 to start, thats not gonna hapen for me any time soon.

With this unit, for $100, i can have it up and running now. I can upgrade the reflectors one to two at a time and not kill myself. The main thing was to get a fixture to work with.

crvz · 08/26/2008, 12:51 PM

a retrofit shouldnt be in the $800 range, but they are surely more than $100.

The individual reflectors likely won't fit because those bulbs are so close together, but you may find something to work.

sikpupy · 08/26/2008, 03:21 PM

I noticed that and was thinking I might just take a few out. Rivit in the new reflectors and whala!! I "might" be able to stiff 6 of them in there. 4 reflectors and two actinics without ? Hmmm....

ludnix · 08/26/2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sikpupy
I noticed that and was thinking I might just take a few out. Rivit in the new reflectors and whala!! I "might" be able to stiff 6 of them in there. 4 reflectors and two actinics without ? Hmmm....

You might as well build a new light box if you're planning on ever using the individual reflectors.

08/25/2008, 03:44 PM	#1
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	How about this trick light idea? I won a 8 bulb t5-HO setup from a guy on ezebay in town. As soon as I get it (havnt heard from him yet) I want to get 8 (yup, you heard right) ballasts for it. I will house them in a steel container, like an alarm box, cause I have to hang that many on the wall (Dont want my wall burning down from a short). They will be timmed to come on individually, like the sun rises and sets, one of the reasons in my other post I was trying to find some for cheap. I would also assume if I time the bulbs right and or rotate the on/off sequence, I might get a little more life out of them and have a lower electric bill. Has anyone done something like this? If so, did they notice happier inhabitants and healthier corals? I know on/off seems to do fine, but, come on, thats not really natural, lol. Last edited by sikpupy; 08/25/2008 at 03:55 PM.

08/25/2008, 03:48 PM	#2
grimmjohn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,388	The light is probably a tek light, in which case it has 2 ballasts and two switches already. Put all your blues/actinic bulbs on one, all your whites on another, get two timers for the two cords and call it a day. No reason to dismantle a fixture and put more money into it. __________________ They always come back Oh Lord...I'm not ready for this sort of thing.

08/25/2008, 03:52 PM	#3
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	I luuuuuuuuuuuuuv making unique things that no-one else has done, one of the reasons I have a stroker and AW4 in my grand cherokee here is his ezebay listing "You are bidding on a 48" HO T5 Aquarium Light Fixture made by ULTRALIGHT. This fixture houses EIGHT T5 bulbs at 54 watts each, that's 432 watts of overall lighting. This item also includes EIGHT LED lights which simulate moonlight. The lights can be timed to simulate a full 24-hour light cycle -- 2 separate cords power four T5 bulbs each. The fixture includes TWO built in cooling fans. The winner of this auction also receives EIGHT T5 bulbs (four actinic & four 10K) for free. These bulbs have been used in the tank for about a year and are probably due to be replaced. I have been very pleased with this fixture, but I'm upgrading and hope someone else can now enjoy this item. The item does not include mounting brackets, but as you can see in the photo, it sits perfectly on top of a 48" tank. Approximate dimensions: 48" Long x 11" Deep x 4" High The fixture is in good, working condition -- ready to go on your aquarium today! " Can I link? >>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=008<< Intresting thing is I cant find anything on "ULTRALIGHT" on the internet, could use some mounting legs. Also, being I only paid $103 for it, I dont think it would be too bad getting some more ballasts and reflectors. May add $150 or so to the final deal, but, I would have exactly what I want and how unique would that be Last edited by sikpupy; 08/25/2008 at 04:00 PM.

08/25/2008, 06:25 PM	#7
Rysam Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise california Posts: 1,000	what size stroker? 4.6,4.7? Im a 4.0 fan and want to stroke my 92 XJ when it dies. and to keep it closer to the topic, i have my lights setup (3x250mh) on individual timers and it looks cool coming on in a 15 minute sequence. __________________ Josh “Seek advice but use your own common sense” Yiddish Proverb quote “Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.” Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 135 reef

08/25/2008, 07:19 PM	#8
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	One thing about that fixture is that it doesnt seem to have individual reflectors. Without those, the benefit of T5 bulbs is mostly lost. But others have done similar things, a lot of ballasts will fire 2 bulbs at a time. There are also some LED fixtures that simulate sunrise, sunset, cloud cover, etc. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/25/2008, 03:59 PM	#4
Aj Flip Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 802	the bulb that turns on first is the balb that turns off last, which is the bulb u replace first, unless u replace them all together

08/25/2008, 04:03 PM	#5
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	I was actually thinking of staggering them. First on on, first one off. Havnt really gotten that far into it yet. I needed a light fixture first and foremost. Now my mind is running with it.

08/25/2008, 04:04 PM	#6
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	I still have to get it from the guy though, lol.

08/25/2008, 07:29 PM	#9
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	Yea, I have seen those but at $800 to start, thats not gonna hapen for me any time soon. With this unit, for $100, i can have it up and running now. I can upgrade the reflectors one to two at a time and not kill myself. The main thing was to get a fixture to work with.

08/26/2008, 12:51 PM	#10
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	a retrofit shouldnt be in the $800 range, but they are surely more than $100. The individual reflectors likely won't fit because those bulbs are so close together, but you may find something to work. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/26/2008, 03:21 PM	#11
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	I noticed that and was thinking I might just take a few out. Rivit in the new reflectors and whala!! I "might" be able to stiff 6 of them in there. 4 reflectors and two actinics without ? Hmmm....