buy used PC or repair my T5?

gordonj1 · 01/23/2013, 05:09 PM

My 30" Current Nova Extreme had a ballast blow, so a friend of mine loaned me a PC to use for the time being. I really like the look of it compared to my old fixture with stock bulbs.

So my options are to

[1] fix my dual T5 (got the free ballast in) and buy new ATI bulbs to replace the stock bulbs it came with. (cost around $50) I would get a 24"/24W ATI coral plus and a Giesemann 24"/24W actinic plus.

[2] fix the T5, leave the stock bulbs in it, and sell it- put the money toward the light I borrowed which is a 24" coralife lunar aqualight with dual PC 50/50s and 2 lunar LEDS which he wants $100 for

I have a 20 g Long. I am not looking to keep sps anytime soon, but I want the corals I have,softies,leathers,lps,zoas,palys, to thrive and look their best. Size 12 inches deep and 30 inches wide.

I really dont have much experience with different lighting and whatnot. Any input would be helpful.

also, has anyone ever replaced a ballast before?

gordonj1 · 01/23/2013, 05:11 PM

the Pc has dual 65W 24" 50/50s

cerolost · 01/23/2013, 09:03 PM

Stick with the t5's. You already have it and you can do a lot more combinations and options with t5's

zachts · 01/23/2013, 10:09 PM

swaping ballasts is quite easy, usually just need a screwdriver, and a wire stripper if they used crimp connections inside the fixture. It usally takes longer to figure out how to get to the ballast than to acutally replace it.

but with anything where line voltage is involved you should get help from someone who knows what they are doing if you are not familiar with electical wiring. 110volt over water is rather dangerous if not re-wired correctly.

gordonj1 · 01/24/2013, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cerolost

Stick with the t5's. You already have it and you can do a lot more combinations and options with t5's

Okay thanks! That's what I was thinking too. Are there more limitations to what corals you can keep with power compact as opposed to t5?

gordonj1 · 01/24/2013, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachts

swaping ballasts is quite easy, usually just need a screwdriver, and a wire stripper if they used crimp connections inside the fixture. It usally takes longer to figure out how to get to the ballast than to acutally replace it.

but with anything where line voltage is involved you should get help from someone who knows what they are doing if you are not familiar with electical wiring. 110volt over water is rather dangerous if not re-wired correctly.

Okay thanks! Aren't there special waterproof wirenuts that you use as well? I think I remember my dad using them once when we installed lights in my backyard. I'm away at college now so he's not much help lol but I will definitely give him a call.

alton · 01/24/2013, 06:26 AM

Go with the Aqua Blue Special and Actinic. The coral Plus is nice but in a 4 lamp setup. With only two lamps you will need some power.

gordonj1 · 01/24/2013, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alton

Go with the Aqua Blue Special and Actinic. The coral Plus is nice but in a 4 lamp setup. With only two lamps you will need some power.

I don't have experience with the bulbs but from the specs the aquablue special seems almost too blue. I don't really like the look of a blue tank.

gordonj1 · 01/24/2013, 08:24 AM

http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting/t5-bulbs-ati.htm

The aqua blue has a very strong green peak and a bit more yellow. I think the coral plus would be much more crisp white witha hint of blue in the right spectrum for fluorescence.

potterjon · 01/24/2013, 08:53 AM

I would definitely fix the t5 fixture. The only think I could ever grow with power compacts was algae.

gordonj1 · 01/24/2013, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potterjon

I would definitely fix the t5 fixture. The only think I could ever grow with power compacts was algae.

Yeah I'm thinking that's my best bet right now. Plus the pc is 24" so I'm using boards to keep it on my tank which looks super tacky and could cause some issues later on not to mention the possibilty of it falling in!!!!

alton · 01/24/2013, 12:35 PM

Thats what I said when my local fish store recommended the Aqua Blue Special, it is white with the coral plus being a mixture of white/blue/purple. I run those two plus actinic white and pure actinic on my 29.

gordonj1 · 01/24/2013, 02:07 PM

I will look into it.

I also found a 4 bulb fixture brand new on ebay with 2 LEDs and a built in timer for $95 has 2 10k daylights and 2 460 actinics. Should I buy that and sell my fixture?

01/23/2013, 05:09 PM	#1
gordonj1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 340	buy used PC or repair my T5? My 30" Current Nova Extreme had a ballast blow, so a friend of mine loaned me a PC to use for the time being. I really like the look of it compared to my old fixture with stock bulbs. So my options are to [1] fix my dual T5 (got the free ballast in) and buy new ATI bulbs to replace the stock bulbs it came with. (cost around $50) I would get a 24"/24W ATI coral plus and a Giesemann 24"/24W actinic plus. [2] fix the T5, leave the stock bulbs in it, and sell it- put the money toward the light I borrowed which is a 24" coralife lunar aqualight with dual PC 50/50s and 2 lunar LEDS which he wants $100 for I have a 20 g Long. I am not looking to keep sps anytime soon, but I want the corals I have,softies,leathers,lps,zoas,palys, to thrive and look their best. Size 12 inches deep and 30 inches wide. I really dont have much experience with different lighting and whatnot. Any input would be helpful. also, has anyone ever replaced a ballast before?

01/23/2013, 05:11 PM	#2
gordonj1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 340	the Pc has dual 65W 24" 50/50s

01/23/2013, 09:03 PM	#3
cerolost Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 394	Stick with the t5's. You already have it and you can do a lot more combinations and options with t5's

01/23/2013, 10:09 PM	#4
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	swaping ballasts is quite easy, usually just need a screwdriver, and a wire stripper if they used crimp connections inside the fixture. It usally takes longer to figure out how to get to the ballast than to acutally replace it. but with anything where line voltage is involved you should get help from someone who knows what they are doing if you are not familiar with electical wiring. 110volt over water is rather dangerous if not re-wired correctly.

01/24/2013, 06:26 AM	#7
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Go with the Aqua Blue Special and Actinic. The coral Plus is nice but in a 4 lamp setup. With only two lamps you will need some power.

01/24/2013, 08:24 AM	#9
gordonj1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 340	http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting/t5-bulbs-ati.htm The aqua blue has a very strong green peak and a bit more yellow. I think the coral plus would be much more crisp white witha hint of blue in the right spectrum for fluorescence.

01/24/2013, 08:53 AM	#10
potterjon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 933	I would definitely fix the t5 fixture. The only think I could ever grow with power compacts was algae.

01/24/2013, 12:35 PM	#12
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Thats what I said when my local fish store recommended the Aqua Blue Special, it is white with the coral plus being a mixture of white/blue/purple. I run those two plus actinic white and pure actinic on my 29.

01/24/2013, 02:07 PM	#13
gordonj1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 340	I will look into it. I also found a 4 bulb fixture brand new on ebay with 2 LEDs and a built in timer for $95 has 2 10k daylights and 2 460 actinics. Should I buy that and sell my fixture?