Giesemann RetroFit

nmilstead · 07/19/2014, 04:13 PM

I recently acquired a new light fixture for next to nothing and I plan on updating it. What I know about the light is it has 2x250 metal halides and 2x48" T8's. I was wondering if it is possible to change out the ballast and the stones to convert it over to t5's? I would also like to add (1) 48" stunner strip to the back side of the fixture with timers for more blues and sunrise and sunset. What do yall think about this? I plan on building my next tank around this light fixture and was wondering if it would be worth going through the trouble upgrading this older one or just buying everything new and starting from scratch?

d2mini · 07/19/2014, 08:51 PM

I don't think I'd swap out the T8's.... wait... T8 or T12? I didn't even know T8 existed.
From what I hear, nothing beats T12 super actinics for color pop.
You may not even need the leds.
But if it's T8... i have no idea.

nmilstead · 07/20/2014, 06:26 AM

yeah they are t8's its a pretty old fixture I tried to get in contact with giesemann and they said they didn't have any documentation they would send me on it because of how old it is....

moondoggy4 · 07/20/2014, 11:30 AM

That is a old fixture I haven't seen one like that before. They're have been threads on switching over a Maristar II by removing the MH and installing AI led fixture. Why not keep the MH/ the T-5 it should be a really nice light.

nmilstead · 07/20/2014, 01:32 PM

I plan on keeping the fixture relatively the same just it currently has t-8's and I wanna change those out to t-5s and add leds just for sunrise and sunset

moondoggy4 · 07/20/2014, 02:58 PM

You could use Reef Brites and add them to the side of your fixture, I use them on my Tek Light lots of people use them on ATI fixtures as well.

nmilstead · 07/21/2014, 06:51 PM

I appreciate all the replys but my real question was if anyone has ever gone about changing a t8 ballast to a t5 one and if anyone had ever done it

moondoggy4 · 07/21/2014, 07:00 PM

Sorry for missing the details, How many plugs go into the fixture?

07/19/2014, 08:51 PM	#2
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	I don't think I'd swap out the T8's.... wait... T8 or T12? I didn't even know T8 existed. From what I hear, nothing beats T12 super actinics for color pop. You may not even need the leds. But if it's T8... i have no idea. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

07/20/2014, 06:26 AM	#3
nmilstead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4	yeah they are t8's its a pretty old fixture I tried to get in contact with giesemann and they said they didn't have any documentation they would send me on it because of how old it is....

07/20/2014, 11:30 AM	#4
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	That is a old fixture I haven't seen one like that before. They're have been threads on switching over a Maristar II by removing the MH and installing AI led fixture. Why not keep the MH/ the T-5 it should be a really nice light.

07/20/2014, 01:32 PM	#5
nmilstead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4	I plan on keeping the fixture relatively the same just it currently has t-8's and I wanna change those out to t-5s and add leds just for sunrise and sunset

07/20/2014, 02:58 PM	#6
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	You could use Reef Brites and add them to the side of your fixture, I use them on my Tek Light lots of people use them on ATI fixtures as well.

07/21/2014, 06:51 PM	#7
nmilstead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4	I appreciate all the replys but my real question was if anyone has ever gone about changing a t8 ballast to a t5 one and if anyone had ever done it

07/21/2014, 07:00 PM	#8
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Sorry for missing the details, How many plugs go into the fixture?