switching aro vho lighting to t5 lighting

[zxanth]

I hope someone has done this, but I am wanting to switch my endcaps for the ARO 4LX ballast that runs my vho so that it will run T5s. I went to Hellolights website to see and the write ups there said it can be done but had a warning about not running it to specifications and such. I know that you can run vho and T5 with icecap ballast so hopefully this is the same concept.

[oddballs]

you might ask tulsa reefer on the omas boards i know he has done a lot of research on this subject.

[spsphreak75gal]

So did it work?

[TulsaReefer]

I've done this with Icecap ballasts, but they are designed to run just about any tubes, VHO, T5, regular, and even CF, and the manufacturer will stand behind using them this way. I'm not sure about the ARO ballast, I've never used one, but did notice their warning about them on the Hellolights site related to T5 use, so I'd be a little wary of it, you may either shorten the life of the tubes, or the ballast, or both, hard to say. They aren't specific about "you may not get the performance you expect" and what they mean by this. If you run T5's with any ballast that over drives them (the Icecap does this) then you need active cooling, i.e. fans that push/pull air across the tubes, especially near the endcaps.

If you want a reasonable cost way to do T5's, look for the Hagen retrofit ballast, I know Premier in Tulsa sells them, I'm not sure where else does. Each can run two tubes, and aren't much more money than the endcaps alone (I paid 15.00 per pair for endcaps and mounts before, so $30 for two tubes). The Hagen ballast is really easy to set up, endcaps and all the wiring are ready to go, plug in the bulbs, mount them, and your done. I paid about $60 for mine, but that was a 24/39 watt ballast, not sure if the 54 watt version is the same price or not.

Also, if your going to T5's in a retro fashion, make sure you use individual reflectors. Otherwise it's not likely you will get much out of the change over VHO tubes, other than a wider selection of bulbs. T5's without reflectors lose about half the light or more, so well designed individual parabolic reflectors are a must.

[zxanth]

Thank you Tulsareefer on your information. I will try to contact them and try to ask specifics. If I do try it, all the endcaps and wiring can still be reused on an icecap ballast if I decide to buy one. I hope this works. Spending a little over 150 dollars if i retrofit my existing ARO ballast vs spending a little under 400 dollars in buying a retrofit kit I believe is worth a shot.

Wish me luck

[TulsaReefer]

If your worried about it, you might want to see if anyone has some old T5 tubes they need to get rid of that they haven't thrown away yet. That way if you are experimenting you don't have to take any risks with new tubes. Once you get it set up and running well, put in the new tubes and go for it.

Good luck!

[zxanth]

great advice Tulsareefer, I will start a post to see if anybody has old 5 ft bulbs available for my trial or if I wait 5 more months I can use the ones that I have.

Thanks

[mskohl]

You're looking for the 5 footers? 80 W? If so, I should have some by the next meeting. I've been wanting to replace mine - I even have the new bulbs sitting here, but I've been procrastinating it. But, it's getting done this weekend!

The 'old' bulbs are right at a year old. How many and what colors do you want? I can bring them to the meeting.

[zxanth]

Awesome mskohl, if you can bring 3 bulbs on the next meeting (any bulb will do except midday too yellow) I will also experiment on bulb combination for my tank and that would help also. I have 3 t5s right now and it would be great if i have 6. What bulb combination do you have? or reccommend. I want to make my sps and other corals glow more that it is now.

Thank you,

[mskohl]

I swapped them out tonight and of course, I can't remember exactly what the bulbs were, but I think there are two actinic+, three aquablue+, and something else (maybe pure actinic). I'll bring you all of them and let you take them - it's just as easy as bringing 3.

I added two fiji purple, two aquablue+, and two actinic +. I still need to wire the one midday and another aquablue. I'm not sure I'll like the midday either. My thought was to balance all this blue, but I think I like the blue.