are all t5 ballasts the same?

rhino509 · 01/28/2009, 11:40 PM

so im thinking about doing a retro fit t5 swap from the power compacts that are now in there,as one of the ballast is blown,and it just makes sense to switch over to t5.anyways i have read about all the bulb and ballast combos and how they can give out different color hues.are the t5s the same way? i found a 2x54 watt ballast for like 38 bucks shipped(universal brand), but is this as important as it is with halide ballasts?

thanks.

VacavilleFC3S · 01/29/2009, 12:39 AM

yes very much so, cheap ballasts don't create as much light as good ones do just like MH, go with icecaps

Blown76mav · 01/29/2009, 09:22 AM

Depends on how you look at it. With an icecap your paying twice. It overdrives the lights so yes they are brighter, but it uses more electricity, and then it wears out the bulbs faster so you have to buy more bulbs. Also cheap ballasts don't create as much heat so you don't have to run your cooling fans as much.

I'm sure I'm the only one who thinks this was as many love the icecaps, but I'm still not sold on them.

cjtice · 01/29/2009, 09:30 AM

I have had my T5s on a couple different types of ballasts, 1 thing that I will tell you is that the cheap ballasts suck!

You can use 1 or maybe 2 bulbs less if you go with Ice cap ballast. Heck that makes up for the price of the ballast right there.

A cheap ballast is not the way to go in my opinion. Especially when you are keeping animals that depend on the amount/quality of light you give to them. People are still skeptical that you can even keep SPS under T5s so why would you even skimp on the ballasts?

rhino509 · 01/29/2009, 09:49 AM

well theses wont be the main lighting over the tank,it has 2 150 halides as well,this is the supplemental lighting.the fixture now has 2 130 watt power compacts for the actnincs.but one of the ballasts have gone out and i figured what a better time to swap out the lights.

i also have one more question.....will a 54 watt t5 put as much light as the 130 watt pc? i know theyre under half the wattage,but i do know that t5s put out more light per watt,just curious.
thanks again.

an411 · 01/29/2009, 10:31 AM

Yeah if they are just for actinics then go with a cheap ballast if It was your main lighting then I would say go with ice cap and overdrive those badboys.

rhino509 · 01/29/2009, 12:59 PM

so how do t5s stack up against the pc in the 4 ft bulb?
the 4ft t5 is 54 watts,but the 4ft pc is 130 watts,will one for one be enough to replace the light output by the power compacts? in other words will i get the same light from the t5s or will i need more than the 2?
thanks.

01/28/2009, 11:40 PM	#1
rhino509 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: spokane,wa Posts: 552	are all t5 ballasts the same? so im thinking about doing a retro fit t5 swap from the power compacts that are now in there,as one of the ballast is blown,and it just makes sense to switch over to t5.anyways i have read about all the bulb and ballast combos and how they can give out different color hues.are the t5s the same way? i found a 2x54 watt ballast for like 38 bucks shipped(universal brand), but is this as important as it is with halide ballasts? thanks.

01/29/2009, 09:22 AM	#3
Blown76mav Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lima, Oh Posts: 500	Depends on how you look at it. With an icecap your paying twice. It overdrives the lights so yes they are brighter, but it uses more electricity, and then it wears out the bulbs faster so you have to buy more bulbs. Also cheap ballasts don't create as much heat so you don't have to run your cooling fans as much. I'm sure I'm the only one who thinks this was as many love the icecaps, but I'm still not sold on them. __________________ I thought that this tank was big enough, now I know I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 240g in wall, 150g sump.

01/29/2009, 12:39 AM	#2
VacavilleFC3S Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vacaville California Posts: 2,613	yes very much so, cheap ballasts don't create as much light as good ones do just like MH, go with icecaps

01/29/2009, 09:30 AM	#4
cjtice Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 303	I have had my T5s on a couple different types of ballasts, 1 thing that I will tell you is that the cheap ballasts suck! You can use 1 or maybe 2 bulbs less if you go with Ice cap ballast. Heck that makes up for the price of the ballast right there. A cheap ballast is not the way to go in my opinion. Especially when you are keeping animals that depend on the amount/quality of light you give to them. People are still skeptical that you can even keep SPS under T5s so why would you even skimp on the ballasts?

01/29/2009, 09:49 AM	#5
rhino509 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: spokane,wa Posts: 552	well theses wont be the main lighting over the tank,it has 2 150 halides as well,this is the supplemental lighting.the fixture now has 2 130 watt power compacts for the actnincs.but one of the ballasts have gone out and i figured what a better time to swap out the lights. i also have one more question.....will a 54 watt t5 put as much light as the 130 watt pc? i know theyre under half the wattage,but i do know that t5s put out more light per watt,just curious. thanks again.

01/29/2009, 10:31 AM	#6
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	Yeah if they are just for actinics then go with a cheap ballast if It was your main lighting then I would say go with ice cap and overdrive those badboys.

01/29/2009, 12:59 PM	#7
rhino509 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: spokane,wa Posts: 552	so how do t5s stack up against the pc in the 4 ft bulb? the 4ft t5 is 54 watts,but the 4ft pc is 130 watts,will one for one be enough to replace the light output by the power compacts? in other words will i get the same light from the t5s or will i need more than the 2? thanks.