T8 Lighting

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FishAddict413

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Messages
47
Location
Florida
I just had a quick lighting question. I have a ballast that I used for 2 48" 40W, 1 flourescent and 1 actinic. The old bulbs fit snuggly in the setting. I could not find the larger 48" bulbs (1" or so round) so i purchased 2 48" 40W T8s. They plug in and fit in the old ballast setting but there is room around them because they are skinnier (1/2" round or so). They light up and are 40W each. Is this safe with the open space around the bulb and being a T8? Thanks for your reply.
 
Yeah, they should work. The t size stands for the size of the bulb in 8's of an inch. T-8= 8/8 or 1", The older bulbs that you speak of are 12/8 or 1 1/2" around. Anything smaller then t-8 will not operate in the old fixture and remember you will not be able to run any high output lamps with that ballast.
 
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