overcharging T5s

[Gti_Leo]

i want to place T5 HO over my 26 gallon but the thing is i only have roon for 4.

dine3mtions are 24" x 15" but itsa bow front so from the start of the bow there isonly 11 inches to the back, so i can't put the 6 bulbs like i originally intended so i was considering 4 overcharged 24 watts.

now i have easy access to advanced ballasts and was wondering i got 2- 2x54 watt ballasts would this allow me to overcharge the bulbs or will i have to get 4-2x24watt ballasts to be able to overcharge them?

 

[doogle]

you mean overdriving the bulbs, because the ballast is higher powered?

 

[Bige]

I've heard of this but not sure what it means. Does it mean putting a 24w ballast on a 18w bulb? MrX knows, I think. Wait for him to chime in.

 

[BigJim]

Overdriving T5HOs is possible, but the benefits are debatable. I do think trying to run a 24W bulb at 54W will just blow the bulb.

 

[Gti_Leo]

i've been readign and it sayd it would overdrive them by 20% but the advanced blalasts have electronics that sence over current and shut them down.

i've also been reading that the best ballast to overdrive with are icecaps but personally i don't feel the need to buy a ballast that is 6times the price when i could just add an extra bulb on a DIY fixutre