t5 fixture ?????

[mistermismatch]

havent looked into numbers or wattages or anything. just had a random idea to make another t5 fixture. i currently have a 2 bulb 48" t5 strip over my 55 and was wondering if i could hack up a 24 inch strip and extend it for 48 inch bulbs???? that way i would have 2 fixtures with 4 bulbs total. possible or no go??????

 

[BigJim]

I don't think ballasts intended for 24" fluorescent bulbs would handle 48" bulbs. I know the Hagen GLO T5HO ballasts will handle either a 24" or 36" bulb, but not a 48" bulb.

What's the reason for the extra light? A shop light will work great for plants.

 

[mistermismatch]

I don't think ballasts intended for 24" fluorescent bulbs would handle 48" bulbs. I know the Hagen GLO T5HO ballasts will handle either a 24" or 36" bulb, but not a 48" bulb.

What's the reason for the extra light? A shop light will work great for plants.

its actually a sw reef tank. my corals are doing great and staying healthy with good color but ive never witnessed any reproduction of any of them in the year and a half. not even the mushrooms or polyps

 

[Katorin]

Not sure where you are located, but where i live we have a home improvement store called Rona. They sell a t5 48" fixture for around 60 dollars. I bought one, attached a Hagen reflector to it and use T5HO bulbs with it. I have Been running this fixture for over 8 months and have had no problems at all.

 

[Loach23]

Hey if your looking to grow plant you can get a ge t8 ballast from home depot for $15 and a t8 plant light from petco for $20 and your set I just did this to my 55gallon tank works awesome

Sent from my iPad using Aquarium

 

[uscamaro]

Not sure where you are located, but where i live we have a home improvement store called Rona. They sell a t5 48" fixture for around 60 dollars. I bought one, attached a Hagen reflector to it and use T5HO bulbs with it. I have Been running this fixture for over 8 months and have had no problems at all.

That works for a reef? How many bulbs?

 

[mistermismatch]

Not sure where you are located, but where i live we have a home improvement store called Rona. They sell a t5 48" fixture for around 60 dollars. I bought one, attached a Hagen reflector to it and use T5HO bulbs with it. I have Been running this fixture for over 8 months and have had no problems at all.

checked the local hardware stores here and i cant seem to find t5 fixtures anywhere.

 

[mistermismatch]

Hey if your looking to grow plant you can get a ge t8 ballast from home depot for $15 and a t8 plant light from petco for $20 and your set I just did this to my 55gallon tank works awesome

Sent from my iPad using Aquarium

plants??? im talking bout a reef tank.

 

[Katorin]

It's 2 bulbs and T5HO 54w per bulb. IF you can use T5HO and it gives enough light. I actually have 2 fixtures on one of my 55 gal tanks and there is room to put another fixture if i wanted.

the manufacturer of my fixtures is Lithonia Lighting.

 

[mr_X]

what corals are you keeping katorin?

mistermismatch- what corals are you intending to keep in your tank? some corals will be ok under the lighting you propose, but others will not.

 

[Katorin]

Actually the tank with this fixture is a fresh water planted with a CO2 system. Low light corals would do well with this type of setup and as i have stated, you should be able to fit 3 fixtures on a 55 gal tank which would be about 324w/gal.