t5 vs t5 HO

[cabezon]

I just bought a 2 bulb 48" t5 fixture. the bulbs that came with are 28watts vs the 54 watts I am used to on a 4' bulb. I looked on Drs. Foster and smith, and they do not even have a 28 watt bulb. Will this fixture fire a HO bulb? I never knew that t5 came in a lo-watt version

 

[Zer0]

I.. don't think they do either. Pretty sure T5 and T5HO are the same thing. Maybe you got jipped on the bulbs?

 

[mfdrookie516]

yeah they make T5NO fixtures as well...
Coralife S/W T-5 Aqualight Double Strip Light-48" - Lighting - T-5 Fixtures at BigalsOnline

 

[cabezon]

yeah they make T5NO fixtures as well...
Coralife S/W T-5 Aqualight Double Strip Light-48" - Lighting - T-5 Fixtures at BigalsOnline

that's exactly the one. its going over my planted FW but I dont want to buy a HO if it wont fire.

 

[mfdrookie516]

i doubt it will... unless by some miracle it has one of those 'load sensing ballasts' or whatever theyre called

 

[cabezon]

I doubt a $50 light has a good ballast.

 

[BigJim]

I suppose there's a chance that they're the wrong bulbs and you're overdriving regular T5 bulbs. If not, you can get 4' T5 bulbs from Home Depot.

 

[cabezon]

I suppose there's a chance that they're the wrong bulbs and you're overdriving regular T5 bulbs. If not, you can get 4' T5 bulbs from Home Depot.

no, they are not the wrong bulbs unfortunately. That is the fixture in the above post. I forgot about HD. I got a 12" from there for my sump.