SpidersWeb Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Dear internets, I forgot to ask while at Hutt Pets last week, but they've started selling T5HO gear. They've got 4' reflectors for $35 which was all good, but I totally forgot to ask about ballasts, tubes etc? If I wanted to setup 3 x 48" T5HO lights, all up, what should I be looking at price wise? (And no I'm not going to buy a $$$ unit, just talking home made here). How easy is getting T5HO ballasts? connectors? I'm sure someone is doing it or has done it and wants to share the details with little old me Cheers, Jono Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxsptlk Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 You're in wellington, you could try egley electrical on hopper street. When I was up there last they had ballasts to run 2 54 watt tubes which would be your 4' T5's. I think the price was around 60 bucks? I can't quite remember, but it wasn't too dear. Endcaps and holders were just a few dollars each. They get a lot of architect and design students from Vic going there so if you just tell them you're building an acrylic display case with so and so number of 4' T5 lights what do I need, they'll just go round and tell you you need this and you need that then you just pay for it. My experience with them is they're willing to tell you what you need, but they either can't be bothered to tell you how to put it together or they simply don't know. If you're pretty handy on the connecting stuff up side of things it shouldn't be a problem but if not, get some help here or ask someone to do it. Do make sure though that you get it done properly, home diy wiring is usually hazardous enough without the addition of saltwater. Death is permanent and takes all the fun out of fish keeping HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted June 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Thanks heaps Just what I was after. Might start with just a twin tube setup and see how that looks first, can always add another fitment later. So 60 for ballast, 70 for proper aquarium reflectors (maybe less from Switched On Gardner??), then money for plug, I've got like 10 metres of heavy duty mains cable left over from when we redid the pumps in the spa. Sounds like a cost effective result. I can then use the T8 ballasts and tubes to light the garage properly :bounce: :bounce: Unfortunately I think I've just given myself even more to do haha Yep I've made two T8 lighting setups myself before, know what I'm up to and know how to wire a ballast Just wanted to know who has what as I've never done T5 before, and last time I went to advance electrical they only had T8 and T12 gear and magnetic ballasts. All the plants in my T5 and Compact Fluoro (yes a 6500K house bulb) setups grow well, but my T8 setup has always been meh unless i run all 5 tubes, even then it's not that bright (compared to others I've seen). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Just get a metal halide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted June 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Na not enough light spread, too much power wasted on heat etc T5 is a much better middle ground for me Also T5 will fit in the hood, metal halide would need to be hung, I'd have to remove the hood and lose more power to heat :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 T5s (And T8s) waste about the same amount of power as heat as metal halides do. Metal halide efficiency ranges from 60-110 lumens/watt, Fluoros from around 50-100 lm/watt. A double ended metal halide with a good reflector would be towards the high end of that range, similar with a good T5 with good reflector. T5s and T8s just spread it out over a couple feet rather than a couple inches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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