24" to 48" t5ho retrofit can I do it.

Sethjohnson30 · 01-02-2013, 08:52 PM

I have an old reef fixture with 4x24" t5ho and a 150w mh and 12 led moonlights I paid 100 bucks for it a couple years ago but I really have no use for it(especially all the actinics)now

I have a 72g tank with a dual t8 shoplight fixture over it. I need more light the t8's are not cutting it.

I have no money to put into this project
But I do have some 48" t5ho bulbs

Can I use the parts out of this fixture to make a dual t5ho 48" light.

This will just be a temp light until I can afford a ray II, I don't want to put any money into this project. I have all the nessecary tools soldering iron, but connectors and a spool of 16g wire.

I'm assuming there's 4 ballast? For the t5's? Would I have to connect 2 to run a 48"?

I have no clue how this stuff works lol
Any help would be great

**ngrubich** · 01-02-2013, 10:12 PM

I'm no electrician, but just at a quick glance, I would probably say no: I don't think the ballasts could handle the jump to a 48" lamp (more than doubling the wattage per lamp). I could be wrong, though. Hopefully someone else can help you out.

Sethjohnson30 · 01-03-2013, 08:09 PM

Bump anybody have any ideas

HD Blazingwolf · 01-03-2013, 08:26 PM

why not hang the metal halide and let it light the tank?

GeToChKn · 01-03-2013, 11:41 PM

You could take it apart and see how it's wired. If each set of two bulbs are wired in series, basically then say each bulb is 20w, then it's shooting 40w through the whole system. Remove tw of the caps go end to end it would end up at 40w (numbers are just an example). It just depends on how it's wired. If it's in parallel, it probably won't work, if it's series, it should.

Should is the key word. lol.

Sethjohnson30 · 01-04-2013, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Blazingwolf

why not hang the metal halide and let it light the tank?

That thing sucks a ton of power, and it's a 48" tank so I would have to hang it pretty high. I also would have to replace the 10000k bulb with something more suitable for a planted tank(I'm broke)

Sethjohnson30 · 01-04-2013, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeToChKn

You could take it apart and see how it's wired. If each set of two bulbs are wired in series, basically then say each bulb is 20w, then it's shooting 40w through the whole system. Remove tw of the caps go end to end it would end up at 40w (numbers are just an example). It just depends on how it's wired. If it's in parallel, it probably won't work, if it's series, it should.

Should is the key word. lol.

So if I have 1 ballast per 2 bulbs I should be fine running 1 48" bulb off each ballast?

GeToChKn · 01-04-2013, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sethjohnson30

So if I have 1 ballast per 2 bulbs I should be fine running 1 48" bulb off each ballast?

The theory is sound. I of course would take it apart and my multimeter out and things like that. Telling someone over the net it would work without ever seeing the inside of it, is harder to do.

HD Blazingwolf · 01-04-2013, 06:15 PM

try hanging it 14 inches above the tank and just see what it looks like
10k will still grow plants actually

just stand on a stool or something and plug it in just to see if its feasable.. it never hurts to try

Sethjohnson30 · 01-24-2013, 11:02 AM

I'm not gonna mess with this old thing.

I ordered 2 20w 7000k led floodlights, and 2 10w 10000k led flood lights. I plan on running these alongside the dual bulb t8 shop light I have over the tank.

I think I will just toss that light on cl.

01-02-2013, 08:52 PM	#1
Sethjohnson30 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Portland oregon Posts: 1,078	24" to 48" t5ho retrofit can I do it. I have an old reef fixture with 4x24" t5ho and a 150w mh and 12 led moonlights I paid 100 bucks for it a couple years ago but I really have no use for it(especially all the actinics)now I have a 72g tank with a dual t8 shoplight fixture over it. I need more light the t8's are not cutting it. I have no money to put into this project But I do have some 48" t5ho bulbs Can I use the parts out of this fixture to make a dual t5ho 48" light. This will just be a temp light until I can afford a ray II, I don't want to put any money into this project. I have all the nessecary tools soldering iron, but connectors and a spool of 16g wire. I'm assuming there's 4 ballast? For the t5's? Would I have to connect 2 to run a 48"? I have no clue how this stuff works lol Any help would be great

01-03-2013, 08:26 PM	#4
HD Blazingwolf Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 4,813	why not hang the metal halide and let it light the tank? __________________ Sump Pimp #7 75G Rainbowfish Journal

01-03-2013, 11:41 PM	#5
GeToChKn Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,115	You could take it apart and see how it's wired. If each set of two bulbs are wired in series, basically then say each bulb is 20w, then it's shooting 40w through the whole system. Remove tw of the caps go end to end it would end up at 40w (numbers are just an example). It just depends on how it's wired. If it's in parallel, it probably won't work, if it's series, it should. Should is the key word. lol. __________________ 20g platy, , 2 x 10g shrimp, 3 x 20g shrimp, 7.5g shrimp and 1 great dane/mastiff puppy. Sump Pimp #2 My Tanks and my shrimps

01-04-2013, 06:15 PM	#9
HD Blazingwolf Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 4,813	try hanging it 14 inches above the tank and just see what it looks like 10k will still grow plants actually just stand on a stool or something and plug it in just to see if its feasable.. it never hurts to try __________________ Sump Pimp #7 75G Rainbowfish Journal

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01-02-2013, 10:12 PM	#2
ngrubich Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (20/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 538	I'm no electrician, but just at a quick glance, I would probably say no: I don't think the ballasts could handle the jump to a 48" lamp (more than doubling the wattage per lamp). I could be wrong, though. Hopefully someone else can help you out.

01-03-2013, 08:09 PM	#3
Sethjohnson30 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Portland oregon Posts: 1,078	Bump anybody have any ideas

01-24-2013, 11:02 AM	#10
Sethjohnson30 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Portland oregon Posts: 1,078	I'm not gonna mess with this old thing. I ordered 2 20w 7000k led floodlights, and 2 10w 10000k led flood lights. I plan on running these alongside the dual bulb t8 shop light I have over the tank. I think I will just toss that light on cl.