Biocube 29 HO T5 conversion...

mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
Ok all, I started asking some questions on another thread and well I descided to keep my hood on my tank. So how do I get more light? I have gotten 4 HO t5's to retro fit my biocube 29 hood with. I havent got the individual reflectors yet, later next week. The lights are I ordered were the new 18" Nova extreme HO t5's(2 fixtures ). I am going to disassemble the fixtures and retro fit them to the inside of my hood with the TEK T5 individual reflectors I ordered. I will take some pictures along the way if anyone is interested. It is important to me to maintain the stock look of my tank. I just want more light !!! So it should end up with 4x20 HO T5. I just wanted to do something a little different.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
No one interested in how this turns out? its cool. I just thought I would take some pics along the way if there was any interest.
 
fishermon

fishermon

Member
Nice Tank!

Keep us updated! I'd like to see how it turns out!

I've had my 29g cube for 1 week. I'm thinking about modifications.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
Hi thanks for the compliments. I just got me a Duncan too. Well MY lights came in today and I measured them up and hey should fit just fine. The18 in fixure is really only about 17 in long and the bulbs by themselves are like 15.75 in long. The only thing is that they are 18watt ho t5's each and not 20's like I had read. Well I think insalling them with the reflector that came with would be pretty easy. However I will wait for the TEK individual reflectors I ordered. If you wanted to go open top you could just put these on top of your tank as well. It would be simple plug and play unit. However I am going to disassemble to fixture and install it into the hood. I will take some pics tonight of the lights. Thanks and i 'll keep you posted on the progress. Once I get the refecltors I plan on doing it in one night.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
ok here are th first pics of the lights that came in today. I plan on setting these on top of my tank while I gut out my hood. I will be keeping stock fans and moonlight setup. I had to dim the light my camera would take in so you could see the two bulbs . Kinda bright. I did pop it apart a bit to see what I was working with. It will be ard to tell if I will mount the ballasts in the hood or not until I get the reflectors to see how much room I have. That is my goal though. I want two cords coming out to plug directly into my timers. One for day lights and one for actinics. I will have the fans come on with the daylights as it is now.



 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
ok well I had a bit of an update. With indv reflectors there just isnt enough room for four bulbs. So I have purchase a 70 watt halide that I will be installing along with two HO T5 actinics and extra fans. I will post pics as I go. I did get the light and ballast today. Hope I can keep it cool.
 
flricordia

flricordia

Active Member
Great looking tank. Guess the 18" don't come in retrofits, huh? Too late but wouldn't it have been better to buy the 18" bulbs and a ballast/endcaps? I don't know, just hate to see you have to take apart good hoods. But guess they were low cost as they are and with reflectors cost would probably equall abotu what it would be the way I mentioned. Look forward to seeing the MH upgrade.
Anyway, keep us posted with the upgrade and pics.
 
rtspeed

rtspeed

Member
Originally Posted by Flricordia
http:///forum/post/2577349
Great looking tank. Guess the 18" don't come in retrofits, huh? Too late but wouldn't it have been better to buy the 18" bulbs and a ballast/endcaps? I don't know, just hate to see you have to take apart good hoods. But guess they were low cost as they are and with reflectors cost would probably equall abotu what it would be the way I mentioned. Look forward to seeing the MH upgrade.
Anyway, keep us posted with the upgrade and pics.
As stated you could of just bough end caps and and bulbs and reflectors, and just of used the ballast from the orignal light as i did that for a temp setup during a switch over.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
The cost want much different. Not to mentin I will just resell the hood I didnt do anything with. I am going to go pick up my fans I ordered because ups wouldnt leave em at my door. I am putting two small 40 mm fans blowing across the 70w mh. I wired up teh MH baulb on the bench and and did some tests on heat with an IR gun. The HO t5's have a bulb temp around 125 to 130. thats on the surface. The metal halide well its hot. The center of the bulb is over 300 degrees. but the uv glass that goes over it was about 135. So I hope I can keep the heat down ok. I did this once on a jbj hood and well i have learned alot since then. Tank temps were fine on it. but the bulb made the plastic get really hot. So I am going to increase the flow of air across the bulb and I might replace the intake and exaust fans as well.
 
sazarac

sazarac

Member
YES! For sure I am interested!
I'd love to see a shot of the tank
with the stock lights on,
then one after the new mods are done.
Please post detailed instructions,
photos and pricing if you don't mind.

Originally Posted by mojo46825
http:///forum/post/2561556
No one interested in how this turns out? its cool. I just thought I would take some pics along the way if there was any interest.
 
flricordia

flricordia

Active Member
And maybe a good idea to hook up a thermal switch that will shut the MH off incase soemthing happens to a fan.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
Ok sorry for the delay. I have had the flu. I have installed two small 40 mm fans that will blowing across the halide plus the two 50 mm intake and exhaust fans I will get some pics. Things should start rolling here today.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
Ok well I am just about finished with everything. I have been taking some pics wich ill post once I am complete. I have found the stock 12v transformer for the hood fans is only 300 mA and the fans pul 260 mA. That didnt leave me a lot of room for my two extra fans I added to blow across the bulb.So i went to Radio shack and got 1.2A 12.6volt transformer. it is larger but I think I can make it fit just fine and this will supply plenty of power for more fans that I might need to add as well. This was only 7.99. I am going to leave the t5's out for now to see how the heat is handled with the cooling I have. Should have it done tomorrow. Thanks for your interest.
 
binghamd

binghamd

New Member
I'm thinking of adding these t5's to my biocube.
i have the biocube beside my 90 gal reef with 8x54w lights and the biocube actually looks dark.
Q is 4 of the 18w t5's bright enough or should i try squeeze 6 into the biocube?
4x18W t5's will fit easily with the nova extreme reflectors plus i can keep the moonlights in. i think going to individual reflectors will not add a lot since there is one reflector for every 2 bulbs. 6 t5's may pose a challenge invovling extra wiring & remote ballasts.
Regards
David
 
fshaqrmman

fshaqrmman

New Member
Hey guys....I know this is an old forum, but I am getting ready to install 6 T5's in my biocube tomorrow. I currently have the 2 stock PC's and 2 T5's, but my white PC has burnt out 3 times, so I am done with them.
I will let you know how it goes, and take some pictures.
Scott
 
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