T5 Ballast and wiring questions

[herzlos]

I am looking into wiring my Own T5 setup. Currently The only Ballasts I can find to support 5ft or 6ft Bulbs is the IceCap 660 Electronic VHO Ballast. Is there any other brand out there that would support 5ft bulbs?
Is there anything I should be looking for in a Ballast for T5s. Do I need a Ballast made only for aquarium bulb or will a normal every day T5 ballast work with Aquarium bulbs?
Am I limited to the Distance the bulb is from the ballast?

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by Herzlos
http:///forum/post/2683569
I am looking into wiring my Own T5 setup. Currently The only Ballasts I can find to support 5ft or 6ft Bulbs is the IceCap 660 Electronic VHO Ballast. Is there any other brand out there that would support 5ft bulbs?
Is there anything I should be looking for in a Ballast for T5s. Do I need a Ballast made only for aquarium bulb or will a normal every day T5 ballast work with Aquarium bulbs?
Am I limited to the Distance the bulb is from the ballast?
There are 80 watt T5 balllasts but it is cheaper to use Ice Cap ballasts. Just wire them up like the VHO diagrams show. I think the Ice Cap can be up to 50 feet from the lamp but their extended harness is only like 8 feet long.

 

[mikeu]

The Fulham Workhorse ballasts will fire the 5 ft. 80w T5 bulbs (there aren't any 6' T5 HO bulbs).

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by mikeu
http:///forum/post/2685263
The Fulham Workhorse ballasts will fire the 5 ft. 80w T5 bulbs (there aren't any 6' T5 HO bulbs).
Helios makes 6 foot T5's. The blue lamp is nice.
Workhorse ballasts don't do a great job on 80 watt lamps.