T5 DIY

[thommyboy121]

long story short I started adding SPS corals after having my 55 gallon for 4 years...my first (neon green stylophora) turned mint-green, so I now know I need stronger lights if I want to have the colors I want (or at least I think so). I have 4 X 54 watt T5s on a dinky system and was thinking...could I buy another sytstem off of ----/ craigslist eg:http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/for/1812651202.html and take both systems apart to make my own retrofit? or would it be better to get http://www.aquacave.com/48-tek-2-t5-...pply-695.html# for about the same price? I don't know if the ballasts in the retro kits are good enough though so any input or suggestions would be most appreciated.

 

[nikesb]

ballasts are fine in the retro kit

 

[thommyboy121]

ok, but if you were to make the decision would you rather buy another system for the same price and take two apart or just take one apart and add a retro kit???

 

[nikesb]

are you using a canopy? if so, do a retro. if not get a system

 

[2quills]

If you spend a little more money you could upgrade and get those same retro kits but with IceCap 660 ballasts...they overdrive the 54 watt bulbs to approx. 85 watts per bulb thus turning HO's into VHO's. You would have to make sure to provide good airflow though to help keep things cool in order to do this.
But unless you have a canopy like nike said, or are going to build one...then I'd probably go with a plug and play system.
What do you mean when you say..."dinky system"...what kind of system...PC's?

 

[wangotango]

If you want to run a "dusk-dawn'' effect then a fixture with two ballasts would be nice. Either two of the TEK, or some other 4-bulb retro. You don't need to overdrive them, as a standard 55gal isn't that deep.

 

[thommyboy121]

by dinky...I mean a cheap brand of T5s. I have an existing system which is why I don't want to go and buy a whole new system, but I dont have to worry about dusk/dawn setting bc there's a built in timer