T5 Retrofit Problem

[i<3reefs]

I've just rewired to T5 lighting, and I broke one of my bulbs. I only have 2 running on a 3 bulb system with a 430 ballast. When I fire them up they start, but turn off. Is this due to not having the 3rd bulb?
I've ordered one bulb now and overnight shipped it, so my corals don't go without light for much more than a day. I've got my backup PC lights on them, but they are pretty much worthless.
Thanks

 

[i<3reefs]

I hoping that is my only problem, that I don't have a complete circuit, but I don't really know. I do have a pretty bad problem with not having light at this point.

 

[c42480]

I run 2 icecap 660 on my tank and if one of the bulbs is not hooked up it will light for a moment and than go out. Im assuming that this is the same for the 430.
Chuck

 

[reefraff]

Ice Cap doesn't recommend running 3 T5's on a 430 ballast. It might light three 24 watt T5's, might not. In either case they claim it can damage the ballast if it does light.
As Chuck said you can't run the ballast with a bad or missing lamp either.

 

[i<3reefs]

Yeah, I have problems. Going to try to rewire down to a 2 lamp setting to see if it fires up.

 

[reefraff]

As long as you weren't plugging the ballast back in really quick after unplugging it you are probably alright. I wish Ice Cap would add a warning to the label about the T5's.

 

[i<3reefs]

Realized I can't do that due to I don't have the correct harness. Yeah, I remembered reading about that (ballast popping) in a different thread. Thank god for these forums, because I did not plug and unplug it rapidly. I took 30 minutes between replugging it. I just ripped all the guts out, stuck my T12 guts back in, screwed it all down, and my T12 still work (in under 30m).
Going to stick them back on the tank for now, so my corals won't eat it over the next few days, and order a wiring harness. I tested my 660 on it, but nothing happened, mainly due to the bulbs were not wired properly for a 660. This would be much easier if I had a new wiring harness.
thanks

 

[i<3reefs]

I just said screw it and ordered a 4 T5 bulb Tek system. Should work great for this low-medium light tank. I'll just use my 430 and 660 ballast in my aquarium room.
thanks for the help.