T-5 ballast

[leaffish75]

Im thinking of putting up my 90 again and do all t-5 lights. My problem is that I'm looking at using work horse ballast but I'm now being told not to because they arent very good. Does any one else think this? should i go with the Workhorse ballast?

[dwdenny]

there are a couple of people on RC that are using WH but for the most part most are staying away from them as the bulb life is decreased(as I am told). For a 90g I would use IC as they overdrive the T5 and you can get more light out of few bulbs and still not have to change out as often. 18-24 months on the GE 6500 and like 18 months out of the rest.

[Polkster13]

I have work horse ballasts and have never had that problem. If you over drive any bulb, it is going to decrease its typical life span.

[dwdenny]

Like I said the WH may decrease the bulb life because it does not fire the T5 the correct way. According to IC thier ballast does not decrease the lamp life. But I am with Polkster on this one I don't see how it couldn't. I know that the IC will run the 54w 48" T5 at 80w and the 60" 80w at 100 or watts. I am trying to work out a deal with a ballast company out of Dallas basically the same ballast that comes with the TEK retro and fixture. I can get 2 39w ballast for about $40 not shipped. However I will be up there in December so I might try to swing by and pick them up and save on shipping. Here is the link to the spec sheet http://www.ace-ballast.com/articles/pdf/TSD-UV39PBXMS.pdf I am going to try them as they are almost identicle to the TEK ballasts

[alton]

Your local electrical supply companies are carrying 2 and 4 lamp T5HO ballast

[dwdenny]

The bad thing is down here in the valley there is not a lot of electrical places that have them. the one that I found that did wanted $45 for a 2 lamp model. I found it for half that with shipping out of Dallas. On top of that they are programed start just like the TEK ballasts

[alton]

dw is there a Graybar in your area? The price I was quoted was $30 for two lamp and 45 for four lamp T5HO 54w. I have never ordered the T5 39 watt.

[gjuarez]

What about the triads? Those are pretty cheap. I have never heard nothing but good comments about the coralvue ballasts. Polkster sells them. Those are probably the ones I am going to get once I setup my 75 again.

[dwdenny]

Jerry that is what the TEKs are. The ones I am looking at are almost exactly the same.

[gjuarez]

Cool, I didnt know that. My friend but a couple of those off ebay for like 35 bucks. I say them and they worked good. ONe very important thing are the reflectors. I think each bulb should have its own to get the most out of it.

[dwdenny]

Jerry you are correct the T5's are no good at all without the reflectors. According to The Grim Reeferon RC the best is the IC it is also the smallest at 21/8" wide the next one is the aqualuxlighting.com special but they are like 3" wide then the TEK at 2.25" wide. It all depends on your systems width. I am going to be using the aqualux reflectors as I have to cover 18"wide and dont want to go with more then 4X39w. I will be picking up the ballast is Dallas in December when I am up there to watch Dallas play Kansas City. I will already be up there so I can save 5 bux on shipping at least.

[Bug_Power]

I have 6 54watt T5s and I am very suprised at how bright they are. I have them staggered in my 180 gal tank. Only problem is I need another atinic bulb. I just got the Jebo's they were cheap enough to start off with, then I can just upgrade the reflectors and ballast as I get money. I have some 400watt MH ballast and capacitors at the house I'm going to see if I can get rid of so I can get some Good Ballasts and reflectors for the setup and just go retro.

[Polkster13]

Your best bet on reflectors is Sunlight Supply TEK reflectors. They sit very close to the bulb using metal clips (so they don't slip like the plastic clips) and are narrorer so you can fit more of them under a hood.

I have both the CoralVue and Workhorse ballasts. The Workhorse is easier to wire in my opinion.

Frederick
Coral Reef Bazaar
512-680-6647

[dwdenny]

Polkster is right the TEKs are good ones and very small compared tot he aqualux at 3". There is not much difference in reflector when you hit 18" or deeper from what I have read. I have wire WH ballast before and they are way easy to wire and work with. That is the ballast I used on my FOWLR when I was using PC's.