taking apart my t5 fixture, have one question

[kendsley]

i was cleaning the reflectors on the t5 strips i have and wondered something. can i remove the bulbs, gut the fixture for the end caps and wiring, and just use those end caps for a 36 inch bulb(or whatever size they come in around that length)?

basically, it would be like chopping off 12 or so inches off the fixture by replacing the bulb with a smaller one. since i wouldnt be using the fixture they came in, im not worried about how that fixture ends up.

am i making sense?

[Headless_donkey]

I think you will need a different ballast, but the end caps are the same

[caferacermike]

You can typically run smaller bulbs on larger ballasts, just not the other way round.

[kendsley]

i just noticed they dont make 54 watt 34-36 inch t5 bulbs :(

guess i really need to trade these lights for 36 inch long lights since the tank i decided to go with is 36 inches long

i was also looking on ebay to get an idea on how much i would sell these lights for. they are selling 4' long strips like i have for upwards of 100$+

there was even a strip that was selling for 180$.

i have no plans on selling my light strips for that much. are those realistic prices for a brand new 2 bulb 4' long T5HO light strip?

[kirkandkhristi]

For T5 HO? Those are realistic prices.

[kendsley]

wow, i didnt know that. these are indeed t5 ho light strips. checked the part # with odyssea. even says so on the bulb and ballast :P