Found an old T5 grow light

[chickendirt]

Tank has some dark spots around rock work due to only having two Primes over a 75 gallon. Had a 4x48 inch grow light suited for high humidity tent.

Dont want to shock the tank and I know I can’t ramp this up. Perhaps on a timer for four hours a day at peak light?

 

[UncommonSense]

They work! Just use a gfci plug…

they are properly grounded internally; I’ve taken a few apart to replace ballasts!

The power consumption and replacement bulb cost is pretty steep… consider replacing it in the long run?

I had that exact lamp over my first 60G freshwater, then the 75G I upgraded to, with the 60g under it as a sump! — definitely don’t run full photoperiod on it over a reef tank though! (Algae)

 

[rtparty]

With proper bulbs, that light is way better than 2 Primes on a 75. Could probably find a way to run all the lights.

 

[chickendirt]

They work! Just use a gfci plug…

they are properly grounded internally; I’ve taken a few apart to replace ballasts!

The power consumption and replacement bulb cost is pretty steep… consider replacing it in the long run?

I had that exact lamp over my first 60G freshwater, then the 75G I upgraded to, with the 60g under it as a sump! — definitely don’t run full photoperiod on it over a reef tank though! (Algae)

The GFCI does not like this fixture at all!!! I plug into thr screen in outlet on my basement lights. Im thinking with just the four blues for four hours. Sound aboit right?

I bought it at a hydroponics store for about 150 a few years ago.

 

[UncommonSense]

With proper bulbs, that light is way better than 2 Primes on a 75. Could probably find a way to run all the lights.

It’s right around 1ft wide, so you can run the primes behind the t5 array, angled slightly forward

 

[UncommonSense]

The GFCI does not like this fixture at all!!! I plug into thr screen in outlet on my basement lights. Im thinking with just the four blues for four hours. Sound aboit right?

I bought it at a hydroponics store for about 150 a few years ago.

Are you confident your gfci is wired correctly? If so, the t5 fixture is definitely suspect!

 

[chickendirt]

With proper bulbs, that light is way better than 2 Primes on a 75. Could probably find a way to run all the lights.

Thats crazy!! Primes are like 240 a piece. Bought this one at a Hydroponics store for like 150 dollars. Fits four 48 inch T5s. Whats a good brand and where do you get them?

 

[chickendirt]

Are you confident your gfci is wired correctly? If so, the t5 fixture is definitely suspect!

Its possible. I had to have someone look ar my electrical a few weeks ago. Apparantly theres an issue with wiring of the neutrals on some of the lines. This particular outlet is on its own breaker.

 

[UncommonSense]

Its possible. I had to have someone look ar my electrical a few weeks ago. Apparantly theres an issue with wiring of the neutrals on some of the lines. This particular outlet is on its own breaker.

If the neutrals for downstream plugs run through the GFCI, it can be very unhappy…

 

[rtparty]

Thats crazy!! Primes are like 240 a piece. Bought this one at a Hydroponics store for like 150 dollars. Fits four 48 inch T5s. Whats a good brand and where do you get them?

Giesemann, ATI, KZ. All are good bulbs. Bulk Reef Supply has them all

 

[chickendirt]

Giesemann, ATI, KZ. All are good bulbs. Bulk Reef Supply has them all

It seems like from what I'm reading the ATIs are good middle of the road. Mostly reviews on BRS. Seems like the other two don't entirly justify the higher price point.

The more I think about this the more intrigued I am about the color mix. I might start out with just the two bulbs, most like the pure blues and go from there. My primes are on arms. I supposes I'm going to have to hang those.

I'm guessing the heat with two bulbs probably shouldn't interfere too badly with the Primes? The width of the fixture is 12 inches. Guessing the coverage area is much wider in each direction. My tank is an aqueon 75 gallon and is 18 inches wide by 48 long.

Upgrading to a 125 in a few months. Kinda pumped that I don't have to splurge on lights to fill that tank with corals.

 

[UncommonSense]

It seems like from what I'm reading the ATIs are good middle of the road. Mostly reviews on BRS. Seems like the other two don't entirly justify the higher price point.

The more I think about this the more intrigued I am about the color mix. I might start out with just the two bulbs, most like the pure blues and go from there. My primes are on arms. I supposes I'm going to have to hang those.

I'm guessing the heat with two bulbs probably shouldn't interfere too badly with the Primes? The width of the fixture is 12 inches. Guessing the coverage area is much wider in each direction. My tank is an aqueon 75 gallon and is 18 inches wide by 48 long.

Upgrading to a 125 in a few months. Kinda pumped that I don't have to splurge on lights to fill that tank with corals.

These simple T5HO fixtures do make a LOT of heat… I do know that one of the long sides contains the ballast, the other side contains what appears to to be a long brick paver (this strange addition is a counterweight, so the light doesn’t hang low on the ballast side— could remove brick counterweight to intentionally have one long side of the T5HO fixture angled down, your choice)!

Orient the ballast side away from the primes, as it’s generating more heat… the bulbs themselves do run hot though… consider additional active cooling for the primes if they are in very close proximity! (As in, primes are sucking up 120F+ air to cool themselves)

 

[chickendirt]

These simple T5HO fixtures do make a LOT of heat… I do know that one of the long sides contains the ballast, the other side contains what appears to to be a long brick paver (this strange addition is a counterweight, so the light doesn’t hang low on the ballast side— could remove brick counterweight to intentionally have one long side of the T5HO fixture angled down, your choice)!

Orient the ballast side away from the primes, as it’s generating more heat… the bulbs themselves do run hot though… consider additional active cooling for the primes if they are in very close proximity! (As in, primes are sucking up 120F+ air to cool themselves)

Im gonna test out to see what heat is like with two bulbs running. I ise the David Saxby schedule on the primes and the fans never really seem to turn on. I also have a ton of corsiar computer case fans lying around. i have the fluval bar across the back

Interesting with the brick. Ive heard these can be difficult to open up.

Was watching a BRS you tube video from three years ago. For coral growth they were saying T5s cant be beat at the moment. Seems like LED has come a long way but not entirely there yet.

The LED grow lights in the hydroponics stores seem to have come down a ton. You can get a high quality light for about $140. At some point the reef lights are not going to be avle to justify the price points as technology advances. Seems like their customer base is really limited charging $259 for a single Prime and $430 for a hydra. Puck grow lights can be had for aboit 100 and its considered outdated. Now they have the panels and Im waiting for the reef stuff to catch up cause those are awesome!!!

 

[UncommonSense]

Im gonna test out to see what heat is like with two bulbs running. I ise the David Saxby schedule on the primes and the fans never really seem to turn on. I also have a ton of corsiar computer case fans lying around. i have the fluval bar across the back

Interesting with the brick. Ive heard these can be difficult to open up.

Was watching a BRS you tube video from three years ago. For coral growth they were saying T5s cant be beat at the moment. Seems like LED has come a long way but not entirely there yet.

The LED grow lights in the hydroponics stores seem to have come down a ton. You can get a high quality light for about $140. At some point the reef lights are not going to be avle to justify the price points as technology advances. Seems like their customer base is really limited charging $259 for a single Prime and $430 for a hydra. Puck grow lights can be had for aboit 100 and its considered outdated. Now they have the panels and Im waiting for the reef stuff to catch up cause those are awesome!!!

Haha your same light could be had for under $100 new a decade ago, and have been popular for quite a while!

The ballast is actually decent quality; there just isn’t much for heat dissipation so they run hot…

The eight bulb version is just yours, but wider, and with two ballasts/switches!

Pros:
-they work great!
- cheap to get into!

Cons:
- the power bill!!!
- the cost of replacement bulbs!!
- the heat!
- the bulk
- limited adjustability

 

[rtparty]

Heat from 200w of LEDs or T5s is the same. T5 bulbs last 18-24 months. For a 4 bulb fixture that’s not even $80 every 2 years.

That 4 bulb T5 setup blows away 2 Primes for spread and coverage on a 75g tank. Finding a way to run both would be a great setup. Making it look good (if that is wanted) will be the hardest part.

ATI bulbs are probably the best bulbs on the market. The same manufacturer makes ATI and KZ bulbs. Giesemann uses the other large fluorescent manufacturer (Sylvania or Philips. I don’t recall off hand). All three are more than adequate. KZ just thinks their bulbs are better but they’re just the same as ATI

 

[chickendirt]

Haha your same light could be had for under $100 new a decade ago, and have been popular for quite a while!

The ballast is actually decent quality; there just isn’t much for heat dissipation so they run hot…

The eight bulb version is just yours, but wider, and with two ballasts/switches!

Pros:
-they work great!
- cheap to get into!

Cons:
- the power bill!!!
- the cost of replacement bulbs!!
- the heat!
- the bulk
- limited adjustability

I bought the fixture new for about 150 three years ago lol

I get the pros and cons. There is definitly much more adjustability with the LEDs. I get that. For the coverage alone I dont think $440 for Hydras and the higher end stuff justifies the price. In three years they will come out with more advanced options as technology improves. You wont be able to give those lights away. They will go for $100 tops on Ebay. These lights kinda move like computer parts. A 700 dollar graphics card new today sells for about $150 used three to four years later.

Im only using it for four hours a day. I did the math for kilowat hours and it about $7 a
Month.

But it seems to suit my goals. Using to improve growth. They are good for 18 to 24 months running aboit ten hours a day. Im doimg less then half of that.

 

[UncommonSense]

The GFCI does not like this fixture at all!!! I plug into thr screen in outlet on my basement lights. Im thinking with just the four blues for four hours. Sound aboit right?

I bought it at a hydroponics store for about 150 a few years ago.

Just give this GFCI a double check before you commit!

 

[chickendirt]

Heat from 200w of LEDs or T5s is the same. T5 bulbs last 18-24 months. For a 4 bulb fixture that’s not even $80 every 2 years.

That 4 bulb T5 setup blows away 2 Primes for spread and coverage on a 75g tank. Finding a way to run both would be a great setup. Making it look good (if that is wanted) will be the hardest part.

ATI bulbs are probably the best bulbs on the market. The same manufacturer makes ATI and KZ bulbs. Giesemann uses the other large fluorescent manufacturer (Sylvania or Philips. I don’t recall off hand). All three are more than adequate. KZ just thinks their bulbs are better but they’re just the same as ATI

I was perusing another hydroponics shop. They have a 24 by 24 inch 8 bulb T5HO for 60 dollars. It has me thinking I can put thr primes on one side for LPS and zoas and the 24 x 24 on the other for SPS.

I have a spongodes montipora sitting at the top of my rock structure for better par. With the 24 x24 Im thinking I can lower it and isolate it on one rock. Heard those things can take over a tank.

The tank is in the basement so Im not overly concerned about appearances. Im newish aboit two years in. So Im experimenting and learning new things. Seems you learn more by making mistakes.

But that 24 x 24 would probably outperform a hydra 64 if I filled all 8 bulbs. Would probably just do six. Heat on the primes wouldnt be an issue.

 

[chickendirt]

Just give this GFCI a double check before you commit!

Have an electrician coming in a few weeks. Adding
More outlets to the basement.

It has a 4 amp draw when full. Im only running two bulbs and using the light socket outlet. Its a little closer. May even just get. 2x fixture as those are going for thirty a piece and the hydroponics store up the street.

 

[UncommonSense]

I was perusing another hydroponics shop. They have a 24 by 24 inch 8 bulb T5HO for 60 dollars. It has me thinking I can put thr primes on one side for LPS and zoas and the 24 x 24 on the other for SPS.

I have a spongodes montipora sitting at the top of my rock structure for better par. With the 24 x24 Im thinking I can lower it and isolate it on one rock. Heard those things can take over a tank.

The tank is in the basement so Im not overly concerned about appearances. Im newish aboit two years in. So Im experimenting and learning new things. Seems you learn more by making mistakes.

But that 24 x 24 would probably outperform a hydra 64 if I filled all 8 bulbs. Would probably just do six. Heat on the primes wouldnt be an issue.

The 24”x24” 8 bulb used to be a go-to setup, especially for 36”x36” cubes! —there were some hilariously overpriced aquarium units ($400-$600, IIRC), then the cheapo hydroponics ones!

I was always concerned about bulb prices back when I ran them 12-20 hrs a day, and replaced the bulbs prior to burnout for maximum power efficiency per lumen… the ~4ft T5HO bulbs (at least used to be) only marginally more expensive than ~2ft bulbs… — I’ve got a sizable solar system, so the bulbs were my only recurring expense!