i need help with my lighting!

[TaylorLee]

I was hoping to get a ballast for t5 HO flourescent tubes but i see the ones in the LFS and its the kinds i am looking for but i cant find a place that sells them. Any 1 have any idea for me about any ballasts and what to look for when buying them and also what else i will need to buy as well so i can just get the bulbs plug it in to the ballast plug the ballast into the wall and light up the tank :)

The Lights at the LFS has no "shell" as i call it but idk wht it really is called like a standard shop light. his just has 1 piece you stick 1 side of the bulb in and another piece to stick the other sid in and then a wire runs off each of the unknown "Pieces" and enters into a, what looks like a small rectangled box. I was looking for 1 like that because i only have about 8"s from the top of the canopy to the top of the tank rim. I have an odd length in bulb i need for it. Id like to have 2 light bulbs that are 5ft long. I think the LFS told me ill need an 85W ballast or something like that. If someone could please shed some "light" over the situation and possibly find what i need and direct me to that... I would love that!!!!
Thanks very much!
-Taylor

 

[kmaintl]

On DIY info, I've always gotten good advice from ReefGeek.

 

[mcarroll]

Taylor:

Can you start an the beginning? Tell us what you have for lighting now. And tell us the details of your tank - especially the L x W x H.

If you don't have a light already (sounds like you may be starting from scratch) then I'm not sure I'd build a T5 system for that tank. LED's will probably be the way to go for a number of reasons.

BUT before speculating further....if you can post pictures of the equipment you're currently working with and what are your goals for that equipment (fish only? corals?), we can probably kick in some better advice!

-Matt

 

[TaylorLee]

Thanks for the reply Matt. Well my tank is a 125 gallon 72"L 18"W 21"H and i was going to go with FOWLR and eventually get to corals. I found out the light system i was looking for and yes i am starting from scratch. I have no equipment so far purchased. LFS says to start with the Workhorse 7 and run 2 T5 HO bulbs on that with 1 white and 1 blue bulb. I was thinking about getting maybe another set so total being 4 bulbs and then get LED strip lights or if some1 has a suggestion for those that would work, that would be cool! I know nothing really about what lights i need because i am a begginer at a SW tank. Any advice is good advice! Thanks!

-Taylor

 

[AdeptMrSniffles]

I believe what your looking for, if you want to do a retrofit t5, are T5 waterproof encaps, standoffs, and ballast. Building your own lighting is commonly referred to as retrofitting. If you choose to retrofit you'll need the pieces that I've mentioned along with individual reflectors. I'm not sure how to really wire the endcaps to ballasts though because I've never personally done it myself, but I before I bought my LEDs I was leaning towards a T5 retrofit so I know the parts you need in general. Hope this helps. T5 Waterproof Socket End cap 1ct. - AquaCave.com

 

[TaylorLee]

I believe what your looking for, if you want to do a retrofit t5, are T5 waterproof encaps, standoffs, and ballast. Building your own lighting is commonly referred to as retrofitting. If you choose to retrofit you'll need the pieces that I've mentioned along with individual reflectors. I'm not sure how to really wire the endcaps to ballasts though because I've never personally done it myself, but I before I bought my LEDs I was leaning towards a T5 retrofit so I know the parts you need in general. Hope this helps. T5 Waterproof Socket End cap 1ct. - AquaCave.com

Thanks for the link! What kind of LEDs should i look for? I was wantin some LEDs with the bulbs or will that be pointless?

 

[AdeptMrSniffles]

You could certainly add a strip of LEDS across your tank. For instance, over my 29g long tank I have 4/T5's and 1/12" Current Lumen pro LED strip to supplement some 12k lighting because my bulbs are either Blue or actinic. I like the strip that I have but there are more options out there too. Just read some reviews on others and pick what you think would be best. You could even do your own LED strip. Of course that would mean tracking down parts and tools to do it but it's relatively inexpensive.