Yea, I dunno if it’s cheaper. I’d use two tubes less to cut it down if that’s a concern.
It’s been my experience with all types of tubes and ballasts that it wears them out fast. Dimming makes heat. More and also less the manufacturer reccomends.
Ati says differently , but oh well.
An overly cooled tube will give you color problems, an overheated one will too. An overheated one will wear faster.
So a t5 at 12in will give you 160 or so, running at a 3-50 will drop it say 90? IMO , not worth it in the long run and just a response to consumer wants , and not actual needs.
I’d much rather use an LED hybrid.
Ati btw , makes a spectacular one.
A fwiw , you’d have to meter the out put of lamp to guage the bottom of the out put.
Ie , a mars aqua at 1% still puts out several hundred par at 12in.
I’d assume (explerinced ) tunes only dim so far , so it’s likely only 100-% to 40 or 50% diming range.
