i have a jbj 28g hqi with mh 150w and a power compact retrofit wit 2 18w pc bulbs! pc's suck to me and i wanted to know if retrofitting t5's would be possible and easy??? would it be as simple as splicing the endcaps of for the pc's and attaching t5 endcaps or is it more complex???
lighting question pc to t5 retrofit
- Thread starter mic_1011
- Start date
- Location
- Howell, NJ
http://www.hellolights.com/24-inch-2-x-24w-t5-ho-retrofit-kit.aspx
pretty much everything you will need to do a retrofit with t5's... you cannot use the same drivers as the pcs with t5's
pretty much everything you will need to do a retrofit with t5's... you cannot use the same drivers as the pcs with t5's
You would need the proper ballast for the T5's as well. Also not sure how much space you have in there to fit T5's that you'd likely have to get in what is sold as the 18" length (actually 16.5..but then add the endcaps)
Why do you want to get away from the PC's?
Why do you want to get away from the PC's?
- Location
- Howell, NJ
Nope 
. Ur other option would be leds
. Ur other option would be ledsNope - 16.5 is the smallest I've seen.
idk if they do, i'm not even sure the spectrum is right. i picked up a set of fleabay because i couldn't find this size locally
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110985347257
Maybe something like this..
http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/RB-HLS15-B.html
http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/RB-HLS15-B.html
They also make those in actinics if you want more color. In a 28G tank, your MH should be giving you all of the daylight type spectrum you need.
I'd still add some blue LED's if you want that BIG pop.
The mh is definately doing justice for daylight! But I don't see any colors with that alone and the pc is dull! I threw on an old t5 I had laying around with just the actinic and WOW! It's like night and day! (No pun intended). I picked up a gold torch the other day and the gold just popped in the store. I bring it home and under my lighting it just got lost in the rock. T5s on and it looks as it did under the ai's at the store!
UPDATE: i did happen to find some 9" t5's in 10000k and actinic made by
coralife!http://www.marineandreef.com/Coralife_T5_Lamps_Coralife_T5_Bulbs_s/40.htm
so now how can i go about retrofitting the hood to run these?
pretty handy just need to know what size ballast and wiring i would need and where to buy?
coralife!http://www.marineandreef.com/Coralife_T5_Lamps_Coralife_T5_Bulbs_s/40.htm
so now how can i go about retrofitting the hood to run these?
pretty handy just need to know what size ballast and wiring i would need and where to buy?
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