Home Depot to lighting

[Tron]

Hello everyone

I'm thinking about setting up a frag tank. Just curious if anyone has/is using a t5 fixture from home depot?

Lithonia Lighting 6-Light T5 High Output White Fluorescent High Bay-IBZ 654 - The Home Depot

Any feedback? Is this a bad idea?

 

[reefwiser]

I have used many fixtures like this as long as it is not going to be seen in the living room. Rust can be an issue with this type of fixture as they will be above a body of salt water.

 

[EW_Fish]

Hello everyone

I'm thinking about setting up a frag tank. Just curious if anyone has/is using a t5 fixture from home depot?

Lithonia Lighting 6-Light T5 High Output White Fluorescent High Bay-IBZ 654 - The Home Depot

Any feedback? Is this a bad idea?

I get a ton of these free at work. I did notice that the older style reflectors were not as great as the new style (The new style being 1'' shorter) Compared to an ATI reflector there isn't much of a difference. As for the ballast they are HO but not nearly as good as the ATI. But for a frag tank should be no problem...

 

[Kyuss414]

Keep in mind they have no splash shields and no waterproof endcaps on the bulbs. Splashing likely isn't going to be an issue on a frag tank, but moisture reaching the non-waterproof endcaps might be an issue. I haven't used one personally, but just throwing that out there.

 

[crayonbreaker]

Reflectors are mush less efficient so the light over all will provide less light to the area below.

 

[EW_Fish]

Reflectors are mush less efficient so the light over all will provide less light to the area below.

I can not agree 100% on this. The old style high bays were junk but the new ones we been getting in at our work are way way much better. And as for rust being in the end caps I gutted one of these fixtures to add t5s to my leds and I have been running it for 2 years now and the end caps look the same zero rust. They are 11'' off the water.

 

[MarkDarnell]

I work for a major electrical distributor and you will be fine with this fixture. We well thousands of that model each year for use in warehouses. The ballast will perform just fine and will work with the T5 lamps in aquarium use.

 

[mainereefer]

I would think it is cheaper to go led?
by the time you buy the fixture and replace the bulbs allot more cost effective to buy a t5 with aquarium bulbs or go led

 

[h8edpurdie]

I have one of these above my tank, and found some LED tubes on Amazon. This is temporary until I can save enough for the lighting I need to keep more than leathers in my tank. They do rust very easily. I even picked up some plastic tubes you can place the bulb in to keep water from getting to them. They cost a couple bucks and can be found with the fixtures. Good luck.

 

[Shep]

I would think it is cheaper to go led?
by the time you buy the fixture and replace the bulbs allot more cost effective to buy a t5 with aquarium bulbs or go led

I agree, its $140 for that fixture and then by the time you buy the 6 bulbs that it takes, you would be well over $250. I would just get an LED light to start with.

 

[G_Sanab922]

I agree, its $140 for that fixture and then by the time you buy the 6 bulbs that it takes, you would be well over $250. I would just get an LED light to start with.

I agree with this as well. You don't necessarily have to go with LEDs but you are already in the $300 range with that. Might as well use that money and buy something for aquarium/saltwater use, that way you avoid any potential problems in the future...