Should i add these old t5 fixtures ?

[Reeffragger]

i use 4 bulbs t5 fixtures over my 125g. Its more then enough to grow my 15+ various acros and 40+ other lps sps ect. But it leaves shadow in the back of the tank. If i tilt the light back and forth i can see there isa big difference in brightness in the back. What i really need are 6 bulbs at least. But to buy new 6 bulb fixtures ( use 24 and 48 inch to cover all 72 inchs) itd cost 150$ a fixture.. So 300$ plus 100$ for 4 bulbs.

My other option is i have two 48 inch aqueon t5 fixtures.. duel bulbs. But theyre normal output and the bulbs are side by side with no real reflectors.. However i could buy 54w ballasts and simply rewire it. If i move my main fixture foward 1 or 2 inchs and position the old lights in the back id have alot more coverage over my tank. Hell even if i left the normal output ballasts its still 2 more bulbs even if theyre at half power.

I already experimented with it using 6500k bulbs i have and it deff is a big difference. Of course 6500k is bright compares to blues but still.. the shadowing is gone.

Do you guys think this is dumb or worth doing ? If i git new ballasts itd be like 60$ vs 300$ on buying new fixtures. You can see pics below of how itd mount em. Ill have them tilted slightly to cover more of the tank while still fixing the back you see the angle they are at.

 

[nereefpat]

How about a retrofit of 2x80 watt T5. 2 5' bulbs would run you a little less than 200.

T5 HO Miro-4 Retrofit Kit

Add to your canopy with the Miro-4 T5 High Output Retrofit Kit from LET Lighting. Retrofit kits give you the flexibility to add T5 lamps virtually to any tank, while keeping a low overall cost. T5 lighting can either be the main light source or supplemental light to another light source like LED...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Reeffragger]

Well id need more then 1 though. If i get 1 then itd be 5 bulbs vs 6 bulbs. Like if i bought a new 6 bulb fixture thats 48 inchs. Itd be 150$. This retrofit kit is 130$. So its not priced very well. And since i need all 72 inchs covered id have to buy two kits just like id have to buy two 6 bulb fixtures. And itd save no money.

If i used the two fixtures i have and buy a 2x54w ballast in lowes for 30$ id save alot of money. ONLY downside is the fixture i have has thr bulbs close and no real reflector worth mentioning so i dunno.

But its be 60$ to upgrade to 4 more bulbs (2 per half tank, vs 130$ for only 2 bulbs on the kit. Or 260$ for 4 bulbs on the kit. Or 300$ for new fixtures all together.

I guess its all up to me.. but ill keep those retrofit kits in mind thanks.

 

[nereefpat]

The retrofit is for a 2 bulb set, so you'll get the equipment to run two 60" T5 bulbs.

You will want good reflectors and ballast to get what you want out of the bulbs.

Good luck with what you decide.

 

[JCOLE]

+1 on the Retrofit kit. I just installed a set a couple weeks ago and now I have another set coming in the mail. They are nice kits.

 

[Reeffragger]

Ohh i didnt see the 5ft kit.

Thanks. Just gatta figure how do i install this ? I mean wiring is easy but i gatta fixgure out how to hiok up the reflectors and to what ?

Jcole do you have pics of yours ?

 

[Backreefing]

Amazon has some good single bulb fixtures. Grab a few 3’ fixtures they ain’t but 40-50 each and come with a decent 6400K bulb to .

 

[Backreefing]

Look these up outer front or behind what you already got and they got bulbs to

 

[Reeffragger]

These are the fixtures i have

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I just saw your tank in the other thread, what combo bulbs are you running?

@Reeffragger

 

[Reeffragger]

Not counting these ones i wanna add.. Two blue plus two coral plus. Blue plus are on the outside and coral plus in the middle.

With the old fixtures i wanna add.. Adds two more bulbs with 6500k bulbs.. but theyre using normal output fixtures so 28w vs 54w.. the 6500k doesnt yellow or oveepower it.. i kinde like the look..

Here it is with the 6500k bulbs added and normal.. first is 6500k with 6 bulbs and 2nd is how i used to run it with the 4 bulbs. Two blue plus and teo coral plus

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

I used two sets of the BRS 80 watt T5 retrofit kits to supplement my DIY led.

It's a 20 minute project to install them. The end caps just screw into your hood. (Get the bulbs at the same time so you can measure how far apart to put them.) Then mount the ballast where ever you want and wire them together.

 

[Reeffragger]

Dont have a hood i hang my lights with a cord.


A lottle more difficult if not impossible to to what you suggest like this .

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

If you're not too concerned with how the light looks, you could use rivets or sheet metal screws to attach the retrofit kit to the outsides of your existing light.