T-12 Actinics

[gnashty]

After spending some time at Oz's place over the holiday weekend Im really thinking about setting up a couple of T-12's retro style to supplement my T-5. I just really like the glow the corals put off from it.

The tank is a 72". What would I need to make this happen? Ive been doing a tiny bit of research but seems it varies so much online.

2 each 60" VHO bulbs (offset), unless longer bulbs are avail..

I think Oz's have built in reflectors in the bulbs? As I didnt notice any reflectors above the bulbs..

4 end caps

1 ballast? or would I need 2? what size/brand?

Im really new to retro and T-12 so Im just gathering a scope of it before I pull the trigger...

 

[skriz]

VHO actinics are the best.

I'm pretty sure I have ballasts and endcaps if you need. I used them when I was running 10kk lights. Now that I've moved to 20kk, I don't use them.

You should only need one ballast. I didn't see any difference between the brands.

 

[gnashty]

I love the way the coral looks under it. They rock!

schweet - send me a price on the ballast and end caps. Any particular bulbs that are the best? I dont know a ton about them yet...Is a built in reflector possible or am I making that up?

 

[skriz]

gnashty;650614 wrote: I love the way the coral looks under it. They rock!

schweet - send me a price on the ballast and end caps. Any particular bulbs that are the best? I dont know a ton about them yet...Is a built in reflector possible or am I making that up?

Mine had the internal reflector. The bulb without the reflector is actually better, but I don't know if they're even available anymore. You can use any reflective material or even white paint; you're just trying to get the "pop", so it's not uber important that you squeeze every last ounce of juice from the bulb.

Let me look in my box-o-parts and make sure I still have everything.

R

 

[gnashty]

Yes, this is merely for aesthetic's so Im not terribly worried about getting the most out of the bulbs...

My T5 fixture will shadow me up a good bit so I may just decide to dump the fixture and........go T5/T12 retro all together..hhhmmmm

 

[skriz]

The ballasts I have will run two 48" lamps each. I was running four 48" lamps total. They are not meant to run 60" lamps.

 

[rbredding]

any Icecap 660 (or coralvue equivilant) will be perfect.. (will run 16' of T-12 bulbs - so you could set up 3ea 60" bulbs or 4ea 48")

that's what I use for actinic supplementation...

 

[oz]

. VHO's are awesome. I remember someone selling a 660 and endcaps recently. Make sure you get a wiring harness and it's easy to do.

 

[lilrobb]

VHO comes in 72", why not use the full length...?!
You'll need two IceCap660 to fire 4 of those bad boys, I might have two for cheap, need a bit of DIY though...

 

[ichthyoid]

I think I have a magnetic ballast left from my VHO days. If I find it you can have it for a great price (TOTM discount!) = free

UVI makes the T-12 lamps with an internal reflector. Aquatic Technology used to carry them, but shipping is a killer on the 6 footers!

T-12 VHO actinics rock! I never found anything that could outdo them.

 

[misu]

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45198">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45198</a>


check out this old thread 3rd pic looks like what you're looking for, free if you can use it :)