T5 54w ballast suggestions

[wildernets]

I am building a light for a 120 and I want to ping you guys to see what ballasts you are using. I will be running 4 54w bulbs. Just for full disclosure. I am running them as 420 and 460 nm actinics along side 2 250w HQI Pheonix 14k metal halide lights.

Thanks for the help.

 

[wildernets]

OK so do you guy have a suggestion for a different type of light? Not LED.

 

[cj22009]

I would see if you could find a couple of t5 ho icecap ballast they are good ballast

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[schwaggs]

I would use an Icecap 660 ballast. One ballast can drive all 4 54W T5 bulbs. They will be a bit overdriven (you will get more light out of the bulbs) so the color temp of the bulbs my be a little more white than on other ballasts so keep that in mind when selecting bulbs.

There have been a couple cheap Icecap 660 ballasts for sale on the site recently.

 

[jhutto]

Ice Cap t5 blast were good for me. Coral vue bought those ballast. Not sure if they are the same now.

 

[snowmansnow]

what you want is made by Coral Vue now.. its called a Vue 660.
it over drives the lamps and is suppose to put out another 30-40% PAR... which is substantial

here is where to get them

http://www.aquacave.com/VUE-660-Electronic-VHO-Ballast-P825.aspx">http://www.aquacave.com/VUE-660-Electronic-VHO-Ballast-P825.aspx</a>

Edit: I have 2 on my system running my T5s.. they get warm, but seem to be doing a fine job over my standard ballasts

 

[wildernets]

Thanks all. Good stuff.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

A Workhorse 7 should do it. My experience with the Workhorse 5 and 7 models were good even though I only ran them for a short period of time.

Why not go LED?

 

[snowmansnow]

wait.. i didn't see that you were just running them as supplemental lights.. honestly, I don't think you'll NEED the 660.

 

[wildernets]

It will help with the xfiles image. "Hey mom, why does that house glow blue"?

 

[snowmansnow]

I have some ballasts that will run 4 lamps a shot (I have two) ill get the details for you in a few hours if you're interested. Nothing is wrong with them, I just replaced them with other ballasts.

B

 

[wildernets]

I now have an icecap 660-009. I think this will do for now.