Where to find 18" T5 fixtures ?

[Reefkid88]

I'm thinking of maybe adding 2 18" T5 bulbs to my light,but can't find any really anywhere. My tank is only 16" long so 24" is not going to cut it.

 

Is there any ballast that'll work to run 2 18" bulbs ? If I'm not mistaken UVL is the only company that makes good 18" bulbs. I also would probably only run their Super Actinic bulbs.

[evilc66]

Current USA had an 18" Nova, Coralife has a 20" fixture that takes 18" bulbs, and Aquatic Life has a 20" fixture that takes 18" bulbs. Not sure on the availability of those though, as they never gained much popularity.

[Reefkid88]

Current USA had an 18" Nova, Coralife has a 20" fixture that takes 18" bulbs, and Aquatic Life has a 20" fixture that takes 18" bulbs. Not sure on the availability of those though, as they never gained much popularity.

 

I know the TruLumen fixtures were discontinued a year or so ago. I can't find any 18"-20" fixtures anywhere,nor any ballasts to run 1-2 18" bulbs.. The struggle is real lol this is the downside to having a shorter tank and not wanting to run 24" bulbs and look tacky and ghetto

[evilc66]

Fulham Workhorse5 ballasts (among other Fulham ballasts) will drive 18" bulbs just fine. They are a pretty universal ballast, so they adapt to whatever is connected to them.

 

Also:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Coralife-Aqualight-Aquarium-Lighting-Fixture/sim/B006NZ070O/2

 

http://www.marineandreef.com/Coralife_Aqualight_High_Output_T5_20_inch_p/res08599.htm

 

http://www.directaquarium.com/Current-USA-Aquarium-Lighting-2X18w-18in-p/10478.htm

 

http://www.thatpetplace.com/aquaticlife-dual-lamp-t5-ho-marine-light-fixture-20in

 

http://www.aquariumguys.com/aquaticlife-dual-lamp-t5-marine-2-18w-20in.html

 

Would you like more links?

[Reefkid88]

Fulham Workhorse5 ballasts (among other Fulham ballasts) will drive 18" bulbs just fine. They are a pretty universal ballast, so they adapt to whatever is connected to them.

 

Also:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Coralife-Aqualight-Aquarium-Lighting-Fixture/sim/B006NZ070O/2

 

http://www.marineandreef.com/Coralife_Aqualight_High_Output_T5_20_inch_p/res08599.htm

 

http://www.directaquarium.com/Current-USA-Aquarium-Lighting-2X18w-18in-p/10478.htm

 

http://www.thatpetplace.com/aquaticlife-dual-lamp-t5-ho-marine-light-fixture-20in

 

http://www.aquariumguys.com/aquaticlife-dual-lamp-t5-marine-2-18w-20in.html

 

Would you like more links?

Thanks Evil. I found all of those once I got home and had time to actually look. I just don't want to destroy a perfectly fine fixture lol. I can piece everything together for cheaper than the fixture and shipping anyways,so I'll probably just piece it all together.

[Halo_003]

Thanks Evil. I found all of those once I got home and had time to actually look. I just don't want to destroy a perfectly fine fixture lol. I can piece everything together for cheaper than the fixture and shipping anyways,so I'll probably just piece it all together.

If you do please post it with tons of pictures I would like to retro my oddysea 18" fixture. I'd like to replace the ballasts and the stock reflector with decent ballasts and real individual bulb reflectors. I think also UVL bulbs are a higher wattage so I couldn't even use them without replacing the ballasts. A LFS by me sells the 18" coralife bulbs so I use them. I use one 12000k by currentUSA and 3 actinic by coralife, color is actually not bad.

[evilc66]

UVL bulbs aren't higher wattage per se, but they can be overdriven without worry. On standard ballasts, you will get the same 18-20W that you would from the stock bulbs. To get the full potential out of them, you need a ballast that overdrives. Right now, the only one that is readily available (that I know of anyway) is the Fulham Workhorse7. The old (and soon to be re-released) Icecap 660 was the other alternative. Both aren't cheap, and certainly not small. You will also need to make sure to cool the ends of the bulbs to get them to last.

 

Why do I know this? I was one of the reasons those bulbs (and the 12" versions) existed in the first place

[Halo_003]

Oh well in that case I'll try to find a source for them. Thanks!

 

Would the WH 7 drive four bulbs? The stock fixture has two 36w ballasts.

[Reefkid88]

UVL bulbs aren't higher wattage per se, but they can be overdriven without worry. On standard ballasts, you will get the same 18-20W that you would from the stock bulbs. To get the full potential out of them, you need a ballast that overdrives. Right now, the only one that is readily available (that I know of anyway) is the Fulham Workhorse7. The old (and soon to be re-released) Icecap 660 was the other alternative. Both aren't cheap, and certainly not small. You will also need to make sure to cool the ends of the bulbs to get them to last.

 

Why do I know this? I was one of the reasons those bulbs (and the 12" versions) existed in the first place

Okay,thanks for that Evil. So,would a Fulham ballast that can drive 2-4 24w bulbs overdrive the 18w ones enough or too much ?

 

The more I think about it,I have a Sunblaze T5 Single bulb light at my brother n laws I can use to gauge really how long 2 24" single bulb fixtures would be.. I'm really not wanting to go 24" but if it doesn't look all that bad (ghetto wise) I'll go with 2 of those and use ATI bulbs. I can get 2 of those fixtures for $24 a piece which is super cheap. End up being about $90 -/+ which is about $65 cheaper than piecing everything together and I have control over both bulbs independently which I love.

[evilc66]

Oh well in that case I'll try to find a source for them. Thanks!

 

Would the WH 7 drive four bulbs? The stock fixture has two 36w ballasts.

36W ballasts?

 

It will drive 4 bulbs. You have to game their system to get the right wiring diagram, as 18" bulbs aren't a common standard. Just pick 24W bulb options, and use the diagram for the Workhorse5 for all Workhorse7 connections.

 

Okay,thanks for that Evil. So,would a Fulham ballast that can drive 2-4 24w bulbs overdrive the 18w ones enough or too much ?

 

The more I think about it,I have a Sunblaze T5 Single bulb light at my brother n laws I can use to gauge really how long 2 24" single bulb fixtures would be.. I'm really not wanting to go 24" but if it doesn't look all that bad (ghetto wise) I'll go with 2 of those and use ATI bulbs. I can get 2 of those fixtures for $24 a piece which is super cheap. End up being about $90 -/+ which is about $65 cheaper than piecing everything together and I have control over both bulbs independently which I love.

Only the Workhorse7 will overdrive. A Workhorse5 or Workhorse3 will run at what the bulb needs, and nothing more.

[Reefkid88]

 

Only the Workhorse7 will overdrive. A Workhorse5 or Workhorse3 will run at what the bulb needs, and nothing more.

Okay. That would be fine,36w of t5's is enough lol 48w is going to be pushing it anyways since they'll be joined by 2 NanoBox 11up boards and 4-6 HV's from LGB I really just want the t5's to have one before and after the leds come on and go off.

[Halo_003]

36W ballasts?

 

It will drive 4 bulbs. You have to game their system to get the right wiring diagram, as 18" bulbs aren't a common standard. Just pick 24W bulb options, and use the diagram for the Workhorse5 for all Workhorse7 connections.

Yeah the Oddysea is a 72W total setup, 4 bulbs, divided into two 36W ballasts that each drive two 18W(18") bulbs. Weird if you ask me.

 

Thanks so much, really appreciate the advice.

[Reefkid88]

Are you thinking about getting 2 different ballasts for your light ? What bulbs are you running ?

[Halo_003]

No I mean it came stock with two 36W ballasts.

I'm running 3x Coralife actinic and one Current USA 12000k, they were available locally although CNCreef has the UVL bulbs for like $13 each plus $7 for shipping so I'll be getting some of those soon.