Want to Upgrade Coralife NO T-5, please advise

M

mestupidcat

Hi y'all-

I have a 24" Coralife Aqualight Double Linnear T-5 fixture (2x 14w bulbs):
http://www.aquarium-supply.biz/ordering/lighting_Aqualight_T5.htm (pic/stats)

I'd like to put HO bulbs in this fixture, but from what I've read I should upgrade the ballast.

Here's the bulbs I'd like to use (10000K and 460 actinic):
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13828&N=2004+113907
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13825&N=2004+113907

Would I just need to add this Icecap ballast?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3872&N=2004+113175

Not sure if I would need new endcaps or not.

Any advice welcome in this area.. I'm not gonna take apart the light without an idea of what I need to do.

Thanks y'all!
 
I see a few things that concern me:
1. With the bulbs being overdriven and generating extra heat, all T5-HO's recommend fans blowing air around the bulbs. The extra heat will dramatically shorten bulb life if not handled well. It doesn't appear there is room for one in the current setup, but I can't tell too much from the picture itself.
2. Again from the picture, I don't believe you will have enough room to put the normal IceCap T5 endcaps in it. I'm not sure the stock normal output bulb end connetors will handle the extra heat and/or amperage passing through them, but they may. Possibly others have some experience here. I've run VHO on 'standard' end connectors, but they are a long way from water and protected by a plastic shield too. I'd hate to see a problem caused by some inadequacy as I suspect the light fixture itself is plastic and wouldn't offer much in the way of protection from melt-out,etc if it didn't handle it.
3. You might want to check the dimensions of the ice cap ballast and the one you are thinking of replacing as I suspect it won't fit in the current housing fixture if you were thinking of that. It also is best to have the aluminum heat sink around the IC ballast as shown and it uses extra space. If you can't find the dimensions, let me know and I'll measure ours and give you the dimensions with/wo the heat sink.
Others may weigh in too and have more experience with that type of conversion. Hope it works out.
Doug
 
@commandertekki wrote:
I dont see a problem with it. said:
i see a big problem. if you're not sure what you're doing i wouldn't attempt modding that fixture. for safety's sake, don't do it. i think your money would be better spent on a retrofit kit, or a t5 ho fixture. both options are cheaper than an icecap ballast. you can get 24" Nova Extreme T5 fixture for $70.

you can save your old t5 fixture for a small fuge light, or just sell it.
Click to expand...
 
a Workhorse 5 ballast will drive a pair of 24W T5HO's according to Fulham
it will actually drive 4x24W T5HO's (Check Diagram 9 for the twin bulb wiring)
 
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