T-5 Vs, T5 HO. Should i upgrade ballasts?

[Ehaze]

Well i bought a t-5 tek light from reefgeek(great cust service), i just read somewhere. that I should install stonger ballasts inside of my tek light fixture.

I will be able to run the 12000k HO lights, thus giving me better growth out of my corals.

Will anyone please confirm if this info is true or, false?

I love this light, i know it has no fan in it, so i bought a little fan from wallgreens that keeps it running at 70 - 80deg Vs no fan at 110+.

If i should upgrade what ballast might i look at?

[Travis L. Stevens]

I believe Tek light are T5HO. Look on the bulb. What length and wattage is it?

[Ehaze]

48inch 54watt

[Ehaze]

these are the lights they sell on DFS, you will notice the 48 inch light needs
85watts
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+16769&pcatid=16769

Vs the

48" 54watt
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13828&pcatid=13828

[Ehaze]

Anyone?

[Aquabucket]

If you are going to overdrive the bulbs on a TEK unit you will need to find a away to cool the bulbs down efficiently. The TEK unit is designed poorly as far as its cooling abilty is concerned. One fan will not be enough and 4 would probably do.

I overdrive my 39W T5s to 64Ws and keep them well cooled.

Basically I think Dr Foster's is advertising standard HO T5s at their capacity when overdriven. For instance you can take the 54W and overdrive it to 85W and have it run very efficiently.

[Ehaze]

Its a 12x12 fan that i mounted on the wall, it is ment to be a room fan, it is very strong, it keeps the unit VERRY cool, I only plan on using this light in a *** tank in the future. (never covered)

so should i replace my ballasts?? if so what one should i use?

i just want to know if i would be able to use the HO bulbs and not just the normal 54watt in my unit. thanks

[Aquabucket]

You can use the 54 watt bulbs and overdrive them to 85Ws with an icecap ballast or a cheaper workhorse ballast. Early on when HO T5s first came out icecap became one of the first to test and overdrive HO T5 bulbs. They determined that the overdriven bulbs actually hold par and spectrum longer.

[Ehaze]

thanks a ton man, will you please hit me up with a link? please and thank you!

[Aquabucket]

If I were you I would call an icecap rep to see what they think. 1-800 -7ICECAP

I know a Workhorse 7 will drive 2 80W HOT5s.

[Ehaze]

i will look for a workhorse. thanks again