T5 DIY planning.

[JDigital]

Now, I'm not the best DIY'er but I am always up for trying something if its gonna save me some money (especially on a low budget build).

Ok, So I am pretty sure I have figured out what I wanna try for my lighting on my 40G cube.

I was thinking of purchasing 2 - Aquamedic 4x24W NO T5 units (getting a good deal), tear them open, DIY to brace them together as one unit, therefore creating a 8x24W unit cheaper than anything I can find. I was then going to pull out the single reflector and NO ballasts, and swap in Tek individual reflectors, and run 2 Workhorse 3 HOT5 ballasts and 1 Workhorse 5 HOT5 ballast. Bulb configuration (and proposed light schedule) as follows.

Ballast #1 and #2 are the Workhorse 3's
Ballast #3 is the Workhorse 5.

Giesemann 10K (Ballast #2) (On: 1000 Off: 2200)
KZ Fiji Purple (Ballast #3) (On: 1100 Off: 2100)
Giesemann 10K (Ballast #3) (On: 1100 Off: 2100)
Giesemann Actinic+ (Ballast #1) (On: 0600 Off: 2400)
Giesemann Actinic+ (Ballast #1) (On: 0600 Off: 2400)
Giesemann 10K (Ballast #3) (On: 1100 Off: 2100)
Giesemann True Actinic (Ballast #3) (On: 1100 Off: 2100)
Giesemann 10K (Ballast #2) (On: 1000 Off: 2200)


Now my main concern after all that........ Is there an easier way to set this up??

[brizzo]

So you want to build two fixtures into one? Or do you plan to build a canopy?

Sounds cheaper to just buy end caps, cause you're replacing everything else?

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by nazerine

So you want to build two fixtures into one? Or do you plan to build a canopy?

Sounds cheaper to just buy end caps, cause you're replacing everything else?

Yea, basically two fixtures into one. No canopy.

I was looking to keep the fixtures for pure aesthetic reasons.

[mseepman]

It really depends on what you feel is a good deal. Conidering what you're going to spend, I would build a box and bang together 4 of these:
http://www.aquacave.com/24-two-lamp-...lvue-1144.html

You may not start with the bulb combination you were thinking but you'd have bulbs already and could change them over at your leisure. All for around $400 US.

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by mseepman

It really depends on what you feel is a good deal. Conidering what you're going to spend, I would build a box and bang together 4 of these:
http://www.aquacave.com/24-two-lamp-...lvue-1144.html

You may not start with the bulb combination you were thinking but you'd have bulbs already and could change them over at your leisure. All for around $400 US.

Yea, i was just looking on Ocean Aquatics website after nazerine posted about end caps...

8 TekII 24" Reflectors
2 Workhorse 3
1 Workhorse 5
16 Waterproof sockets

All for $430CDN.

I was really hoping to go with the clean look of some modded fixtures. Guess I should re-evaluate my plan.

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by JDigital

Yea, i was just looking on Ocean Aquatics website after nazerine posted about end caps...

8 TekII 24" Reflectors
2 Workhorse 3
1 Workhorse 5
16 Waterproof sockets

All for $430CDN.

4 TekII T5 Reflector 48" (cut them in half)
2 Workhorse 3
1 Workhorse 5
16 Waterproof sockets

All for $360. lol