retro fitting

[creo568]

can any1 tell me if i can retro fit my hood with T-5 lighting

 

[Wes]

it looks like you already did?

 

[creo568]

This is how i bought the top it is 3 20w bulbs 24"

 

[Wes]

so what is your question exactly? im a bit confused, you ask if you can retrofit T5s into your hood but you already have T5s retrofitted into your hood...

 

[loismustdie]

He's got NO flourescents. I'm guessing T-12. Yes you can retro. You should let us know what you plan to keep so we can guide you better on lighting.

 

[creo568]

I'm new to this hobby.Atm i have mushrooms, a gorgon ,sun coral that i never saw come out and zoos, my zoos wont open all the way so i know i need better lighting . I really don't know what i can add to my reef at this time its a new reef 2 months old.

 

[loismustdie]

You have to feed the sun coral. It doesn't need light, it needs food. For what you are keeping, you can upgrade, but I do not feel it's necessary. I do feel for your tank, either t-5 or VHO would be nice and expand what you can keep. If zoos won't open, look into your water quality. Do you use RO/DI? Salt used? Skimmer? Water parameters (nitrate, phosphate, temp, pH, SG, calcium, alk and magnesium.)
btw, I would consider VHO's. 4 bulbs. 2 50/50, 2 actinic bule. Nice combo. This would also be my opinion and others may disagree with that. Personal tastes.

 

[creo568]

I use nutra water from LFS. I don't have a test for phosphate,alk,and magnesium my amonia is 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 20, ph 8.4, calcium is 340, Salinity is 1.025, water temp is between 79 and 81. I use a protein skimmer. I use a Eheim pro filter.my bulbs are (1) 50/50 (1 )10,000 and (1) blue spectrum bulb all 20watt. How do i spot feed the sun coral? oh i don't have a sump/refuge.

 

[loismustdie]

You don't necessarily need a sump or a fuge. A sump would be nice and your particular live stock may do just fine if you added a fuge, but you don't need either one. Target feed the sun coral with a dropper. If that is to time consuming, cut the bottom off of a soda bottle and throw away the cut off bottom. Place the bottom of the soda bottle over the sun coral and then put food in the neck. Most of what you keep doesn't exactly need food, but the leftovers won't hurt them.
Get yourself an Icecap 430 and you'll be fine. You can either over drive T-5 on them or just run VHO bulbs. Your current set up indicates that all you need is the ballast, which would be your cheapest option. Icecap ballasts can run NO bulbs.

 

[creo568]

where can i get vho or t-5 ballast?I need thin ballast my casing is only 1 3/4 to 2" wide and i need to supply for 3 bulbs.
Thanks for all the help and info Chris.

 

[creo568]

O.K i just bought 2 T-5 retro fit kits for $311 from marine depot with 2 actinic bulbs and 2 aqua blue bulbs 24"