Aquatic Plant Central - View Single Post - Ultra efficient and inexpensive monster light.

niko · 03-09-2008, 06:35 PM

Here are pictures and comments on a 4 ft. light that I made for my neighbour's 75 gals. tank:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ddasega/DaveS

Bulbs:
1. Two 47 inch long Giesemann Midday T5HO with individual reflectors (110 total watts)
2. Two AtoTlamps 10,000K VHO, 47 inches without reflectors (220 total watts)

The T5s are on the sides, the VHOs are in the middle.

The T5s run off 2 Workhorse 5 ballasts. The VHOs run off one Workhorse 7 ballast.

The VHOs are on 3 hours a day. The T5s are on 11 hours a day. 4 or 5 min. after the VHOs switch on the tank is literally boiling from streams of bubbles running everywhere.

Cost of this project:
1. T5s + reflectors = $80
2. VHOs = $34
3. 3 Workhorse ballasts = $105
4. Electric wire = $20
5. Hardware (tin roof flashing, metal tube, screws, silicone, paint) = $20
TOTAL: about 250

Discussion about this light:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...210g-tank.html

--Nikolay

03-09-2008, 06:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
niko Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,798 iTrader Ratings: 20 iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 61620	Ultra efficient and inexpensive monster light. Here are pictures and comments on a 4 ft. light that I made for my neighbour's 75 gals. tank: http://picasaweb.google.com/ddasega/DaveS Bulbs: 1. Two 47 inch long Giesemann Midday T5HO with individual reflectors (110 total watts) 2. Two AtoTlamps 10,000K VHO, 47 inches without reflectors (220 total watts) The T5s are on the sides, the VHOs are in the middle. The T5s run off 2 Workhorse 5 ballasts. The VHOs run off one Workhorse 7 ballast. The VHOs are on 3 hours a day. The T5s are on 11 hours a day. 4 or 5 min. after the VHOs switch on the tank is literally boiling from streams of bubbles running everywhere. Cost of this project: 1. T5s + reflectors = $80 2. VHOs = $34 3. 3 Workhorse ballasts = $105 4. Electric wire = $20 5. Hardware (tin roof flashing, metal tube, screws, silicone, paint) = $20 TOTAL: about 250 Discussion about this light: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...210g-tank.html --Nikolay Last edited by niko : 03-09-2008 at 06:50 PM.