Try to switch my power compacts for t5's

[Baylor_Bumm]

I really want to switch out my power compacts, which are in a 4 ft current usa metal halide/power compacts, for some t5's but I'm not sure what I would need to do this and if it would be possible to keep the factory look of the canopy. Help would be greatly appreciated to anyone who has any suggestions or experience with lighting.

[Reefing Madness]

Need remote ballasts and T-5 ends. Rivot gun to attach other T-5 end to inside light fixture so it does not lean on the glass. Piece of cake.

[Baylor_Bumm]

Need remote ballasts and T-5 ends. Rivot gun to attach other T-5 end to inside light fixture so it does not lean on the glass. Piece of cake.

I'm the most confused about what kind of ballasts? Do the ballasts need to run both the MH and the t5? Are there any that can be hidden inside the lighting fixture? Thanks for the help reefing!

[Original Fin]

Different kinds of ballasts for each. You can mount ballasts in the fixture, although I personally wouldn't unless the fixture is fan cooled. The heat build up will shorten the life of the bulbs and the ballasts, and it reduces par performance as well.
Having said that, most cheap to middle of the road T5 fixtures do have encapsulated ballasts without active cooling. MH's are more likely to have remote ballasts, or if they don't, they should definitely have fans as they run hotter than T5's.

There are a couple low end MH/T5 hybrid fixtures out there without active cooling that have a reputation for causing fires.


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[Baylor_Bumm]

Different kinds of ballasts for each. You can mount ballasts in the fixture, although I personally wouldn't unless the fixture is fan cooled. The heat build up will shorten the life of the bulbs and the ballasts, and it reduces par performance as well.
Having said that, most cheap to middle of the road T5 fixtures do have encapsulated ballasts without active cooling. MH's are more likely to have remote ballasts, or if they don't, they should definitely have fans as they run hotter than T5's.

There are a couple low end MH/T5 hybrid fixtures out there without active cooling that have a reputation for causing fires.


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So from what I've gathered I'll need to get a t5 high output electronic ballast 4x54 watt, 2 t5 polished reflectors w/clips, and 4 endcaps,? CouldI just get a ready fit t5 setup which has everything needed already assembled? Keeping in mind that i would like to keep the light fixture's factory look.

[Original Fin]

Not entirely sure I follow, but I have a 4 foot x4 bulb T5 fixture in my canopy. I did it this way because I already had the fixture before I built the canopy, otherwise I would have gone the "retrofit" route. This type of fixture should not be completely enclosed, so I'm leave the lid off until I can add some computer fans. You can see that I have no room to add MH's with this large of a fixture on a slim 55 gallon tank.

[Reefing Madness]

So from what I've gathered I'll need to get a t5 high output electronic ballast 4x54 watt, 2 t5 polished reflectors w/clips, and 4 endcaps,? CouldI just get a ready fit t5 setup which has everything needed already assembled? Keeping in mind that i would like to keep the light fixture's factory look.

You can get a T-5 HO Retro fit kit that alredy has everything for you to set up.
T5 HO Retrofit Kits - Hellolights.com