DIY T-5 HO Lighting

[aStRoBo|]

well, it's all up to the individual bro. but dun u find 3ft lightings sticking out its ends on a 2ft tank a little unsightly?

juz me 2 cents.

Oh.. u brought up this bro.. forgotten tat the 2ft's 24w tube cant fit into a 36w eballast.. one 24w, one 36w.. paiseh.. very tempted to DIY one T5 set. Dr Evil, can u pls PM me the german 24w e-ballast's cost? ty..

[lightningstrike]

pm him.

[chselee]

Hi reefez,

Update on the parts used for my DIY project.

Parts use for my DIY'ed lighting are as following :-

1.) 2 Aquaz 24watts Blue Pro tube

2.) 2 Aquaz 24watts Actinic Blue tube

3.) 2x Elbiru 2x 24watts e-ballast

4.) 8x non-water proof endcap

5.) 4x Aquaz parabolic Reflextor

6.) 1x Arcylics custom made Fixture

7.) 2x 3 PIN plug

8.) 6 meter of 2 core cable

The DIY cost is $2xx.xx

Let me knoe if need help to DIY a T-5 lighting. 2ft, 3ft...

Rgds,

WIL

[amteo]

Hi chselee,

Can PM where you got the reflector? and the cost?

Thanks

[woonming]

Hi reefez,

Update on the parts used for my DIY project.

Parts use for my DIY'ed lighting are as following :-

1.) 2 Aquaz 24watts Blue Pro tube

2.) 2 Aquaz 24watts Actinic Blue tube

3.) 2x Elbiru 2x 24watts e-ballast

4.) 8x non-water proof endcap

5.) 4x Aquaz parabolic Reflextor

6.) 1x Arcylics custom made Fixture

7.) 2x 3 PIN plug

8.) 6 meter of 2 core cable

The DIY cost is $2xx.xx

Let me knoe if need help to DIY a T-5 lighting. 2ft, 3ft...

Rgds,

WIL

Wow, Chselee !! U may start a new breed of design for lighting using plastic instead of metal Very nicely done up ......

Hehe...

[chselee]

Wow, Chselee !! U may start a new breed of design for lighting using plastic instead of metal Very nicely done up ......

Hehe...

[chselee]

Top view of my DIY 4x T5 Acrylic fixture Light.

[chselee]

Side View.

[amteo]

chselee, great job. Can I ask a couple of questions to understand more?

1. Will the heat generated from the lamps cause the acrylic to melt? What's the thickness of the acrylic?

2. I can see only one ballast. Can this ballst handle 4 lamps? or is there another ballast somewhere?

3. Is this Elbiru ballast rated for use with T5 HO tubes? From my understanding, not all e-ballast can drive T5 properly. In fact, so far I'm only aware of an Osram model and another brand recommended by Dr Evil. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying normal e-ballast cannot be used with T5 HO tube. It's just that you might not be using the tubes to its full potential. In any case, this point is moot if the Elbiru is meant for T5 HO tubes!

Regards

[chselee]

Hi amteo,

Don't worry about the heat. T5 is not MH lar

The thickness of the arcylic is 3mm.

As for the e-ballast, I'm using 2 set, another is under the one you seen.

The one you saw on top is from 'Dr Evil', another one is Ariba.

Hope I answer ur's Q.

Happy DIY & Happy Reef Keeping

[iori_del]

TAT a nice piece of DIY T5, bro u have been helpful, as my budet is there, i cannot go into the T5 will save up enff and knock on yr door for more help.

SO do we need a chiller for the T5??

[woonming]

Side View.

Chselee,

Nice work, maybe if you could add another piece of cover on the top it would be a complete housing

Could even add those small pc fan to reduce heat

Very nice and i love the "black"

[aStRoBo|]

so is the end cap used to drive the power into the tube? if so, how do you connect the cable to the end caps?

[chselee]

so is the end cap used to drive the power into the tube? if so, how do you connect the cable to the end caps?

Hi Woon Ming,

Actually it have a cover on top when I design the Arcylic fixture.

It was hard to place the ballast during fixing, which the two end are open holes.

I remove it and cut it to cover the holes on two end of the ballast compartment. which ended up look like a box.

Thinking of how to DIY a cover that can be easily open for servicing need too.

aStRoBo|

That is for sure, if not how to light up the tube?

Still do not haw wireless technology for this application yet.

The wires are all fixed inside the acrylic fixture.

[chselee]

TAT a nice piece of DIY T5, bro u have been helpful, as my budet is there, i cannot go into the T5 will save up enff and knock on yr door for more help.

SO do we need a chiller for the T5??

Hi,

You may still use FAN to cool down your tank.

What I worry is, where to put the FAN.

Check it out with Kevin, he is keeping SPS without chiller.

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=21741

Happy Reef Keeping guys..

[chselee]

so is the end cap used to drive the power into the tube? if so, how do you connect the cable to the end caps?

Hi dude,

As per ur request. endcap connection Pic.

Happy DIY.