DIY Retrofit T5 kit

[trainwreck]

Hi all! Happy New Year!

I'm looking to install two 48" T5's in a very tight space, too tight to buy a prebuilt unit. I have a LFS that can hook me up with all the parts to do the job for just a bit more than $200. I can't help but wonder if I could do better. Do any of you have suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[reefguy]

Look online they have retro fit kits everywhere. If I remember correctly bull reef supply has one. Not sure on the price.

 

[trainwreck]

Look online they have retro fit kits everywhere. If I remember correctly bull reef supply has one. Not sure on the price.

Thanks. But I'm wondering if anyone has had experience getting parts, say at Home Depot, or anywhere and creating their own to save a few bucks.

 

[JJB103]

I built a 4 bulb DIY T5 HO system over my 55 gallon reef. I bought the ballast from Home Depot for around $40 and I found the end caps and the mounting clips on Horticulture Source - Discount Specialty Farm, Greenhouse & Garden Supply Store - Advanced Search - Search Results - waterproof t5 - Horticulture Source they are super cheap. For the reflectors I cut 2" PVC tubes in half and lined them in aluminum duct tape. I grew Everything including SPS.

 

[jerry26]

You can do it for far less than $200. Assuming you can make sense of simple wiring diagrams. Its e-z.