Lighting Question....T4 vs T5 bulb

AJinNY · 06-08-2008, 05:54 PM

This is thebulb I currently have for my wall aquarium:

T4 bulb - 12 watt 6400K
It looks to be 18 inches in length.

Would this T5 fit?
https://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...t~CU02142.html
Current USA 18 Inch 20W T5HO 10,000K Daylight SlimPaq Bulb

How about this one?
https://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...t~CU02143.html
Current USA 18 Inch 20W T5HO 460nm Actinic Blue SlimPaq Bulb

I know the 6400 I have now has a lot of yellow in it...Assuming thr first link would fit, would I notice any difference with the 10000K?
Is the second link too "blue"?

Thanks.

panmanmatt · 06-08-2008, 06:01 PM

Sorry to say, but they are not interchangeable. They require different ballasts to fire the bulbs. A T4 12w ballast will not fire a 20w HO T5 bulb.

AJinNY · 06-08-2008, 06:09 PM

do I have any options or basically im stuck with the bulb that came with the aquarium? Imbummed because the lighting is lousy.

panmanmatt · 06-08-2008, 06:40 PM

Depending on how much room you have over the tank you may be able to use a fixture like this:
https://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI..._Units&vendor=

AJinNY · 06-08-2008, 10:39 PM

I cant....its a wall aquarium and its one of those all in one things....the only thing I can change is the bulb...everything else is fixed.

panmanmatt · 06-08-2008, 10:44 PM

You are basically stuck with that lighting. Perhaps you can find a T4 bulb that is closer to the 10,000K range.

PEMfish · 06-08-2008, 11:06 PM

You were asking about this before too, and I offered to build a T5 for your in wall. Read the red in my sig.

lcstorc · 06-09-2008, 10:44 AM

Can you change the ballast etc in the existing fixture? I know they sell retro kits so you can add them to your own hood. You might be able to do something like that.
Just an idea.

06-08-2008, 05:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
AJinNY Plate Coral Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 722 View Gallery Karma Komment	Lighting Question....T4 vs T5 bulb This is thebulb I currently have for my wall aquarium: T4 bulb - 12 watt 6400K It looks to be 18 inches in length. Would this T5 fit? https://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...t~CU02142.html Current USA 18 Inch 20W T5HO 10,000K Daylight SlimPaq Bulb How about this one? https://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...t~CU02143.html Current USA 18 Inch 20W T5HO 460nm Actinic Blue SlimPaq Bulb I know the 6400 I have now has a lot of yellow in it...Assuming thr first link would fit, would I notice any difference with the 10000K? Is the second link too "blue"? Thanks.

06-08-2008, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
panmanmatt Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 2,255 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting Question....T4 vs T5 bulb Sorry to say, but they are not interchangeable. They require different ballasts to fire the bulbs. A T4 12w ballast will not fire a 20w HO T5 bulb. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

06-08-2008, 06:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
AJinNY Plate Coral Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 722 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting Question....T4 vs T5 bulb do I have any options or basically im stuck with the bulb that came with the aquarium? Imbummed because the lighting is lousy.

06-08-2008, 06:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
panmanmatt Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 2,255 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting Question....T4 vs T5 bulb Depending on how much room you have over the tank you may be able to use a fixture like this: https://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI..._Units&vendor= __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

06-08-2008, 10:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
AJinNY Plate Coral Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 722 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting Question....T4 vs T5 bulb I cant....its a wall aquarium and its one of those all in one things....the only thing I can change is the bulb...everything else is fixed.

06-08-2008, 10:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
panmanmatt Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 2,255 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting Question....T4 vs T5 bulb You are basically stuck with that lighting. Perhaps you can find a T4 bulb that is closer to the 10,000K range. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

06-08-2008, 11:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
PEMfish Manta Ray Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 3,048 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting Question....T4 vs T5 bulb You were asking about this before too, and I offered to build a T5 for your in wall. Read the red in my sig. __________________ Paul `EM My new 48" reef chronicle; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...chronicle.html My new planted; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-planted.html# Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes. a)Fix the damn problem b)live with it -But absolutely no b*tching

06-09-2008, 10:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting Question....T4 vs T5 bulb Can you change the ballast etc in the existing fixture? I know they sell retro kits so you can add them to your own hood. You might be able to do something like that. Just an idea. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

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