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Old 12-16-2009, 05:57 PM
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Default Underdriving fluorescent bulbs?

Just wondering if you can underdrive a fluorescent bulb? I'm looking at getting vho's. The 5' vho bulbs are 140 watts each. Can I use a ballast that would drive it at 110 watts? My main lighting is halides, I'm just thinking of supplementation. I have a 5' tank and I hate the shadows at the ends using only a 4' bulb. Thanks in advance.
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Old 12-16-2009, 06:04 PM
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Dez I have done it and had no problems you just wont get that much light remember. I did it with my 280 gal a along while ago... it worked great with actinics thou.
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Old 12-16-2009, 06:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asmodeus View Post
Dez I have done it and had no problems you just wont get that much light remember. I did it with my 280 gal a along while ago... it worked great with actinics thou.
Thanks Mike.

The wattage really doesn't concern me, it's just covering the entire 5' that concerns me cause I don't want to stagger the 48" ones. Thanks so much. Just didn't want to wreck anything.
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Old 12-16-2009, 06:08 PM
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Oh ya i know look what you wrecked a perfectly good wall to OMG
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Old 12-16-2009, 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by asmodeus View Post
Oh ya i know look what you wrecked a perfectly good wall to OMG
There was a hole in the wall already man....and I wouldn't use the term "wreck" but rather "beautify"!
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Old 12-16-2009, 06:14 PM
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I stand corrected
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Old 12-16-2009, 07:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dez View Post
Just wondering if you can underdrive a fluorescent bulb? I'm looking at getting vho's. The 5' vho bulbs are 140 watts each. Can I use a ballast that would drive it at 110 watts? My main lighting is halides, I'm just thinking of supplementation. I have a 5' tank and I hate the shadows at the ends using only a 4' bulb. Thanks in advance.
just use an icecap 660 to drive them.. they only drive them at HO levels.

Steve
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Old 12-17-2009, 02:16 AM
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Hey Des do you need some ballasts? I have some work horse 7s ?
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Old 12-17-2009, 03:24 AM
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What of using 80w T5's? Or... How wide is your tank again? What of using 24" T5's sideways to cover the gaps?
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Old 12-17-2009, 04:43 AM
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I'm looking into the 80watt T5's. Just wanting to see what fiji purples look like first before I decide whether to go VHO's. Hmmmm, decisions decisions. I might just stick with the 48" ones for now. I'm just kind of picky that's all.
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