t-5 light help please

[joedodge]

so i went to home depot could i get a t5 light fixture for $30 and mount it in my canopy and put 2 t5 aquariumn bulbs in it or will i have issues

 

[FSM]

The fixtures they have at HD/Lowes are T5 normal output, not high output, so the 48" bulbs are 28W instead of 54W. I'm pretty sure T5HO bulbs won't work, but there is no reason why you can't still use the fixture with normal output t5 bulbs.

 

[Electric45]

sand bulb just less wattage right?

 

[joedodge]

ya im not gonn grow plants yet i just wanted the nice crisp lighting t5 provides i wanted to use like a coralife 10k and 6700 sunglo or are thos HO bulbs

 

[FSM]

You can get coralife T5NO bulbs, but most T5s are high output.

 

[joedodge]

hmmm ok thanks for the help so far it seems like itd be cheaper to get a 36"current t5 ho of the internet than to do this the only advantage this way would be it would mount in my wood canopy instead of having to remove it all together

 

[FSM]

If you want something to mount in the canopy you can get a retrofit kit.

 

[joedodge]

il have to llok into that thanks alot for the help fsm its much appreciated do you use t5 lighting for non planted tanks

 

[joedodge]

will the lighting from the t5 realy be any better than the aquaglo t8 i have now tho is it worth it

 

[joedodge]

bump