des

hey guys, have been looking around for an overtank t5 luminaire after asking ppl on here a bunch of questions. the one i really like is the arcadia version but have found a cheaper equivelant- by aqua one. could anyone tell me if this is anygood or should i spend the extra on an arcadia? or is there anything else someone could please recomend for a 3foot tank.
many thanks

bhcaaron

For the most part, when it comes to aquariums, the conscensus seems to be you get what you pay for. I haven't gotten as far as lighting on my research yet, but, it would help to know what you'll have in the tank and why you're wanting this lighting as opposed to something else (ei halide or fluorescent, etc)

MrWaxhead

I personally am well cheap by nature hehe, I DIY everthing I can and that includes lighting, my tanks all have homemade t8 to t5 lighting with outdoor ballasts. And I have a cnc router, so I just route up a hood for my lighting and have a well lit tank for a fraction of the cost.

bhcaaron

What's a ballast?

MrWaxhead

Its what fires and runs your light tubes.

bhcaaron

So they're the light sockets? Why not say sockets? I hate difficult words! lol

MrWaxhead

No they are not the sockets, they are a electronic or magnetic unit that is inside the fixture that fires the bulbs and supplies correct wattage and voltage etc to them.

bhcaaron

Sounds good. I think I'll leave that headache for when I'm ready to research it lol

BristolBulldog

mains socket> wire> ballasts>wire>light bulb socket>bulb.

If you have every installed or dealt with car hids (proper ones) then they seem to be exactly the same. I'm looking into this now. Anythign pre-manufactured with "halide" in the sentence seems to inflate the price over 2x what it actually should cost.

bhcaaron

Heck, Bristol! If you can figure out a way to make it cost 1/2 as much let us all know!

MrWaxhead

Basically its DIY, if you buy the parts on there own ballast bulb case wiring (mogul base for halides), its substantially cheaper.

bhcaaron

MrWaxHead, you're gonna be my BESTEST friend once I get to that part of my hobby!

bhcaaron

Oh MrWaxHead! I'm starting to read, just a little, on lights. I need a bestest friend now! Would you mind?