How would I retrofit these lights for my 55g?

T

tigerbarb88

AC Members
Mar 23, 2009
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Phoenix, AZ
Hello everyone,

I would like to retrofit my current lights with something that can provide more lighting for my plants. Currently, I think I have a total of 30 watts over my 55g tank, which is clearly a very low light set up.

These lights are stock and came with the tank.

What are my options? and how would I go about obtaining the parts needed to do a successful retrofit?

Im looking to get at least 2 watts per gallon, or a bit more.

If you guys could provide me a parts list and maybe some guidance, that would be awesome :)

I have attached a few pics of the stock lighting fixtures. I believe they use flourescent tubes that are 18 inches long.

07032009098.jpg 07032009099.jpg 07032009100.jpg
 
A Workhorse #5 ballast, two sets of T5 endcaps and two 54w T5 HO bulbs can be had for under $100 and will provide more light and less heat than a 2x55w PC set up. And when bulb replacement time comes you can get both T5s for what you'll pay for a single PC.
 
If this is your first time doing a retrofit, I would go with the AHSupply kit as it has everything you need packaged for you. When you take your first hood apart, make a note or take pics of how things are wired to get a better understanding when you start to put your retrofit back in. You will probably have to mount the ballast outside of the light hood on the back part where the light switch is. You can incorporate the existing light switch to the retrofit kit since it will not have a light switch included (Most of the kits don't). Don't get confused reading this, once you take it apart and have it all laid out, you will understand. The AHSupply kit has an excellent reflector that works as it's advertised. You'll be able to grow 80% of the plants out there with their kit for a 55G. I have the same kit and retrofitted it to an old 48" perfecto hood.
What SubRosa said is true, but I don't think you'll need more light than what the AHSupply kit will give you. More light will have you spending more time tweaking the tank to control algal growth.

If you decide to go with the AHSupply kit, make sure you order it w/2 separate ballast for your 2 hoods. Talk to Kim if you have any questions. He won't steer you wrong.
 
Last edited:
Wow - best 55 retro thread ever!! - If were doing it today, I'd do what is suggested immediately below
(will require some more research on specifics though I will provide: 6500K to 10,000K is your bulb temp. target range, HO driving of TF bulbs does tend to shift their K spectrum up some, Geismann (sp?) makes the Cadillac class bulb and reflector among T5s, Individual reflectors are the way to go whether using T5 or PC.)

If you're a first timer or are not so comfortable cobbling a system together out of Ballast/Reflector/Endcaps/Mounting hardware including bulb clips, go w/ AHSupply, they'll make you happy.

EITHER WAY - come up w/ some legs or something to raise your fixtures an inch or two above your glass lids as these bulbs get toasty (PC especially) - some of my first posts here talk about how much glass I broke w/ my 96W retrofit.

SubRosa said:
A Workhorse #5 ballast, two sets of T5 endcaps and two 54w T5 HO bulbs can be had for under $100 and will provide more light and less heat than a 2x55w PC set up. And when bulb replacement time comes you can get both T5s for what you'll pay for a single PC.
Click to expand...
 
jptjpt said:
If this is your first time doing a retrofit, I would go with the AHSupply kit as it has everything you need packaged for you. When you take your first hood apart, make a note or take pics of how things are wired to get a better understanding when you start to put your retrofit back in. You will probably have to mount the ballast outside of the light hood on the back part where the light switch is. You can incorporate the existing light switch to the retrofit kit since it will not have a light switch included (Most of the kits don't). Don't get confused reading this, once you take it apart and have it all laid out, you will understand. The AHSupply kit has an excellent reflector that works as it's advertised. You'll be able to grow 80% of the plants out there with their kit for a 55G. I have the same kit and retrofitted it to an old 48" perfecto hood.
What SubRosa said is true, but I don't think you'll need more light than what the AHSupply kit will give you. More light will have you spending more time tweaking the tank to control algal growth.

If you decide to go with the AHSupply kit, make sure you order it w/2 separate ballast for your 2 hoods. Talk to Kim if you have any questions. He won't steer you wrong.
Click to expand...

This is some great information, thank you, I really do appreciate it! ahsupply has a pretty good price point for their 2x55w kit so I think Im going to do that instead. I'll make sure to call in and request the ballasts. Thanks :)

Squawkbert said:
Wow - best 55 retro thread ever!! - If were doing it today, I'd do what is suggested immediately below
(will require some more research on specifics though I will provide: 6500K to 10,000K is your bulb temp. target range, HO driving of TF bulbs does tend to shift their K spectrum up some, Geismann (sp?) makes the Cadillac class bulb and reflector among T5s, Individual reflectors are the way to go whether using T5 or PC.)

If you're a first timer or are not so comfortable cobbling a system together out of Ballast/Reflector/Endcaps/Mounting hardware including bulb clips, go w/ AHSupply, they'll make you happy.

EITHER WAY - come up w/ some legs or something to raise your fixtures an inch or two above your glass lids as these bulbs get toasty (PC especially) - some of my first posts here talk about how much glass I broke w/ my 96W retrofit.
Click to expand...

I think Im going to go with the ahsupply kit, it looks legit. How toasty do the lights get? like, super hot? or just warmer? I dont have glass under the lights, its more of a plastic... :confused:
 
SMinNC is right; I ended up doing glass top over my 55G also. If you mount the ballast outside of the hood and drill the big round hole on either side of the hood for the air vent that the AHSupply kit provides, you shoud be ok with leaving it on the glass and not having to raise it. The ballast heats up the most, more than the light itself.
 
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