t5 bulbs

[gonsouth]

I have a planted 20G long with a 30" reflector that takes 22" bulbs. I cannot get 22' bulbs at my local pet shop, I know I can get them on line, but the shipping is costly. Is there a way to put 24" "guts" in the 30" reflector? I can get those bulbs easily.

 

[Khemul]

What wattage are the bulbs?

Go by that instead of size. Bulb sizes can be a little confusing depending on how they are measured/labeled. Some companies will call a bulb for a 24" fixture a 22" bulb, others will call it a 24" bulb. Wattage will always be the same so it is easier to use.

 

[Arakkis]

Is it one of the asian off brands? there's a reason why those ones are cheap. worst case scenario you can swap the guts

 

[gonsouth]

t5

There is no brand name that I could find on the reflector. The bulbs are 24W each and 22"long. A 24" bulb would not fit.

 

[dbosman]

There are no standard T5 lamps that are 24" long.
24 watts at a nominal 22" is a standard T5HO bulb\tube\lamp. If it were a T5NO, the length would be the same, but the wattage would be 14.

T5 aquarium lamps\bulbs\tubes are longer than the 13 watt T5NO under counter lamps, sold at big box stores. Those are nominally 21" and say so on the packaging.

 

[gonsouth]

Do you mean that the t5 bulbs labled 24" are really 22" long bulbs and will fit in my reflector as long as they are 24W? I'm confused by all of this.

 

[Jody]

T5 HO 24 watt Is 22 inch long but is called a 24 inch


check the link


http://www.1000bulbs.com/category/f24t5-high-output-fluorescent-tubes-5000k/

 

[jpappy789]

As stated the fixtures are 24" but the bulbs are 22"...companies/stores might just label everything as 2ft to make it easier.

 

[dbosman]

Do you mean that the t5 bulbs labled 24" are really 22" long bulbs and will fit in my reflector as long as they are 24W? I'm confused by all of this.

It is confusing. It isn't just you.
Here is one example.
24 Watt T5HO nominal length is 22".
Why nominal?
Some bulb/tube/lamp lengths are pin end to pin end and others are the glass and metal length not including the pins.
Pin end to pin end, this lamp is 22.125" long.
Measured without the pins, it's 21.6" long.
Same lamp from different sellers.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

That's why wattage is what to go by when looking for T5 or T5HO bulbs.