Hagen T5 Glo ballast kits

BlueCoast · #1 08/18/2007, 12:54 PM

My LFS has these retrofit kits for $50 and I am having trouble finding much info on them. It is a 2X54 T5 kit with ballast, pre-wired endcaps and bulb clips.

Hagen T5 GLO

All I can find out is that it is an electronic ballast (duh), no idea what starting method is used and the plastic housing is sealed, no screws to peek under the hood.

I am running one right now with ind. reflectors and 36" Geiss. bulbs. and it is a big improvement over my old USA Orbit(2X65). Thinking about a second 2 have 4X54 but worry about the longevity of them & how they treat the bulbs.

Anyone have any experience or advice on them. With most things, price says a lot about quality. Just Icecap's would take a chunk of the tank budget.

Shade00 · #2 08/18/2007, 01:06 PM

Hagen makes some pretty decent quality stuff. As far as starting the lamps, do the lamps light up evenly across the entire lamp when the lights come on, or do they appear to light just slightly on the ends and then fire the rest of the lamp? I doubt that Hagen would design a T5 kit with an instant start ballast, as T5s are not specced to start instantly. Rapid or program start ballasts are very soft on the bulbs and you can expect them to last up to their rated life as long as their is not a large amount of heat trapped in the canopy. The only real question is will the ballast die early? I like Hagen's bulbs, but I have no experience with their electronics - it is more likely, though, that Hagen uses an Advance or Universal ballast in the setup.

Shade00 · #3 08/18/2007, 01:15 PM

I forgot to add that the problem with running T5s on instant start ballasts is that it reduces the total amount of starting cycles - however, if you replace the bulbs after a year or a year and a half that shouldn't be a problem. Most people replace the bulbs before they run out of start cycles anyway.

BlueCoast · #4 08/19/2007, 12:35 PM

Thanks for the info Shade.... They seem to pop on evenly across the entire bulb. (cold start in the morning) I've read many conflicting opinions on start type... Since they are only cycling once per day, instant start is not bad or bad. Rapid starts keep a constant voltage on one anode and shorten life...

With no clear cut opinion I'm thinking a lot of it is just that... Seems this hobby is still more art than science. I do have a little PC fan pushing air over each bulb to help prolong life.

Shade00 · #5 08/19/2007, 01:22 PM

Like I said, you'll probably be replacing bulbs before you even noticed the loss of start cycles anyway. I've run T5s on power compact ballasts before and as long as you're not starting and restarting the bulb several times a day, you'll never notice any difference.

XTriggzX · #6 09/10/2007, 09:38 AM

So I have a chance to pick up some of theese ballasts brand new for next to nothing. But am a little hesitant to jump on it.

How are they working out for you bluecoast (or anyone else) ?

I was thinking of using icecap reflectors and geisemann bulbs.

I was also wondering if using 2x24 watt bulbs will get better output since the ballast could power more (2x39 watt) ?

thanks.

BlueCoast · #7 09/10/2007, 12:26 PM

So far I've been very pleased with them. Shade had some good info and from my reading the type of start-up isn't overly critical. I'm running 4x54 on 36" bulbs. Bulbs get warm, but a fan helps keep the overdriven bulbs cooler. I noticed a big difference from sunpaq bulbs to *real* bulbs (geis. D&D ATI etc.) I am running 2 Giesemann aquablues (1oK ish) 1 ATI pure Actinic (true actinic blub) & 1 Giesemann Actinic+ (more blue) All are on Icecap SLR reflectors too.

If I could do it over I would have started with 4 bulbs. I was not really happy with the color when I had an actinic+ and aquablue+. With only 1 switch there was no dusk period, and I could see the front and back being lit differently. 4 bulbs let me stagger the color better and get the overall colors I was looking for.

jamesdawson · #8 09/10/2007, 01:56 PM

Has anyone tried the Hagen T5 bulbs? The powerglo and marineglo look interesting.

James

BlueCoast · #9 09/10/2007, 04:45 PM

Try this thread, tons of useful info about PAR ratings for lamps. Not sure if anyone has measured the Hagen Glo's... I would recommend bulbs in the thread below.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...threadid=918935

jamesdawson · #10 09/14/2007, 03:05 PM

Well I picked up 1 Hagen PowerGlo and 1 Hagen MarineGlo in a 48" size on my PowerModul.

Very nice lamps! The MarineGlo is like a BluePlus with a little white thrown in and replaced a GMan actinic plus and is significantly brighter.

The PowerGlo replaced a KZ CoralLight and looks similar and as bright with a slightly yellowish tint.

I hope someone with a PAR meter tests these soon and gives us some hard numbers.

James

Fish_Freek · #11 12/16/2007, 03:39 PM

Old thread...but i'm giving it a bump to see if anyone has any additional info on these bulbs.

jennmac415 · #12 12/23/2007, 12:49 PM

my LFS has the Hagen T5 bulbs also, I would like to see some tanks lit with these bulbs...still trying to figure out a combination that i like...which of their bulbs is the bluest?

thanks!

jamesdawson · #13 12/23/2007, 02:39 PM

Jenni,

The MarineGlo is the bluest.

James

jennmac415 · #14 12/23/2007, 03:12 PM

Thanks... any pics of your tank running these bulbs?

Fish_Freek · #15 12/24/2007, 11:19 AM

Jamesdawson, are you still running these bulbs? What do you think of them now?

jamesdawson · #16 12/24/2007, 12:52 PM

Yes, I really like the color on both the 1 MarineGlo and 1 PowerGlo I have on my 8 bulb PowerModul. In my opinion, if Hagen dropped the prices to around $15-$18 they would steal alot of sales away from ATI, GMan, etc. Sorry i don't have any bulb pics right now.

James