T5's to expensive(are they really necessary)

was shoping on the eastrand this weekend,visited every petshop and hardware store from my house near jhb central to boksburg north looking for these t5's.builders had the tube but not the ballast.two stores had stock:a ballast for R565 for two tubes and then the tubes at R250 each but wait it gets better the next store was R750 for the ballast.i never bothered to ask the price of the tubes.now the question i need answered is if my tank being 38high only would a t8 or two extra be sufficient bearing in mind i have 1 t8 in there already in a red/blue(not white) spectrum.

 

how long is your tank? how much u thinking of spending?

 

its 900x380x380.i was thinking about R400.

 

should be fine. go for another 2 t8's 30w.. electro balasts are like 100 or so each.. otherwise, if u still keen on t5's, i bought my dual 54w balasts for 370ish.. the 39w balast should be the same price or cheaper..tubes i also know where you can get good ones for like 50 bucks.. i can pm u if u'd like..

 

Send me that same PM Shihr... as well as the spot you got the dual ballast.

 

If you take the time out to go to Lamphouse during the week, you can pick up 39W T5 tubes for 60-120 bucks depending on the tube

 

wouldnt be able to make it in the week,ima go with shihr's help for now and see where it takes me

 

where is lamphouse?

 

Linbro Park

 

malboro..do a search for them on google..

 

http://watershed3.tripod.com/lighting.html just found this,maybe it will help.

 

Howsit guys, give Voltex a call...they have ballasts for T5's for really good prices. I think they are under R150 for a dual 54watt ballast.
If you live in Durban you can visit thelamphouse and Voltex in Briardene and get all your kit, sharp.

 

yep those are the balasts alone.. at the petstores they sell the complete ones..