T5NO in Hagen Glo T5HO (2x24W)

[Kraken]

Hi all!
I was wondering if anyone has attempted to run 14W tubes (F14W/T5/850) in a Hagen Glo 2x24W fixture.

I found a few threads that share this same interest but none that actually share results. There's gotta be someone out there with this fixture thinking about doing the same thing... just nod if you can hear me

Or maybe there's someone with some electrical savvy that can guide a greasy mechanic's pipe dream.

Thanks much,
the Krak

 

[mi5haha]

Theoretically, running a T5HE tube on a T5HO fixture (if it is a true T5HO fixture) will shorten the service life of that T5HE tube. HAGEN Glo 24W x 2 is a true T5HO fixture.

 

[pepetj]

It will work; just not produce as much light as the HO. I've performed that downgrade looking to reduce light intensity at substrate level in 30g breeder tanks without any problems.

High Efficiency or Normal Output T5 lamps are quite cheap so if their expected useful life gets reduced I didn't notice a difference (I only ran those for 6 to 8 months; I did use a PAR meter to figure out where I was)

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

 

[pejerrey]

I have the T5HOs in the same fixture. They're 9month old, is it the same to not change them and let them drop the par as to go NO?

 

[Kraken]

It will work; just not produce as much light as the HO. I've performed that downgrade looking to reduce light intensity at substrate level in 30g breeder tanks without any problems.
High Efficiency or Normal Output T5 lamps are quite cheap so if their expected useful life gets reduced I didn't notice a difference (I only ran those for 6 to 8 months; I did use a PAR meter to figure out where I was)
Pepetj
Santo Domingo

Yay! An emperical anecdote! I found some 14W lamps for $2ea, so I picked up a handful; willing to accept a shorter lamp life. I thought about changing the ballast to accomodate 2x14W, if the lamp life was significantly diminished. Thanks for the info!

I have the T5HOs in the same fixture. They're 9month old, is it the same to not change them and let them drop the par as to go NO?

I want to reduce PAR as Pepetj describes, right off the bat; that keeps my tank in the low-light/tech category so I can maintain a low-light approach to tank care.
Running HO until it depleats (to my goal PAR, so to speak) means dealing with the plant demands that HO creates until then; precisely what I want to avoid.