STD T8 bulbs ran on Ice Cap Ballast?

[dwall174]

I read This Article on the Ice Cap web site that describes running STD T8 bulbs on the Ice Cap Ballast.

I'm thinking of trying this & using the Zoo Med STD "T8" bulbs? Has anyone tried running these or other T8 bulbs on the IC 660 OR 430 ballast's?

[Doug1]

I have run std T-12 OK and I have talked to Andy about the T-5, which they have run on Icecap with better results than the regular ballast IIRC. If you can get good endcaps to fit the bulbs you have you should be OK

[dwall174]

Originally posted by Doug1
If you can get good endcaps to fit the bulbs you have you should be OK

They make inserts that you can put into the T-12 lamp holders. But Ice Cap also has T-8 Endcaps Which is the way I would go!

BTW what type T-12 bulbs did you run? I have heard of people running the STD Philips Actinics on the IC however I haven't been able to find the STD Philips Actinic bulbs?

[Doug1]

I would definatly get end caps that are specifically made for the bulb. They need to seal moisture and what not out.
I used GE Dayklight whewn I could find them and Sylvania 6500K that I found. At less than $5 ea you can easily replace them at 6 months, tho using costly specialty bulbs you might want to get more out of them.
FWIW Corallife actinics IME burnout at around 12 months. At LFS here they are actually more than the URI actinics, go figger

[dwall174]

I'm mainly looking to try & save some money on Actinic supplement! I can get the T-8 Actinics for about $10.00 cheaper per bulb! And I haven’t been able to find the STD 40-Watt Phillips Actinics which are suppose to be in the same price range? But if you need to replace them more often what's the point.

Going back to a couple of your favorite quotes;
“If it Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix it”
“You Get What You Pay For!”

I think I will stay with the time proven URI VHO’s

[Doug1]

Given the difference between NO actinics and VHO actinics, no real savings there but on daylights <$5 for NO overdriven vs $25 or so for VHO you can buy several of the cheap bulbs and still be ahead of the game, place the fact that you can use the NO bulbs interchangebly on an IceCap ballast(try that with PC or T-5) makes it a winner in my view

[Reefdude5]

Dough, you need to check out "Lighting Help"