T5 Lighting for 3 ft tank

[coralife]

I intend to change my 3ft brand rainbow fluorescent lighting set (1 no of actinic & 1 no of 10k) to T5 lighting DIY. I am keeping some bubble and corals. Have anyone DIY T5 lighting using the rainbow set? Is 2 X39W T5 tubes enough for 3 ft tank. Is one dual circuit ballasts able to control 2 lighting tubes using two different switches. Please Advise.

[Oceandeep]

yes, 2x39w T5 is enough. But 1 is 10k white n other is 20k blue tube.

dual e-ballast is ok. but better use timer to on both the tube. not 1 at a time. except u are always sitting beside the tank....

[Clownfish]

wats ur tank depth? ur 3 ft tank shld have a width of 1.5ft rite? 2X39W is IMO a min if u onli rely on this w/o other supplements... if u r also keeping LPS, i wld probably advise u to have 4X39W... 4 tubes can illuminate ur 1.5 ft width betta... n u will see ur corals grow betta n faster

[coralife]

YES, MY 3 FT TANK HAVE A WIDTH OF 1.5FT. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE REPLY. I AM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER MY EXISTING RAINBOW BRAND FL CASING CAN ACCOMODATE MY T5.

[Clownfish]

YES, MY 3 FT TANK HAVE A WIDTH OF 1.5FT. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE REPLY. I AM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER MY EXISTING RAINBOW BRAND FL CASING CAN ACCOMODATE MY T5.

it shld be able to... 3 ft T5 is shorter than 3 ft... is ur casing dual tubes? if it is, u shld be able to DIY quite easily... just replace the T8 tube clips with T5 clips... then use those normal T5 holders will do...

[FuEl]

You need to replace the ballast. 3 ft T8 FL tubes are 30W. 3 ft T5 FL tubes are 39W.

[YzF]

But dun think one ballast can support two switches for each tube leh