Dimmers.........I hate them.

Well, I guess if it was going to work I'd like it though. We did a lot of reading.........we thought......vho were hard to find, couldn't get bulbs or end caps at same place anymore. We decided to go t-5's. The bulbs are stamped v-ho and large aquatic supplier on net has them mentioned with dimmable bulbs. We added them to new ice cap ballast. Purchased a new solar 100 lw to dim them (being shipped now). Now I'm being told you can not dim t-5. The ice cap people said it takes too much power to start them and it wont work.

Now I have a dimmer on it's way that probably wont work, have ordered x-10 interface and satallites that I wont need. Probably $600.00 at least waisted now. Today really sucks ! We never wanted to change over from vho originally but had trouble finding them.

 

i'm sure you can work something out with the retailer!!

Sorry about your awful day

 

T5's can be dimmed, Fauna Marin just came out with a new line of dimmable t5 units. I think they are called star sphire T5 units.

 

If it takes the power just to start them why couldn't you fire them to full power just for a few seconds to get them going then just dim them back down then?

 

We thought about that but the whole idea was to not shock the fish when they first come on. We just decided to go with a neptune and forgo the dimming for now. I did contact the supplier and they will take return and give me full refund since their web site had them under dimming bulbs. Bumed about it but hey....it's only money !