Luminaire for freshwater planted tank?

[TLH]

I've seen this 5ft Arcadia luminaire on ebay that is fairly near me and no one has bid on yet.I want it for freshwater plants but it's rigged out with 2 T5 marine 14,000k 45w and 2 used 420 actinic blues.The thing itself is 59" but takes 4' bulbs.If I use it I'll have to cut it down to 48" and make some ends to rest on the tank.It's currently suspended from the ceiling by steel cables.

Is there any experts on lighting that can tell me if I can just change the ends for normal 26mm or 38mm fittings and use T8 or T12 42" 36w bulbs on this beauty?

One thing though is if I can do this it'll have to be 2 bulbs only then which is fine but there wouldn't be enough room for more than 2 T8 bulbs.

 

[Lotus]

I believe you'll have to get T5 bulbs for it, but they are available in freshwater spectra (at least they are in the US).

 

[TLH]

Yes I can get T5 freshwater bulbs.Arcadia just launched a T5 Plant Pro.They're £18-20 a pop which is double the price of T8's.Do they last longer or are they just brighter?

Are the Actinic Blue for moonlighting?

 

[Lotus]

Supposedly the T5s last longer. Unfortunately, they are expensive. The actinic are for dusk lighting for corals, they won't do anything at all for plants, and they'll make your fish look weird colors.

 

[TLH]

Does 15,000hrs sound possible to you?I found this pdf from a company called d-daquarium solutions.They sell their tubes for £17.

From http://www.deltecaquariumsolutions.com/lighting.php

The Tubes

* All our tubes use an A1 phosphor blend which is imperative to maintain a five point light spectrum. This enables replication of natural light in your aquarium.
* Our T5’s with A1 phosphor blend gives up to 10% more light per watt (using 40% less electricity) than can be obtained from an HQI (with minimal radiant heat) keeping the tank cool in the summer.
* A tube Life of up to 15,000 hours.
* Much thinner tubes than normal fluorescent T8 Type.
* Our innovative A1 T5 lights are detailed below.

 

[TLH]

Lids already gone more than I wanted to pay and with the best part of a day left to go i don't think I'll be getting it.It would have meant alot of hassle cutting and altering it anyway.

I'm going to go the DIY root now once I find out how much a new tank will set me back.