Looking for a new light

[octopus]

Hey yall, I'm looking for a new light for my 150 gal reef. Just wondering what your thoughts are on this light...................seems like a great deal.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-LIGHT-72-META...A1%7C240%3A1318

[jason the filter freak]

Do yourself a HUGE favor and google Odyssea Metal Halide they have a nasty habit of catching fire.

 

 

Also last I checked they aren't UL listed

Edited November 23, 2008 by jason the filter freak

[jamesbuf]

Don't buy into the hype. The Odyssea fixtures really aren't that good. I had one of the 24" versions of that light. Power compact lighting is obsolete. I wouldn't invest money into a fixture that has them installed inside. The ballast that came with the hood was also a piece of junk. Turned even my 14K bulbs a little yellow looking. Count on having to replace the ballasts if you buy that fixture, not to mention the bulbs that come with it. You don't save any money in the long run, trust me. Do you plan on having a canopy over your tank?? If so, I'd think about a retro lighting setup to save money.

[octopus]

Thats some good info. I do plan on using my hood, so whatcha think I should do? Do you know of any lights in the 500$-600$ range that are around the same wattage?

[octopus]

Do yourself a HUGE favor and google Odyssea Metal Halide they have a nasty habit of catching fire.

 

 

Also last I checked they aren't UL listed

 

Just did as told. I'm a little upet at what I saw. I guess it's hit or miss with these things. And who wants a fire? I guess a light that produces fire would add more watts and more heat. Thanks for the heads up!

[jamesbuf]

There is a retro light setup in the for sale section right now. Its a:

60" 3-400W MH AND 2-140 WATT VHO, SUPERBRITE HAMMERTONE REFLECTOR, ALL BULBS LESS THAN A MONTH USE - $450

This is a retro kit that you screw into the inside of a canopy. It might be overkill on the 400watt bulbs though, and it would most likely cause some overheating unless your tank is in the basement, or you have a chiller. Just drop the $20 and join. Trust me, if you haven't make that $20 back within the first month, or even week, I'll give you $20 myself.

[Gatortailale]

Just drop the $20 and join. Trust me, if you haven't make that $20 back within the first month, or even week, I'll give you $20 myself.

 

you forgot the member only factory direct pricing on IceCap bulbs, ballasts, pendants ... prices only viewable in member area.

[octopus]

There is a retro light setup in the for sale section right now. Its a:

60" 3-400W MH AND 2-140 WATT VHO, SUPERBRITE HAMMERTONE REFLECTOR, ALL BULBS LESS THAN A MONTH USE - $450

This is a retro kit that you screw into the inside of a canopy. It might be overkill on the 400watt bulbs though, and it would most likely cause some overheating unless your tank is in the basement, or you have a chiller. Just drop the $20 and join. Trust me, if you haven't make that $20 back within the first month, or even week, I'll give you $20 myself.

 

Oh yeah thats a sweet deal but like you said the 400 watts would be overkill. I don't have a basement and I am VERY worried about needing a chiller. So that fixture probably wouldn't work for me....darn! Good lookin' out though! How bout this one?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/72-Metal-Halide-250-T5...A1%7C240%3A1318

[octopus]

No worries all my 20$ will be there soon, no doubt.

[Gatortailale]

Oh yeah thats a sweet deal but like you said the 400 watts would be overkill. I don't have a basement and I am VERY worried about needing a chiller. So that fixture probably wouldn't work for me....darn! Good lookin' out though! How bout this one?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/72-Metal-Halide-250-T5...A1%7C240%3A1318

 

 

What brand is it? What is warranty? What company will stand behind it if ballast fail? Sure you can find a good price on ebay, but will it last?

 

you should do some price searches here:

 

http://www.championlighting.com/home.php

 

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/

 

http://www.marinedepot.com/

 

I've purchased from all 3 over the last 7 years and all 3 will support you as best they can if you have a problem.

[octopus]

What brand is it? What is warranty? What company will stand behind it if ballast fail? Sure you can find a good price on ebay, but will it last?

 

you should do some price searches here:

 

http://www.championlighting.com/home.php

 

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/

 

http://www.marinedepot.com/

 

I've purchased from all 3 over the last 7 years and all 3 will support you as best they can if you have a problem.

 

Thanks for those links. Ok so now I'm thinking of retrofit..........any suggestions?

[davelin315]

What's your plan as far as your tank is concerned? That's where I'd start. There's a lot to be considered when thinking of lighting. It took me a couple of years to decide on what I was going to use for lighting. Some of the considerations are:

- What do you want to keep as far as livestock? Lighting needs will vary tremendously depending on your responses, from soft corals to lps to sps.

- What are the dimensions of your tank? The dimensions play a huge role as different sizes will require different lighting schemes. The type of bulb and reflector will greatly affect how much coverage you have.

- What is the room you are going to have it in like? Magnetic ballasts make a lot of noise while electronic ballasts make none, as well as produce a lot more heat than an electronic one. If your tank is in a small room, this might affect the temperature and therefore the tank water, not to mention the comfort level.

- What do you want your tank to look like? There are tons of different kinds of bulbs and even though they're rated the same, the temperature can vary from one manufacturer to the next. Also, the ballast that you use with it can greatly affect the coloration of the bulb as well as its useful life.

 

Once you have decided on all of these factors, then take a look at what other people have. You can't always judge a light by what it is supposed to look like. There are so many different ballast/reflector/bulb combinations out there that it's almost impossible to guess correctly what a light will look like. This club is huge and between the different vendors and members here, you're bound to find an example of what you're looking at buying before you buy it.

[reefmontalvo]

I'm a bit late for this thread but I have one of those Odyssea light setups I have owned three to honest. No problems for any of them. The only problems I saw was when I was running the metal halide setup the ballast were not as they advertise. I found out thru research that the ballast were not 250 watt but rather 175watt. The solution was easy I just upgraded the ballast when I changed the bulbs and there was no further problems.

[octopus]

here it goes......

 

150 gallon

 

in living room 1st floor

 

looking to add more soft corals, some sps, and a few clams

 

I have tons if live rock with a few soft corals

 

I just need more light and I wanna do it as cheap as possible, with good quality of course.

 

Right now I have only about 350 watts, and that won't cut it.

[amay121]

Spend $20 on the membership.

 

Order 3 x 250W MH - priced too low to tell you until you become a member.

Buy the reflectors.

 

Cost would be way low.

 

If you want to go with T5.

Buy 3 IC660s

Buy 12 pairs of Endcaps/Standoffs

Buy 12 60" Reflectors and T5 bulbs.

 

Dude, you'd be rocking.

 

Choice is yours, but seriously, pay the $20 to join the club, it'll be like buying 3 IC660 ballasts for the price of 2 almost (Doh, had it the wrong way around).

Edited November 25, 2008 by amay121

[octopus]

Spend $20 on the membership.

 

Order 3 x 250W MH - priced too low to tell you until you become a member.

Buy the reflectors.

 

Cost would be way low.

 

If you want to go with T5.

Buy 3 IC660s

Buy 12 pairs of Endcaps/Standoffs

Buy 12 60" Reflectors and T5 bulbs.

 

Dude, you'd be rocking.

 

Choice is yours, but seriously, pay the $20 to join the club, it'll be like buying 2 IC660 ballasts for the price of 3 almost.

 

So whats the price?????? Ha, I'll check it out soon!

[gmubeach]

I've had 2 oydsia light fixtures and neither has had any problems... Mine have last over a year anyway this isn't the vendor forum section, but I like mine:)