What do you think about this light on this tank?

[linda lee]

What do you think about http://cgi.ebay.com/ODYSSEA-24-T5-Aquarium-Light-Free-Lunar-Bonus_W0QQitemZ300131115939QQihZ020QQcategoryZ46314QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">THIS LIGHT</a> on this [IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5981">THIS TANK</a>? I have a link @ work somewhere but not here at home, so could someone direct me to a post or a link which would have watts per gal for MH's, PC's & T5's?

If you have a better suggestion for this tank, please advise and/or post link. Looking for something that will support most livestock/corals and not just something to throw on the tank that would severely limit what my son can put in there.

Thanks!

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Odessea lights are ok but know you get what you pay for. Mayny people have problems with their ballasts (some have been known to catch fire). I kind of liked the one that I had and I know Mike (Mulfret) has some that he likes, but in the end you are beter off going with a retrofit or a used system from here, IMHO.

 

[cameron]

Recent reviews of the new MH lights have been positive, but make sure you take it apart and secure the connections. To my knowledge, that is the only thing wrong with the new lights. Course that is the MH lights. I haven't read anything on the T5s from them. What are you going to put in the tank?

 

[wbholwell]

Something seems amiss. I thought 24" HO T5 bulbs were 24 watts, not 14 watts.

 

[george]

wbholwell;58950 wrote: Something seems amiss. I thought 24" HO T5 bulbs were 24 watts, not 14 watts.

I'm assuming (I have very limited knowledge of T5 bulb types) that these are NO bulbs. The bulb mix is also decidedly freshwater with that "LUX" bulb for "plant growth". Might make a good refugium light, though.

Have you looked at these

 

[mufret]

As Cameron stated, make sure you are comfortable with partially disassembling the fixture to tighten electrical connections and possibly replace the fans in the unit (if they have them). With the exception of the fans, they are well built but quality control has been an issue with their fixtures.

What are your plans for this tank (FO, FOWLR, mixed reef, etc)? The NO T5 would work in a FO but I'd look at the HO T5 fixture for anything above that.

 

[sagent3000]

I am here to tell you DO NOT buy Odeyssa lights they are CRAP they almost burned my house down. You don't get a good intensity of light and your corals and with suffer. Take the time to find a good quality light and you will do fine

 

[nishant3789]

we have some AWESOME hagen t5HO lights at our store. Theyre the Hagen t5ho fixtures. i picked up a 24 inch model for my 29 gallon tank, and even though it doesnt fit right, the extensions extend probably to like 36 inches. The reflectors arent individual, but they are much better than the coralife units or some of the other fixtures ive seen. theres no glass covering, but it has waterproof endcaps. the whole package also comes included with mounting legs and a hanging kit. the 24 inch model i have is 2X24 watts. we stuck it over a 30 cube in the store and it loooked really goood actually. we have a reef ready model and a plant model, with different bulb configurations. i have to say the actinics on these bulbs are so much better than any other actinic i have ever seen. lastly, the whole thing cost $99.99 so its really not too bad of an expense. For a true reeftank, you could probably do two of these ver taht 20 gallon and itd be plenty of light.

 

[nishant3789]

heres the link to the light.

 

[cameron]

Another bump for the DrsFostersmith right now is somebody posted a 15% discount code for them in another thread.

 

[linda lee]

Thanks for everyone's feedback! I'm probably even more befuddled than ever. WHY can't anything be simple and clear-cut in this hobby?

Okay, at least I know some options to research a bit more fully. Want to take this slow and careful.

As for what's going in the tank, that's just it: I don't know. That's why I want the most versatile lighting possible to give my son lots of livestock/coral options. He'll probably want a mixed-reef tank. I wanted to see about going as bright as possible without getting into the expensive MH's. Also, we might need to consider a tight-fitting cover if he decides he wants an escape artist in there.

For the rest of the summer, we'll probably just cycle, cycle, cycle. Can I just hang a regular old florescent light over that during the cycle process? That would buy more time to research a good light (while I'm waiting for one of you guys to offer the perfect one FS/FT on the forum).

 

[cameron]

The big question is do you plan on doing SPS coral. Pretty much everything else can live happily under a small T5 fixture like the one from DrsFosterSmith. If you are doing SPS, you are going to want something more powerful IMO.

 

[linda lee]

Cameron;59032 wrote: Another bump for the DrsFostersmith right now is somebody posted a 15% discount code for them in another thread.

.... but the description on these @ the D.F&S site says:

Affordable T-5 light fixture for fish-only aquariums

and you're saying this would be fine for all but SPS's? In a 20 gal?

 

[roundman]

I'm glad I'm not the only one walking around in a daze as to what is next.
Let me know what you decide as lights are next, when I finish this sump and fuge setup.
Good luck

 

[nishant3789]

im telllin ya the t5ho fixtures i posted about would work great! you dont even have to buy it from my store, i just really like the light