Lighting on my tank.

[Aquarium1]

Back 11 yrs ago it cost about 180 dollars. I would say now it might be about 250 dollars which is still good compared to a 6 ft lighting fixture. It`s very safe and well grounded.

Just curious, how did you ground it? Gfi/gfci outlet?

 

[thominil]

Those two look dangerously close to odyssea. Not a good brand as they are just cheap and not very good quality. Never heard anything good about them either.

Best to stay with a trusted name like Current USA or Coralife. As Mike and TC suggested, retrofits are the way to go if cost is an issue.

 

[jessicasmarine]

Just a word of caution
I wouldnt buy odyssea MH. They have had a history of fires. Rumored to be repaired but who knows. I use their T5HOs and I had to mod it to be safe.

 

[h8z2luze]

What about this one?


36" 250w Metal Halide 2 54w T5-HO 132 LED Actinic Light - eBay (item 300311084384 end time Sep-24-09 14:22:27 PDT)


I still dont know what retrofit means is that just DIY??

 

[thominil]

250w is over kill on a tank that is 20" deep IMO. Try 150w. Don't even look at the fixture if it doesn't include a the brand's name.

 

[thominil]

36” SunPod 2x150W HQI Fixture by Current USA* - AquaCave

 

[h8z2luze]

ahhhhh to much $$$ I dont want to spend over 300

 

[thominil]

http://www.aquacave.com/36--4-lamp-icecap-vho-retro-brfit-kit-with-reflector-1518.html

 

[h8z2luze]

well crap. I guess I will just have to save money. I really would rather have a closed better looking one than one that looks like I made it in the garage haha.

 

[thominil]

I redid the post above. That is basically what Mike (melosu58.) has and should be good. You could get 2 if needed. You can just build a canopy for the tank or just buy one. Building a canopy isn't all that hard if you have the plans.

 

[h8z2luze]

ya true. I might do that. Im still confused on how to order that lol there is like drop down menus for bulbs and stuff.... What else would I need?

 

[thominil]

Just get 2 actinics and 2 10k's. What else as in for the tank or for the lights?

 

[h8z2luze]

I keep looking back at the T5 I originally posted. Could you guys let me know what I could keep with it? What would I need to keep in the upper half of the tank and what could I put lower?

 

[h8z2luze]

Also im probably going to have a 2-3 inch sand bed so that makes it only 17" to the bottom. I hope that T5 will be good.

 

[bbecher]

Just a word of caution
I wouldnt buy odyssea MH. They have had a history of fires. Rumored to be repaired but who knows. I use their T5HOs and I had to mod it to be safe.

They have since switched to electronic ballast's, their magnetic ones were the cause of the fires, way back when (06 I believe). Just a little FYI.

Odyssea seems to be hit or miss; Some people love them, some people hate them. I file them under don't knock it till you try it... but then again I don't like Krispy Kreame when everyone else does

 

[h8z2luze]

I think im going to go ahead with the nova t5 setup

 

[bbecher]

Sounds like a plan, they are great systems!

 

[h8z2luze]

Cool deal and its in my price range.

 

[jessicasmarine]

They have since switched to electronic ballast's, their magnetic ones were the cause of the fires, way back when (06 I believe). Just a little FYI.

Odyssea seems to be hit or miss; Some people love them, some people hate them. I file them under don't knock it till you try it... but then again I don't like Krispy Kreame when everyone else does

Well, I do enjoy my T5s. Dont know that I needed to mod it, just did it from stories I have read online.
(Dont like Krispy Kreme either, bad after taste)

 

[thincat]

I like that! Taste good, but not for long.............