Odyssea T5HO quad light for reef

[bigbanker]

Here is the particular light I was going to get:

Amazon.com: Odyssea 48" T5 HO Quad Aquarium Light Fluorescent Hood Fixture w/4 LED - Marine 4x54W: Pet Supplies


People seem to like the light but I can't find any reviews on how it does with growing corals. I was going to run 2/2 over my 55g. Has anyone had any success with these lights?

 

[Mrc8858]

If going the t5 route id always get a light with individual reflectors which I don't believe that does

 

[carey]

I've run odyssea t5's over my corals with decent success.

You will want to trade out the bulbs that it comes with though, I happen to like ATI bulbs myself.

 

[bigbanker]

Awesome thanks guys.

Carey what did you grow under yours

 

[carey]

I kept everything under my lights. Even a couple hard corals like a birdsnest, a montipora and a pocillipora. I also had every kinf of LPS under em and they did really well.

For the most part it's a matter of placement in the tank in addition to good bulbs and water parameters that will get the most growth out of your corals.

 

[bigbanker]

Thank you so much. I'm just starting out and didn't want to spend four hundred on the fixture I looked at originally.

 

[crobo]

i have the 24" model from them I've got some frags in the tank that have shown some good growth and some GSP that exploded( in a good way) once I swaped the bulbs out. spend 100 on the fixture, 150 on bulbs and your good IMO.

I did have to disconnect one of the LED moonlights as it was a bit too bright for my tastes.

 

[bigbanker]

Sheesh 150 on the bulbs... might as well go ahead and spend 300 on a decent fixture to start with

 

[crobo]

You don't Ned new bulbs, you can use the stock ones until they burn out. 150 was high on the bulbs estimate I think. I paid 80 for 4 24" D-D Geissmann (sp?) bulbs. They tend to be expensive buy you're paying for quality. Shop around and find something you like.

Bulb replacement costs will happen about once a year. If shelling out 100+ every year isn't possible, you may want to look into led solutions.