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09-20-2005, 12:52 PM
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#1
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Aquarium Advice Freak
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cherry Hill New Jersey
Posts: 238
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Coralife 4X65 48" light problems
So I had a pair of these lights for about 2 months and then one day one of the actinics went out on one of the fixtures. Called my fish guy who I bought them from and he brought over a new bulb. Swapped it out but still not working.
He felt it may be a bad ballast. He took the light with him. Called a week later and confirmed the ballast was bad, and oh by the way, the other 3 bulbs (which were working fine before) are now bad too. Could this be?
Are these lights that touchy?
I got a deal on this light because the clear acrylic bulb cover is cracked at the end. There's about a 3" opening on one end which exposes the bulbs to the salt air above the tank. My fish guy didn't think that would cause the light to fail. But I'm wondering.
Comments?
Mike
__________________
120 g FOWLR, Pro Clear 200 19 gal. sump (bio balls removed), 50# Walt Smith FiJi LR, 150# reefersrock base, 300# DSB, Iwaki MD 20 return, (2) Rio 600s, (2) Hagen 802s, Amiracle Quad II skimmer, (2) Coralife 4 X 65s, 2 Lebo moonlights, (2) 120 mm vent. fans,
(2) Perc. Clowns, (1) Yellow Tang, (1) cleaner shrimp, (2) Henis, pending: Foxace Lo, Flame Angel, blue legs, scarlets, 4 emerald crabs, nassarius snails, 50 mexican turbos, (1) good bankruptcy attorney when this hobby blows out of control!
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09-20-2005, 02:35 PM
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#2
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Aquarium Advice Addict
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Rossville. Ga
Posts: 4,500
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It will cause those lights to fail. Been there done that. Thats why I just purchased my MH set up. Had to different fixtures go at the same time due to the salt and moisture. It can also cause a fire. I seen flames with mine....
__________________
Remember to Keep Christ First!
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09-20-2005, 03:09 PM
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#3
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Central PA
Posts: 971
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Welcome to the downside of Coralife. IME, they are a great price, but you sometimes play roulette with the longevity of the unit. I have a 2x65w on my 55g that has lasted 2 years, but another unit where the salt corroded the bulb connection through the unit and caused it to fail.
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09-20-2005, 03:43 PM
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#4
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 930
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Make your own metal halide setup for 1/3 the price. I made a 175 watt setup for 100 bucks then added 2 10w actinics for 40 bucks. My tank is 37 gal 
__________________
37 gal all glass
50lb LR
3' fine sand bed 1x Orange Stripe Prawn shrimp goby, 1x sixline wrassemated pair of true percula clowns, 1x CBS shrimp, 2x peppermint shrimp, 1x pistol shrimp, 1x tiger tale cuke, ~20+ snails, ~10+ hermits, 1xserpent star.
green Bubble coral, hammer coral (8 heads!) ,various Zoos,green finger leather, green star polpys , shrooms
175w 10k MH
28w actinic 03
2x maxi jett 1200
Prizm skimmer (modded)
Hagen powerfilter(for running carbon 24/7)
nano arctica chiller
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09-21-2005, 06:38 AM
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#5
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Aquarium Advice Freak
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cherry Hill New Jersey
Posts: 238
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So, it sounds like a DIY MH set up may be in my future.
But is MH overkill for a FOWLR? To tell the truth, when all 4 bulbs are on during the day, it appears too bright (for me). But I like a more subdued look.
Til then, I probably should get a new acrylic cover.
Mike
__________________
120 g FOWLR, Pro Clear 200 19 gal. sump (bio balls removed), 50# Walt Smith FiJi LR, 150# reefersrock base, 300# DSB, Iwaki MD 20 return, (2) Rio 600s, (2) Hagen 802s, Amiracle Quad II skimmer, (2) Coralife 4 X 65s, 2 Lebo moonlights, (2) 120 mm vent. fans,
(2) Perc. Clowns, (1) Yellow Tang, (1) cleaner shrimp, (2) Henis, pending: Foxace Lo, Flame Angel, blue legs, scarlets, 4 emerald crabs, nassarius snails, 50 mexican turbos, (1) good bankruptcy attorney when this hobby blows out of control!
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09-21-2005, 09:22 AM
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#6
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Aquarium Advice Addict
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Rossville. Ga
Posts: 4,500
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If I were you , I would not get a MH set up unless you plan on going reef someday. Heat, Electric, money, issues that you dont need.....
__________________
Remember to Keep Christ First!
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09-21-2005, 09:43 AM
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#7
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Aquarium Advice Freak
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cherry Hill New Jersey
Posts: 238
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That's what I figured. Those reefers out there are just dying to convert us FOWLRs over to the other side 
__________________
120 g FOWLR, Pro Clear 200 19 gal. sump (bio balls removed), 50# Walt Smith FiJi LR, 150# reefersrock base, 300# DSB, Iwaki MD 20 return, (2) Rio 600s, (2) Hagen 802s, Amiracle Quad II skimmer, (2) Coralife 4 X 65s, 2 Lebo moonlights, (2) 120 mm vent. fans,
(2) Perc. Clowns, (1) Yellow Tang, (1) cleaner shrimp, (2) Henis, pending: Foxace Lo, Flame Angel, blue legs, scarlets, 4 emerald crabs, nassarius snails, 50 mexican turbos, (1) good bankruptcy attorney when this hobby blows out of control!
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09-21-2005, 11:10 AM
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#8
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Aquarium Advice FINatic
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: So-Cal
Posts: 640
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Frankly, I will no longer buy Coralife products. I've had nothing but problems
__________________
55 gallon
dual 175 MH w/ dual 32W PC Actinics
75# LR
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