J19Reynolds
Aquarium Advice FINatic
What is the best cheapest lights I can get for a reef tank? I like how some have the 2 special lights n can leave on all the time .. This is what I want to buy myself with my income tax please help
Sniperhank said:How tall, wide, long your tank is. What kind of corals do you want to keep?
Saratj1 said:I recently bought this Odyssea fixture, and I'm impressed I've read a lot of neg. reviews about these online especially the older models but for the money I'm very pleased with this setup. I only have a couple polyps that hitch hiked on some live rock, and before I got the light they stayed closed for 2wks now after the light they open everyday, also my live rock are starting to flourish with new life and increased growth of existing life, Where before they were declining with a regular 1 18w bulb. I'm sure if you spend $500 you will get a better quality light but for $160, It would be tough to beat this light even buying used stuff. Heck even just the buls would cost $60, and You could upgrade this fixture down the road with better bulbs and ballast and have a top notch light for still less than buying some brands.
Compare to the Hamilton Technology Belize fixture:
2 ft BELIZE SUN MH HQI + High Output T5 + LED Lighting Systems, Hamilton Technology Corp. - SalesAquarium supplies&Aquarium lighting by Hamilton Technology
Odyssea Light
Odyssea Metal Halide System
I have a 47g column tank with 40lbs live rock and 40lbs of sand, 1 striped damsel, 2 domino damsels, 2 yellow tail damsels, a Coral banded shrimp and a Condy anemone. The tank has been running for about 5 weeks about 2 weeks with the new light.
I hope my 2cents helps some.
I recently bought this Odyssea fixture, and I'm impressed I've read a lot of neg. reviews about these online especially the older models but for the money I'm very pleased with this setup. I only have a couple polyps that hitch hiked on some live rock, and before I got the light they stayed closed for 2wks now after the light they open everyday, also my live rock are starting to flourish with new life and increased growth of existing life, Where before they were declining with a regular 1 18w bulb. I'm sure if you spend $500 you will get a better quality light but for $160, It would be tough to beat this light even buying used stuff. Heck even just the buls would cost $60, and You could upgrade this fixture down the road with better bulbs and ballast and have a top notch light for still less than buying some brands.
Compare to the Hamilton Technology Belize fixture:
2 ft BELIZE SUN MH HQI + High Output T5 + LED Lighting Systems, Hamilton Technology Corp. - SalesAquarium supplies&Aquarium lighting by Hamilton Technology
Odyssea Light
Odyssea Metal Halide System
I have a 47g column tank with 40lbs live rock and 40lbs of sand, 1 striped damsel, 2 domino damsels, 2 yellow tail damsels, a Coral banded shrimp and a Condy anemone. The tank has been running for about 5 weeks about 2 weeks with the new light.
I hope my 2cents helps some.
Saratj1 said:Yes, I found out after the fact that I probably should have held off on the anemone, I was leery about purchasing the anemone, but my LFS reassured me that they are Hearty and all so I purchased then later read that they should be in more mature tanks, but mine seems to be doing well.
The reason I compared the two light fixtures is b/c I wanted to illustrate the price difference between two items that are very similar,and I really like this style of light with the MH, T5 actinics, and LED moonlights all in one sleek fixture with fans and ballast I would definatly prefer american made stuff opposed to chinese, but the price difference was just too great, and like I said about possible future upgrades. like an Icecap ballast and some pheonix bulbs.
J19Reynolds said:At least your having good luck w yours ... It looks cool and your fish seems to like it too the price is really good I love the moon lights is there a fixture that is just a moonlight? There's nothing wrong w my light now except it's bright bright lol I like the blue moon color a lot
Ibrahim said:You can an LED strip from aquatraders.com