48 inch metal halide for less than $400?

[nycbob]

today while browsing thr a magazine called aquariumfish, i noticed a full page ad advertising a 48 inch metal halide for $350. i cant really list the name of the company bc of this sites policy. but the specs r 2x250w hqi, 4x65w cf, 4x led. the company is called aquaxxxxx.com. anyone has it? wanna know the quality of it bc buying. it just sounds too cheap.

 

[joncat24]

I took a chance with them several times now. I have had pc's and metal halides and they all performed flawlessly.
I have a friend that has one and the fans just went out after a year or so, other than that, between me and some friends we have four of them going right now, and all are going strong.
The older versions got a bad rap, but the newer ones are very nice.

their is a seller on the big site where you bid on things named hombby, he is very good to deal with.

 

[dawman]

Looks like the Odyssea lights that aquatraders sell .

 

[codylowe]

Originally Posted by joncat24
their is a seller on the big site where you bid on things named hombby, he is very good to deal with.
Yes i just got the 48" version from him and I am very satisfied.
There are very nice and sleek looking.

 

[kidreef]

my pcs from them are great but leds arent that great

 

[nycbob]

that is the exact seller i was referring to. compared to other similar metal halide, its a $300 difference. anyone has any idea what gives? what bulb does it support? is it some cheap generic brand? evertho its $400 compared to $700, its still a of of money. would like to know more b4 buying.

 

[codylowe]

Originally Posted by nycbob
that is the exact seller i was referring to. compared to other similar metal halide, its a $300 difference. anyone has any idea what gives? what bulb does it support? is it some cheap generic brand? evertho its $400 compared to $700, its still a of of money. would like to know more b4 buying.
Well, i think the ballasts are made a little on the cheap side... They are working great right now for me, but i have heard of people replacing it with an icecap ballast just to be safe.
The bulbs are 2 15k MH's - I am not sure of the brand though - and the actinics are odyessa's. The MH's look to be a lower spectrum than 15k, but i am still in the burn in period.
Overall i think it is a pretty nice unit. I would recommend it. Nice and cheap and looks to run well. All of the new reviews for it are the same. Like johncat said, they got a bad rap in the past, but the new units are good.

 

[codylowe]

Here is the only picture i have with the lights. It is with the actinics on only.... My tank is a little bare, i am still cycling.

 

[rainbowsix]

I have the 24 inch version, odeyssea or something like that. I got them yesterday, they are pretty nice, no problems so far.

 

[andy51632]

Are those the mounting legs that come with the unit in the pic?

 

[harris28]

Yes those are the Odyssea lights. Keep in mind you get what you pay for. I had a set last year that almost caught fire. It kept shocking me and when I pulled it apart all the wires were melted and exposed and touching(after 4 months of use). So I have personal experiecne. They are hit and miss but I hear to many bad stories about them. And keep in mind they are not UL listed so insurance will not cover in the event they catch fire and burn something up!!
I hear people saying i will get them and upgrade the ballast and the bulbs. Well that is the meat and pototaes of a light anyway so why waste your money on them in first place! If it were me stay away!! But if you want to try them go for it they might work and they might not.
Also remember they only offer a 30 day warranty. I called them and asked them and they said the parts are so cheap that a warranty is not needed. How is that for standing behind your products!!! They said the parts are cheap

!! And I mean Aqua

[hr]
!

 

[codylowe]

Originally Posted by andy51632
Are those the mounting legs that come with the unit in the pic?
Yeah the mounting legs come with the unit.

 

[05xrunner]

i had the 48" unit
it was a very nice light. I changed the bulbs to 14k phoenix cause I dont like the color of 10k, and I also changed the ballast out to Coralvue ones. the stock ballast only run 60% and push about 175w..wich will make the bulbs look dimer and more yellow then a full power ballast. There is nothing wrong with the light and its a GREAT light to start with to build on. I changed out the parts I wanted and was still $300 under the price of the coralife fixture of the exact same specs.
Sold it though since I downgraded to a 20L tank

 

[codylowe]

Originally Posted by 05xrunner
i had the 48" unit
it was a very nice light. I changed the bulbs to 14k phoenix cause I dont like the color of 10k....
Mine came with 15k bulbs... Although i think the bulbs put out closer to 10k - maybe b/c of the power issues i guess.

 

[nycbob]

guess i will skip it then. will consider the better one once budget is less tight.

 

[05xrunner]

Originally Posted by nycbob
guess i will skip it then. will consider the better one once budget is less tight.
personally then you will just waste some money. If you buy that light and change the bulbs and ballast..you are still $300 under the cost then the competitor..Why would you go different. You can get MUCH better ballast then what comes with those other ones. Plus most come with 10k's I believe unless you get a sunpod and no matter how high end i woulda changed bulbs.

 

[nietzsche]

i bought the 24 inch version for my 28g and i like it so far, but i'm going to wire the light to an icecap 250w electronic ballast today, should be awesome. still cheaper than buying some expensive brand. at the time it cost me 159 with free shipping and included the bulbs. i think since they sold so many now theyve raised the price to 179 with free shipping for the 24 inch version. i changed out the original bulb with a phoenix 14k for 60 with free shipping.

 

[nycbob]

where do i get the ballast? i know nothing about assembling light fixture. can anyone help?

 

[nietzsche]

Originally Posted by nycbob
where do i get the ballast? i know nothing about assembling light fixture. can anyone help?

its really easy, youll be able to do it. youll need some wire strippers, heat shrink (what i used), and a computer cable if you dont want to use the original one. give me your e-mail and ill give you the info on the ballasts

 

[harris28]

For $550 plus $47 for shipping off the

[hr]
I found this morning( i was actually going to buy this setup until I discovered T-5 a month ago) The Coralife Aquapro HQI with lunar lights. Here are the specs:
Two 150 watt 10,000K double-ended HQI metal halide lamps
Two 96 watt True Actinic 03 Blue square-pin compact fluorescent lamps
Three 1 watt Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow 470nm LED lamps
Two external HQI metal halide ballasts with on/off switches, 12-foot lamp cords and 6-foot power cords
Two on/off switches and two 12-foot power cords (one for two True Actinic 03 Blue compact fluorescent lamps and one for two Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow 470nm LED lamps)
Sleek, anodized black-aluminum housing
Highly-polished reflectors
Built-in cooling fan
Acrylic compact fluorescent and glass lens covers
Mounting Legs included
Dimensions 48" x 15" x 2.75"
And it has a factory one year warranty and UL listed. Now to me this is cheaper than buy Jebbo and upgrading everything inside the fixture(and after the upgrade you still have crappy reflectors). I mean if you are going to do that then buy a Retro and quite giving your money to theses people!!!!!!!!