Is this light worth the cost?

toosalty

toosalty

Member
Dimensions: 48'' X 12.5'' X 2.25''
Color: Black
Features included:
2 X 250 HQI Metal Halide
2X 54 Watt T5 HO
Moonlights
+ 2 Large bright clusters of Lunar lights (7 – 1 watt leds in each cluster)
2-15k Metal Halide bulb included!
2- 54 watt Super Actinic T5 HO bulbs included!
Unit comes with 2 Chords and 3 switches so you can independently control the metal halide and T5 and LED moonlights separately for the dawn and dusk effect with timers.
Unit comes with modifiable 5'' Tall Leg Brackets to keep safe distance from the water in your aquarium.
Unit also comes with the optional hanging brackets – so if you would like to hang this light from your ceiling you can.
UV shield included over metal halide HQI bulb to prevent harmful UV Rays from entering tank.
$$380.00
what do you guys think?
 
nano reefer

nano reefer

Active Member
sounds great. whats with te LED's though, i think 7 in one cluster would look dumb, it would be better if they were spread out IMO.
 
devil dog

devil dog

Active Member
Originally Posted by Nano Reefer
http:///forum/post/2689219
sounds great. whats with te LED's though, i think 7 in one cluster would look dumb, it would be better if they were spread out IMO.
If you think of the moon it is all in one place... sooo it would look like the moon maybe
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
Good quality fixture with the above configuration normally runs around $1000 unless it's by a few manufacturers who make subpar products.
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
Without knowing the brand name it is difficult to comment...but, as Spider noted that is an excellent price for a combo MH250(2) with T5 actinics....I would be worried that you will get what you pay for.....
 
nano reefer

nano reefer

Active Member
Originally Posted by Devil Dog
http:///forum/post/2689425
If you think of the moon it is all in one place... sooo it would look like the moon maybe

yeah but moonlight cover the entire tank, you will see the beams of LED light thru the water, pyramid shaped.
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
its worth much more than the cost which would make me leary (as anything too good to be true). Thats about half the cost of most notable fixtures with those specs.
 
toosalty

toosalty

Member
I dont know the name brand of the light, but I also don't want to spend 1000 dollars on a namebrand light too. If this light does the job then what could be so bad about that?
 
M

markeo99

Guest
I may get flamed but I have an odyssea and I like it
320 dollars later 2 icecaps and phoenix bulbs
 
M

markeo99

Guest
I dont believe the light you are looking at is odysea all my moonlights are in pairs 4 or 6 sets of 2
and odysea has pc actnic
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
Originally Posted by TooSalty
http:///forum/post/2689650
I dont know the name brand of the light, but I also don't want to spend 1000 dollars on a namebrand light too. If this light does the job then what could be so bad about that?
I understand but if something doesn't add up something doesn't add up. a cheap DIY magnetic ballast and cap with no wiring or enclosure will cost about $100 each for a 250w MH. E-ballast will cost at least that much. Thats $200 retail right there. A flourescent ballast to run 4 T5 bulbs is going to cost another $100 retail. A 250w DE MH bulb that will get the job done will cost at least $60 each so there's another $120. A decent T5 bulb will cost no less than $20 each so there is another $80. I'm at $500 retail already in basic neccessity parts without cost of fixture/reflector,fans,moonlights, wiring/switches. I dont doubt somebody could make this wholesale but no way this can be done and sold for a profit without using junk for parts.
I looked up this fixture on egay with the description you copied/pasted and that price even includes shipping. you should ask the seller if it has fans? (otherwise the T5s will run hot from the MH heat if nothing else and underperform more than they already would from the cheap bulbs and will certainly heat your aquarium), if the ballast are internal or external?(if they are internal with no fans just one more thing getting hot that last longer cool), brand of bulbs? (a poor performing bulbs wont get the job done. a poor performing 250w bulb wont perform as well as a good 150w bulb, compare for yourself http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.c...rmancedata.php so I hope you dont really need 250 watts), warranty? (since I dont see mention of any), brand and type of ballast? (so when they die you can source the replacements), if its UL listed? (so you know if wont ketch it and your house on fire). If something is too good to be true it usually is.
what size is your aqaurium?
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
Originally Posted by TooSalty
http:///forum/post/2689774
well what kind of light do you think I should get then?
the "doctors" have a close out on coralife advance aqualight 150wx2 HQI fixtures for $350 (which is all you need for a 72-75g bowfront aquarium). It doesn't have supplements or moonlights but 150wx2 is all you need to keep anything in that size tank. I'm on my second stent with MH and have never used supplemental flourescents, just 12-15k bulbs. Moonlights can be added cheaply yourself. If you dont have to have MH you can keep anything with a basic 4x54w TEK T5 fixture with quality bulbs. That runs about $400 with reputable bulbs and legs. The 6 bulb fixture runs about $390 but bulbs and legs are extra. Nova extreme "pro" T5 fixture with 6 54w bulbs is also $380 and you should be able to keep anything (at least with upgraded bulbs). I just dont see a quality MH fixture being had for $400. You can get retro kits for that if you have a canopy. The cheapest option are the current sunpods with 150x2 and moonlighting (which is what I have) but the 48" is gonna run $500.
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
If it has exhaust ports on the canopy it should be alright (although they probably wouldn't recommend it). If you have a canopy why are you looking at fixtures? Retro kit MH and T5 are so much cheaper and plug and play if you stick with the same brand for ballast and reflector
 
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