I have a feeling they're phasing out the 30 inch fixture in favor of the 24 inch and 36 inch extendable-leg fixtures they're using now. You may have to get the 24 inch fixture if you don't want to see any overhang on your tank. RIght now their website is being revamped....I'm curious to see what new stuff is supposedly going on the site now.
I've purchased a few of these light systems from Aquatraders. Here's the rundown on the lights I've purchased:
216 watt 4 foot T-6 setup (gives you an idea of how long ago this was....they haven't made the t6 fixtures in a while):
- Bought this for my 55g tank many moons ago. Kept it and added an additional fixture when I upgraded to the 110g tank. This fixture worked well up until 6-8 months ago, when I was doing some routine cleaning...I had it off the tank, the fixture slipped and banged on the floor. From then on one of the 4 bulbs had an intermittent light problem. It would fire up only when it felt like it. When I broke down the 110, I took the fixture apart and discovered one of the solder connections between the endcap and the ballast for the light in question had popped off at the ballast....it was just barely in contact. OK, I could have repaired that if I wanted to, but I wound up chucking it in the bin. When I set up the tank again it will be with LED or MH lights, so I didn't need or want this setup.
260 watt 4 foot PC:
- This was the additional lighting purchased for the 110g tank. It's about 2 1/2years old now. Still runs like a champ. I'm giving this to a friend for her 55g so she can try out some soft corals. Never had a single problem with it.
96 watt 2 foot T-6 setup:
- Bought this for my cousin's 26g bowfront. Worked great for 6 months. Suddenly, sparks started flying and smoked up the house when he turned on the actinics. I felt like this was my first "Aquatraders Nightmare" when he called me and told me what happened. I brought the fixture home, opened it up....and found a gummy, sticky substance coating the burnt ballast. This was just under the vent hole in the fixture, and the same gummy residue was on the outside of the light near the vent. Upon gentle questioning, I learned that a soda "may" have been in proximity to the tank.
So, no fault of Aquatraders....just good old fashioned teenageitis.
260 watt 4 foot PC:
- Yes, another one. This one wasn't mine, but my aunt's. She bought it for her 90g FOWLR. Worked fine, BUT.....there was definitely a short somewhere in the fixture. If you touched the back metal part of the fixture with a wet hand, you got a little zap. Not a good thing, and definitely a faulty fixture there.
130 watt 2 foot PC:
- I had this over my seahorse tank for about 10 months. No problems to report of any kind. I gave it to my cousin (with the request that he stop drinking coke around his tank) when I got my new fixture. Which leads me to.....
178 watt MH "pendant" light:
- I just purchased this 1 month ago. This is the fixture that has a single 150w MH with 2 14w T5 actinics alongside. Ballast is electric, runs cool to the touch. So far I'm very satisfied with this fixture. The bulb fired up quickly the first time out (a problem I've heard sometimes it that it may take a couple "jolts" to start a new MH), and it barely increases my tank temp.
What does all this crapola mean to you? Just this: At this point in the game, I am willing to say that the Oddysea fixtures are pretty good these days. Seems the days of blackened wires and exploding ballasts may be behind them. I would, and in fact probably will, buy another light fixture from them if I decide to go MH for my 110 tank when I set it back up.
ON THE OTHER HAND..... I'm convinced that their bulbs are pretty much crap. Certainly their MH bulbs are, and I'm willing to bet their T5s are sub-par as well. I would recommend that if you purchase your bulbs from another source. THink of it this way: you're still saving money. Many high-end fixture manufacturers don't include bulbs with the initial purchase, so either way you need to buy good bulbs.
Looks like the 30" is out of question unless i find it used or it pops back up randomly. I'll have to start to look into the Nova and Current, I saw them on eBay and considered them but with the good luck I had with the oddysea I didn't think about attempting them. Nova, what brand is the MH you recently purchased? and you said it doesn't run hot? That was really my main concern with the MH in a dorm room was the heat. (no electrical bill for me!!! ) So it's down to the 30" MH and looking into Nova and Current, unless my Odyssea reappears. Any other helpful tips? you guys helped ALOT