Power Compact Lights .... COMPARISON

mikegronholz

mikegronholz

Member
Looking at buying a compact fixture (48" for 75g) and here are the brands I'm considering:
JBJ
Good: Everyone seems to have them and 65x4
Bad: Been told they burn out and the cost
Helios
Good: Less expensive and external ballast
Bad: No real feedback
Axis Commodity
Good: Less Expensive come recommended
Bad: Never heard of them until my "tank guy" mentioned them to me, no real feedback
What are all of your comments and ideas ?
 
robn70

robn70

Member
Try ahsupply I have had good luck with mine. Have 3x96watt kit on my 38 gal. No problems since installed last year. And they are pretty inexpensive.
 
ddt

ddt

Member
I have JBJ 4X65 on my 72 bow. Only been up for 4 mos., but everything seems fine. I like the double cords, have the blues come on 1 hr. before and 1 hr. after the whites.
 
tnr

tnr

Member
I choose none.I had jbj 4"was'nt impressed they're not worth the money stoped working .Would work once in awhile.Dont know about the other ones you listed.
For the $ think about vho.Hellolight is running a sale on vho ballast right now.Been happy with everything i've got from them.
 
1

10k

Guest
I have the JBJ over my 75gal Discus tank. I can't really recommend them. They are too expensive for what you wind up with. On mine, the fans don't work anymore, and I'm fighting with one of the ballasts (lights sometimes, sometimes not) trying to figure it out. HTH
 
tnr

tnr

Member
10k I had the same problem with mine.All most seem like a very expensive disposalbe light.
 
slick

slick

Active Member
I have to defend the jbj's. I have had them on my 90 for about 5 months now and never had a single problem.
 
cap'n pete

cap'n pete

Member
Custome Sealife! Excellent company with excellent product. Have had one 55W that has fired flawlessly for over two years. Ended up buying another and next is to put in 65W lamps. Wrote Custom and asked about the wattage. They responded the same day!
 
20galsw

20galsw

Member
I'll have to agree with Cap'n Pete on his comment. I had 2 Custom Sealife 96 watts(1 Actinic, 1 10000k) on my previous 50 gallon tank, along with the AH Supply 2x96 bright Kit with enclosure. Worked great for me for over 2 years till I sold my aquarium to a friend. He's had it 2 years more without a single problem. Amazing color and light output on these too with the included Mirro Aluminum Reflectors.
I currently have a Coralife Aqualight 65 watt fixture with JBJ 24" 50/50 bulb, hopefully this will last as long.
Thanks,
-David-
 
buyitjody

buyitjody

Member
I vote Custom SeaLife also!! I got mine from **************.com. They have $9.99 shipping for anything purchased over $150 (I believe). Anyway, even though I could find my retrofit 4x65watt Custom SeaLife setup cheaper elsewhere, the shipping at other places was $25 - $35, which put the total price over the total price of **************. Have had mine up and running for 7 months now with no problems at all.
Jody
 
entice59

entice59

Active Member
My friend has a JBJ hood, his bulbs kept on burning out, wasted 6 96 watt bulbs, after awhile the store got quit giving him replacement bulbs. FYI, If your bulbs EVER blow out and its a jbj hood, contact them and they will replace it for free. Doesnt mean you should do it all the time :rolleyes:
I have a JBJ hood also, i personallly have had no problems at all, only the fact that fan makes horrible buzzing sounds because dusts gathers inside the hood, i didnt get that piece of foam thingy. Anyone know what i can do to stop the dust from getting in?
i think JBJ is manufactured in Taiwan.... ehh.....:rolleyes:
CustomSeaLife is a good brand but pricey, i personally recommend that, but coralife is also a good one, ive heard good reviews and its cheap. Does coralife hoods come with a fan?
i think coralife was made in US, or was it customsealife... or was it neither....
Hope this helps
 
tyr-sog

tyr-sog

Member
So far my only complaint with the JBJ's are they fans. I think I might even try and replace them with quiter pc fans if I can find the size. I'm pretty sure all they are is PC fans anyways.
 
jmesmcm

jmesmcm

Member
I vote CSL as well. I am running a 4 96 watt fixture on my 58 with 2 actinics and 2 10000ks and it works great.
 
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