Thanks Bill.

The fixture I got a few years ago was with pc not t5, but it has worked well for me. The ballasts used to be a very big issue but they have corrected those problems a few years back. Ask them about the ratings, they are usually pretty honest, btw when one of my ballasts went I picked up a new one from j+l..no problems. Wherever you decide to go, ask all the questions and weigh all the factors accordingly, warranty, shipping, after sales service, etc. There are also a lot of Canreef members who are upgrading..so there are some great fixtures for sale on this forum as well.
As for getting what you pay for, that isn't always the case, I have spent some big bucks on some things and they were overpriced junk, some of the less expensive stuff I have purchased is going strong...just do your homework and ask questions. Almost all Lfs are going to discourage sales unless it is with them, thats just business, try going to Ford and asking them what the new Chev's are like. The fact is that whether you go ultra high end or low-ball for equipment it is usually available online, sometimes more and sometimes less.......

about this CSA and insurance.
I went through a house fire a couple of years ago with no cause really known.
I had fish tanks throughout my house and no once was it discussed about things being CSA approved.
does anyone know for a fact this to be true, or is this one of those wife's tale.
has anyone actually read their insurance policy about this??? I would, but I don't know where mine is..lol
I personally bought a odyssea cheap made in china light 4 years ago and it still working fine.
so i dunno.
if you can afford the better quality..go for it.
as said, you get what you pay for.
however, if you can't afford better, IMO, even the cheaper ones will still let you see your fish and grow your corals.
just my 2 cents
Neal

They do sell some cheap products but there are some good deals to be had on there. I ordered my Bubble Magus storage containers much cheaper than anyone around here is selling them. I also got a quote on the BM 180CS for $320 shipped. I haven't seen anyone around here even come close to that!