Cheap lighting HQI... to good to be true?
 

Brand new 48" 250w hqi setup for $338 with free shipping.... Thats over a 1k setup What am I missing?

http://cgi.ebay.ca/48-Metal-Halide-H...item3f04aebf5a

Do you think their HQI bulbs are going to be the same as say phoenix or coralife? They are a 1/4 of the price...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/150W-150-WATT-14K...item3ef8b1efd4

The fixture itself looks like a coralife aqualight pro knock off. From the pctures the actinic reflectors look just like the coralife. I can't quite tell what the MH reflector looks like. My gut feeling is that this is a Chinese knock off of the original fixture... And a decent looking one at that. The price isn't too far off that for a decent coralife fixture.

The ballast is UL certified (good) and is probably alright but could be replaced if needs be.

As for the bulbs, jury is out there but at $14 the price is almost in significant and it doesn't hurt to try.

In my opinion, a lot of lighting systems get by on hype. If it looks like a decent build it'll probably cut the mustard. The only thing you MIGHT find in low build quality/poor finishing.

looks like an oddysea fixture to me

champion lighting sells these fixtures under the blue wave (possibly something else) brand. they sell more than just lighting under that brand name. the ballasts are probably just as good as of the other ballasts manufactured in china for i assume they are all made at the same plant given their design.

+1 They arn't too bad now adays with the magnetic ballasts

I don't know about the fixture/reflectors. Bit I use cheap Chinese bulbs that my friend got for me. They were about $12 each and I bought 3 years worth (9 bulbs for just over$100). As you cansee from my pictures in the TOTM page. I get decent growth and colours. It doesn't hurt to try.

for that price and free shipping... why not give it a try? everything can always get upgrade or retrofit later on.

If I have to setup another tank, I might even consider this. The saving will just go into live stock or other equipments.

Just a note that's not an hqi fixture. Those are electronic ballasts =)

Would that not make it a better light with electronic ballasts?

Generally speaking less electrical usage which is good but less par as well. Everything is electronic now for the most part.

If anyone tries this fixture let me know if it is any good. I might be tempted to switch back to MH on the 8'er.

I am running a 24" one with a Vertex ballast and I haven't had any issues. I also have a friend running a 48" one with the original ballasts without issues.

I have read that the bulbs aren't the greatest quality, but once they are changed you should be good to go. The legs are really cheap, so a hanging kit is a good investment.

This is really got me thinking, it would cut down on bulb cost ( I have a supplier for good quality inexpensive one's) and would be only 2 fixtures instead of 4.:idea:

Anyone know if there is a ballast for the PC's and if so would it run T5s ??

Just got an email from the seller of these and this is what they said when asked who is the maker/brand:

It is a rebrand Oddysea lighting fixture, from the same manufacture.Only the metal halide ballasts are not Oddysea,they are from the factory OEM for Icecap.

I which case that's not a bad deal at all if it's basically an Oddysea with Icecap ballasts. Killer.

And yes, there would be ballasts for the PC's but whether or not they could drive T5's is another question. If you ask them what make and rating the ballasts are I could tell you better. But really, to put in a pair of Fulham Workhorse 5 ballasts (which can each drive 2x54 T5HO lamps) it's be cheap and easy. I just bought WH5s for $24 ea for my research from Commercial Lighting in Vancouver. The swap should only take you a couple of hours... probably only 15 mins for a master welder...:razz:

fyi odyesea now sells halide with t5 a supplier for them just chnged thier website andadded the new fixturs

just thought id add that input

fixture
 

i bought one of these fixtures a while back it actually worked great , the only thing i had to do was replace the bulbs as the coloration on them was a little off , with phoenix bulbs it looked GREAT

These are the same thing but a little cheaper, shipped via USPS so there is no duti/broker fees:

http://www.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-4...ht-p/54248.htm

http://www.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-4...ct-p/54205.htm

Worth a try
 

I have an odyssea hqi/T5 set up on my biocube 29 and have no complaints. Good growth and decent color, though I have added some blue leds to supplement.

They just got new fixtures up on the site.
http://www.aquatraders.com/Metal-Halide-System-s/10.htm

Has anybody tried these fixtures? 2x250mh, 4x54w t5, 6 moon lights, 1 cooling fan.
Odyssea 48" 716W Metal Halide System Advance Plus. For 289.00 plus free shipping. Sounds like it might be worth a try!

LIGHTS
 

They are whacking me 85$ to ship to the S.E....374$ total

Dominator, let me know how you like the light when you get them. I may switch over.
Thanks, Steve.

I ordered 2 of the 48" 250w MH/T5 combos, I really like the fixtures, the external ballests are nice make the fixture lighter. I have to say though I am going to change the bulbs as soon as my new ones come in.

EDIT:

I got the ones with only 2 T5's per fixture and it figures they would come out with new ones after I have mine. The new one look sweet.

Mine is exactly the same as the first link, I bought it 3 years ago, and it has been running pretty good. It is a great deal. I will buy a bigger one when I am going to upgrade.

I wish they would have this 2x250 in 36" inch fixture, i'd buy it in a snap, been looking for one for a long time...
They were sold out in one week.!

check out www.fishneedit.com many people have bought it and they are upgradable and supposably very nice. They also look great.

http://www.fishneedit.com/2-x-150w-m...t-2150223.html

Yes these do look good. Open design and presumably less heat.
However aquatreaders have 2x250 and more atractive price
$289 and free shipping for 2x250w+4T5+LED + Fans vs $389 +shipping for a 2x150W at fishneedit (no fans , no LED).
http://www.aquatraders.com/48in-Meta...ht-p/54267.htm
And the ballasts are OEM for icecaps

I'm posting to see what peoples' experiances have been with dealing with Aqua Traiders. Odyssea seems to have been improving over the years and you cant beat the prices.

Other than an added 45.00 shipping charge because of living where I do, I had no problems dealing with Aquatraders. and I like the fixture. Legs where a little weak, but I dont use them..
It was a older 48" 4 bulb T5 fixture with moonlights like grizz's I believe.

I bought 2 - 48" 250w & 1 - 36" 150w fixtures from Aquatraders recently and my experience was great. Shipped out right away and arrived quickly but I did change out the bulbs with some better one's.

I do not know the fixture / reflector. I use low-cost light bulbs, my friend got me. They are about $ 12 every 3 years I bought value. As you can see my picture in the TOTM page. I get decent growth and colour. It does not hurt to try.

Grizz,
Did you buy the external or internal ballasts ?
I have been looking at these myself recently and like the cost.
I am thinking of upgrading from my cheapo hagen fixture on my 36 gallon.
The 24" expandable looks about right for the tank, but I don't like the external fan and have never had external ballasts before.

The ones I got are external ballast for both MH and T5s, I like the external fan that goes above the MH bulb, very quite and can be put an a timer so that they come on with the MH.

Get a 36" inch for your 36 gal tank.
some pple say that expendeble legs are little week and whole fixture goes down about 2" inch when you expend it. or get a new version with 4 legs

Tank is only 30" wide and in a corner so they won't fit unfortunately.
There is a glass cover that the fixture can sit on or I can build something to hang it with.

After eading this post and having one of my crappy coralife lights die on me i decided to get a new 4 bulb t5 light from aqua taders. Picked up my light to day , they had sent me the 2 bulb light :sad:. I emailed them right away and within 30 min they emailed me back with a ups sticker to put on the box and have it sent back to them and my new light is already in the mail .I did plug in the light for s and g`s and i have to say it looks really good , even with the cheapy bulbs (the atinic bulb is super blue :smile:). So all in all for a cheap chinese product based company pretty good customer service and so far there products look pretty damn good .

Go with a 24" fixture, I am sure that there would be enough coverage.

aqua traders has the 30 inch fixture that wouldnt fit???