Aqua Traders

Tigger · #1 12-23-2009, 04:59 PM

Has anybody bought from Aqua Traders before? I am considering buying the Odyssea 48" 216W (4x54W) T5 HO Light for $109. It even comes with the bulbs, Moon lights and a timer. Are these good lights? The price seems good, but I am not sure about the quality. Does anybody want to combine orders and split the shipping?

http://shop.aquatraders.com

FitoPharmer · #2 12-24-2009, 02:27 AM

i always hear Odyssea ballasts are notoriously cheap and prone to failure whenever aqua traders gets brought up in a post for buying cheap lighting. i have also heard they are rather dim for their wattage even when they are working fine. IMO i would stay away, for me it falls into the "too good to be true category"

but then again i do remember they were always talking about the odyssea MH ballasts, maybe their t-5 systems are better.

muck · #3 12-24-2009, 02:33 AM

There were reports of some of these units even catching fire a few years back.

Ryan · #4 12-24-2009, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muck

There were reports of some of these units even catching fire a few years back.

I have heard the same thing.

Eb0la11 · #5 12-24-2009, 06:58 AM

Ouch.

Red Coral Aquariums · #6 12-24-2009, 07:07 AM

I have been running the 4 bulb HO T5's on 4 of my softy tanks for going on 16 months without a bit of problem. The bulbs that come with them are cheap and I replaced them out with a kz coral 10k, kz new gen 15k, kz fiji purple, and a D+D aticnic +. My corals are doing excellent.
Kevin

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #7 12-24-2009, 07:50 AM

Yeah, I've heard that you basically buy it for the unit (at least the MH models). Replace the ballasts & bulbs. Doesn't seem like such a good deal after all, IMO.

These T5s though are not in the same crappy category as the old "fire hazard" mh units.

Anthony

ScubaSteve · #8 12-24-2009, 08:13 AM

Ya, I almost went the Aquatraders direction as well recently to start my second tank (you know, being a poor PhD student and all...). I was looking at the MH mostly and those seem to be not of the best quality. The t5's on the other hand I have heard some decent things about and, like they said above, switch to better bulbs. The one thing about the t5 units, and someone please correct me if I am wrong, is that they don't have reflectors, thus your output is not as stellar as it could be.

For the same price point but maybe a little better try the Fishneedit units (http://www.fishneedit.com/t5ho-ligh.html). I've heard good things about them. They've got reflectors and everything.

If you have a friend in the states or access to a PO box, try Amazon of all places. They have retardly cheap deals on good lights from time to time... they don't ship to Canada though.

Finally, ask around this site. I got a wicked MH system from someone here for a good price and I could not be happier (It's a little overkill... but hey, go big or go home, right?). I'm sure there is someone with some lights for sale... right guys and gals?

fishytime · #9 12-24-2009, 01:22 PM

The T5 units do indeed have reflectors....not individual like a tek, though....the only issue with ordering them from the states is, if there is a problem with the light, you will have to send the unit back at your expense....

bumper · #10 12-25-2009, 12:52 AM

Just received before Christmas a few things from aquatraders. Couldn't help myself! A great experience with the LED light, they're submersible and they bring out the florescence in my zoas and blastos! The 4 x 54W T5HO Pro fixture was bumped or otherwise during shipping. The timer wasn't working. So they sent a new ballast and timer, with a deposit, when the originals were returned, the deposit was refunded. Not bad... Quite happy with the service, but it may take a few phone calls. The reflector is one that wraps all four bulbs together.