I just changed light fixtures and have the 7 lamp 48" Aquactinics Constellation for sale.
Here's a link from when you used to be able to buy this light retail (but Aquctinics no longer makes aquarium lighting):
http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting/aquactinics/constellation-t5.htm
It's a great light and has served me well, however the light is not perfect. Here are the two items to note for the sake of full disclosure:
-After I purchased the light, I found the power coat had started to peel from the front right corner of the fixture. I was going to sand it and paint...but never got around to it. Obviously doesn't affect performance, but it's not perfect.
-Shortly after I received the light, 2 of the lights started to not come on regularly (both lights are on the same switch). You can see them turn on, but then they shut right off. I started to research and it seems it's the ballast, and a new ballast can be purchased for around $30 -$40. However I didn't have the time (nor the skill) to take the light apart and do the replacement. Therefore, I just ran the fixture as a 5 bulb unit instead of a 7 bulb. I'm sure someone that has worked on T5's can easily fix... As the pictures show in the link, it didn't' affect the growth... The pics show growth from the begin of Jan of last year until today.
Besides the above, the fixture is in very good condition. It has 3 switches (though, in its current state, you'd only use 2...one that controls 2 lamps, and the other that controls 3 lamps). The reflective aluminum is basically perfect as the shield has always been on when it was hung above the tank. Lastly, I'll include the custom hanging harness my wife and I came up with to hang the fixture. It's made of hardwood and bolts...has a pretty cool look to it.
I bought it back in October '12 for $350 from someone here on the for sale forums. Selling it for $175.
Here are links to pics (couldn't figure out how to attach pics within post from flickr):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42672634@N08/?details=1
Here's a link from when you used to be able to buy this light retail (but Aquctinics no longer makes aquarium lighting):
http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting/aquactinics/constellation-t5.htm
It's a great light and has served me well, however the light is not perfect. Here are the two items to note for the sake of full disclosure:
-After I purchased the light, I found the power coat had started to peel from the front right corner of the fixture. I was going to sand it and paint...but never got around to it. Obviously doesn't affect performance, but it's not perfect.
-Shortly after I received the light, 2 of the lights started to not come on regularly (both lights are on the same switch). You can see them turn on, but then they shut right off. I started to research and it seems it's the ballast, and a new ballast can be purchased for around $30 -$40. However I didn't have the time (nor the skill) to take the light apart and do the replacement. Therefore, I just ran the fixture as a 5 bulb unit instead of a 7 bulb. I'm sure someone that has worked on T5's can easily fix... As the pictures show in the link, it didn't' affect the growth... The pics show growth from the begin of Jan of last year until today.
Besides the above, the fixture is in very good condition. It has 3 switches (though, in its current state, you'd only use 2...one that controls 2 lamps, and the other that controls 3 lamps). The reflective aluminum is basically perfect as the shield has always been on when it was hung above the tank. Lastly, I'll include the custom hanging harness my wife and I came up with to hang the fixture. It's made of hardwood and bolts...has a pretty cool look to it.
I bought it back in October '12 for $350 from someone here on the for sale forums. Selling it for $175.
Here are links to pics (couldn't figure out how to attach pics within post from flickr):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42672634@N08/?details=1
