I would stay away from odyssea products. Well at least the lights I have read bad things about there t-5's and mh catching fire etc. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2072157 here is a good thread about the leds. Read on and judge if its worth the money. Do you plan on keeping corals at all? If not go with the marineland leds.
A few general questions
- Thread starter Mstark11
- Start date
Mstark11
New member
I guess mostly I just need something with legs, since I took the glass off the top. I don't have jumpers yet so i haven't put a screen on it. I put the strip light i had up on some scrap wood leftover from the stand and it works up there.
I like the idea of having a timer on the light, but It doesn't really matter. I know you can get a timer on a power strip. I just want to make sure I don't buy a third useless light.
(or burn my house down.) And yes, I would eventually like to get corals. Otherwise I do have a marineland single bright right now.
That's what it looks like on top for now
I like the idea of having a timer on the light, but It doesn't really matter. I know you can get a timer on a power strip. I just want to make sure I don't buy a third useless light.
(or burn my house down.) And yes, I would eventually like to get corals. Otherwise I do have a marineland single bright right now.
That's what it looks like on top for now
mitchellmoto
Member
I can say everyone always says the same thing about odyssea products but you will find 90% of the people that comment on them have actually never owned them. No offense Glen. There is a thread where one of their very old MH lights systems caught fire. But a fire can be started very easily when saltwater and electricity meet. I can say I have owned several of their light so i have first hand experience with them. Yes you do get what you pay for and odyssea are not top quality lights. They have generic ballasts and reflectors suck. If you want a cheap light to start you off i think they are OK but I would save up for a quality fixture down the road. My first MH was an odyssea and right now I own two T5HO odyssea fixtures. I have had zero problems with their lights. I want to stress "lights" because I have seen a few of their pumps and skimmers first hand and they are useless. I used the MH light for well over a year before I saved up enough to get a better light. Never had any problems. One of the two T5s I have had for a little while with no issues and the other is new but didn't provide enough lights to properly grow my plants so I've already upgraded. Another cheap company is "fishneedit"
All that being said there are far better products out there. And there is always the DIY setup. I couldn't remember if you said you wanted a hood or an open top but you can make a simple hanging DIY light fixture for a decent price. You also would get a reflector for each bulb which greatly increase the light.
I would trust the t5 over the LED just because when it is time to replace the lamps you could purchase better bulbs. But I have been curious about those LEDs they sells. I'm not entirely convinced they provide enough light but with out buying them and using a light meter to test there isn't any way to tell.
So my final say would be there are by far better lights out there but if you want something cheap to start you off with I would say at least the T5 should be enough to get you started with easy lower to mid light corals. But if you can swing the price of a better fixture I would go that route instead.
I would also like to add that this just my experience with the three fixtures I have had and since I haven't had any issues I also don't know what their customer service is like, which seems to stem some of their major complaints.
All that being said there are far better products out there. And there is always the DIY setup. I couldn't remember if you said you wanted a hood or an open top but you can make a simple hanging DIY light fixture for a decent price. You also would get a reflector for each bulb which greatly increase the light.
I would trust the t5 over the LED just because when it is time to replace the lamps you could purchase better bulbs. But I have been curious about those LEDs they sells. I'm not entirely convinced they provide enough light but with out buying them and using a light meter to test there isn't any way to tell.
So my final say would be there are by far better lights out there but if you want something cheap to start you off with I would say at least the T5 should be enough to get you started with easy lower to mid light corals. But if you can swing the price of a better fixture I would go that route instead.
I would also like to add that this just my experience with the three fixtures I have had and since I haven't had any issues I also don't know what their customer service is like, which seems to stem some of their major complaints.
Mstark11
New member
I don't really plan on adding any delicate corals until I've had the tank for probably another 8-10mo. Just to make sure I have a stable(er), system that's well established. I looove how candy cane corals look, and will probably do low-med light polys just to start with, so I don't really need some super expensive lighting system.
What about something like
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+23753&pcatid=23753
or
http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife..._Fixtures-Coralife-ES08600-FILTFIT54U-vi.html
What about something like
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+23753&pcatid=23753
or
http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife..._Fixtures-Coralife-ES08600-FILTFIT54U-vi.html
mitchellmoto
Member
Those are better fixtures but only two bulbs really will limit your coral selection to shrooms. Maybe some Zoas way up high. What seems nice about the aquatic life fixture is that you can get one now and add additional fixtures slowly as you get money. If you eventually link three together for a total of 6 bulbs you would certaily have enough light for some coral. But at the price of three of those fixtures you could get one 6 bulb fixture cheaper. I would suggest 4-6 54w T5HO bulbs.
It would be easier to just get a 4X 54w T5 fixture and with that amount of light you should have enough lighting for a very nice softie and LPS tank. May even be enough for some lower light SPSs down the road.
It would be easier to just get a 4X 54w T5 fixture and with that amount of light you should have enough lighting for a very nice softie and LPS tank. May even be enough for some lower light SPSs down the road.
mitchellmoto
Member
Also try to get a fixture with the individual reflectors.
Mstark11
New member
http://www.ebay.com/itm/48-216W-T5-...004?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bf3b76e4
So then maybe more something like that?
So then maybe more something like that?
mitchellmoto
Member
Still only has one large reflector not individual reflectors.
I bought some of there old t-5 lights and they were crap. Broke in 3 months. Yea customer service was not there. No offense taken at all mitch) Def get individual reflectors if you can. Also if your looking into led check out reef breeders i bought some of there cree led's and so far they are amazing.
mitchellmoto
Member
I think that one would work just fine. I think around that price range as long as you stay with a quality brands you should be ok. That fixture comes with bulbs I believe, but for instance Tek systems I personally like beter but they don't include bulbs, leg or hanging kits and no acrylic cover. Which all adds to the total cost. I would just look for a good sale, know brand and 4 x 54w bulbs.
Mstark11
New member
Well, so I think I made an uh-oh.
When I've been refreshing my top-off, I just naturally assumed that I needed to mix it with salt water. Saltwater leaving tank = Saltwater needs to be put back.
And checking my salinity last night while acclimating my Coral Beauty, and then again this morning I'm at like 1.033, I assumed last night my Hydrometer was just being cheap and broken, but testing it out on controlled saltwater, it works just fine.
So I guess now to start the slow, all-day process of reducing salinity back down to 1.022 :facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:
When I've been refreshing my top-off, I just naturally assumed that I needed to mix it with salt water. Saltwater leaving tank = Saltwater needs to be put back.
And checking my salinity last night while acclimating my Coral Beauty, and then again this morning I'm at like 1.033, I assumed last night my Hydrometer was just being cheap and broken, but testing it out on controlled saltwater, it works just fine.
So I guess now to start the slow, all-day process of reducing salinity back down to 1.022 :facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:
Mstark11
New member
Ok I have another question.
I'm looking at media reactors.
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...luidized_Bed-AquaMaxx-UJ5311-FIFRISFB-vi.html This is what I've been looking at, with http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...ent_Control-AquaMaxx-UJ00137-FIFMBOBC-vi.html (I'm still scrubbing hair algae.)
Can I mix media? Like, can I put carbon and phosphate media in the same reactor?
Does that canister seem ok? Should I get a sump with bio balls instead? I've heard a lot of "you'll regret bio balls" but i don't really know why you wouldn't want to use it. Any other suggestions?
I'm looking at media reactors.
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...luidized_Bed-AquaMaxx-UJ5311-FIFRISFB-vi.html This is what I've been looking at, with http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...ent_Control-AquaMaxx-UJ00137-FIFMBOBC-vi.html (I'm still scrubbing hair algae.)
Can I mix media? Like, can I put carbon and phosphate media in the same reactor?
Does that canister seem ok? Should I get a sump with bio balls instead? I've heard a lot of "you'll regret bio balls" but i don't really know why you wouldn't want to use it. Any other suggestions?
mitchellmoto
Member
No saltwater doesn't evaporate only fresh water, minerals don't evaporate. So when you top off your tank you only add Fresh RO water.
As far as media it will depend on the media. Those bio pellets need a certain type of reactor. It is only a very settle difference but the screens are different, the pellets also need to tumble but you don't want carbon or GFO tumbling. So not all medias can be in the same reactor. As far as GFO and carbon that should be fine but check the GFO you are using I believe some will polish the water as carbon does and will reduce the need to use different medias.
Bio balls are usually plastic balls with lots of surface area for bacteria to grow on. The problem has more to do with the fact that they can collect detritus and pollute your water. They get dirty and become nitrate factories. They have to be clean frequently. I would use live rock rubble or maybe the ceramic bio balls. It is just one more thing to clean and watch, usually easier to not mess with them. Don't get bio balls and bio pellets confused as they of course are not the same thing. I have heard great things about the bio pellets and have thought about using them in my systems.
As far as media it will depend on the media. Those bio pellets need a certain type of reactor. It is only a very settle difference but the screens are different, the pellets also need to tumble but you don't want carbon or GFO tumbling. So not all medias can be in the same reactor. As far as GFO and carbon that should be fine but check the GFO you are using I believe some will polish the water as carbon does and will reduce the need to use different medias.
Bio balls are usually plastic balls with lots of surface area for bacteria to grow on. The problem has more to do with the fact that they can collect detritus and pollute your water. They get dirty and become nitrate factories. They have to be clean frequently. I would use live rock rubble or maybe the ceramic bio balls. It is just one more thing to clean and watch, usually easier to not mess with them. Don't get bio balls and bio pellets confused as they of course are not the same thing. I have heard great things about the bio pellets and have thought about using them in my systems.
mitchellmoto
Member
Sorry for your loss. Always sucks to lose an tank member.
Did you ever decide on a light?
Did you ever decide on a light?
Mstark11
New member
I bought a Phosban reactor the other day, and Marine Depot sent me a catalog, so I've been thumbing through it. And I figured if I'm going to spend an arm and a leg anyhow, i might as well get something I can use for a while.
So this is what I was thinking of.
http://www.marineandreef.com/AquaticLife_48_T5_HO_6_Lamp_Fixture_Lunar_Lights_p/ral01192.htm
The 8-lamp fixture would be nice but it doesn't come with an acrylic lens or fans. And with the heat around here, I really am going to need fans on a light of that caliber.
So this is what I was thinking of.
http://www.marineandreef.com/AquaticLife_48_T5_HO_6_Lamp_Fixture_Lunar_Lights_p/ral01192.htm
The 8-lamp fixture would be nice but it doesn't come with an acrylic lens or fans. And with the heat around here, I really am going to need fans on a light of that caliber.
Mstark11
New member
So the angel is missing part of his tail. Curious as to where you think it might have gone. He doesn't seem to notice, swimming normally, eating normally, the foxface doesn't have any frays or tears and no one generally looks like they've suffered an ammonia burn.
Just to add because it might be hard to see, there's no discoloration on the tail.
Just to add because it might be hard to see, there's no discoloration on the tail.
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