Downsides to cheap eBay lights?

[pottsburg]

I know the phrase "Buy cheap, buy often" but what's wrong with the 4 for $25 65watt PC bulbs on eBay?

 

[pottsburg]

Anybody?

 

[AZDesertRat]

I tried some from the old e bay Pet Supply Liquidators which has gone through numerous name changes over the years and found the intensity lacking and the coloration was terrible. Stick with a brand name.

 

[demonsp]

Im not sure i would buy used bulbs. Even whene they are working they loose power and should be replaced regularly.

 

[pottsburg]

They aren't used bulbs, just generic.

 

[sunfishh]

Are they Jebo's or Odessey's?

 

[pottsburg]

generic man, no name

 

[pmartin727]

Marine Depot

Marine Depot

Man NEW BULBS are only 20 a peice.......

Check it out.

 

[wiley0717]

Biggest problem with the e-bay generics is if you request and actually RECEIVE the CRI ir CRT rating from the seller (rarely stated in auctions) you will find they have a CRI or CRT in the 60's, name brand 10k's are in the 90's (where you want to be). 60's grow algae, 90's grow corals

 

[sunfishh]

What is a CRI?

 

[WinnipegDragon]

Everything I have heard (just starting out now mind you) is that the biggest downside often involves fire.

 

[cowboyswife]

Just remember that you get what you pay for. Its easier to do it right in the beginning.

 

[corals b 4 bills]

If you are trying to keep SPS then buy XM's but I'm only keeping LPS & softies so they work O.K. for me. here's mine with the 20 K bulbs.

 

[wiley0717]

WOW corals b 4 bills, nice Nem! That's a monster!

sunfishh, CRI is Color Rendering Index. 91-93 being ideal for corals, the 60's on ebay being ideal for nuisance algae and parking lots

 

[corals b 4 bills]

The darn thing was double fed for 8 months, I fed on the left side of the tank because my thinking was instead of the food floating around the tank it would fall into the nem, also my clown fed it when she was done eating, this thing is nearly 18 inches across and a stock of 5 inches. thank god it's never moved since I placed it a year and a half ago.

 

[wiley0717]

Mine will only get about 10" then it spits. If history repeats itself it's done splitting for about a year as I just upgraded tank size so time to feed!

 

[danoreef]

I don't know if the cheap lights I bought off ebay had anything to do with it, but after I bought the lights I got a bad cyno breakout and I could not get rid of it for anything. My opinion is spend the extra $$$ its worth it in the end.

 

[corals b 4 bills]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10011824#post10011824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danoreef
I don't know if the cheap lights I bought off ebay had anything to do with it, but after I bought the lights I got a bad cyno breakout and I could not get rid of it for anything. My opinion is spend the extra $$$ its worth it in the end.

Cyno is more of a nutrient problem, hair algae is what you get from a bad bulb.