JBJ Vipers: User reviews
- Thread starter Newreeflady
- Start date
DragonFish
Unregistered Member
Well, I've had mine for over two weeks now and it still seems pretty dim to be a working bulb. It also looks more like a 10K bulb, not nearly as blue but more of a yellowish white. I've contacted JBJ to find out what they will do. I'm thinking that the bulbs they ship might be of questionable quality.
DragonFish
Unregistered Member
Do we have any idea who does produce them?
Kinetic
Active member
I just got the bulb in the mail.
Big thumbs up to customer support! THey contacted me quickly and got the bulb shipped out and arrived at my home 2 days later after I asked for help.
I looked at the package, just a box that has a printed label: JBJ 70w 20000K. Then I think, isn't the bulb supposed to be a 14000K bulb?
I've emailed them asking why the one they sent me is 20000K....
Big thumbs up to customer support! THey contacted me quickly and got the bulb shipped out and arrived at my home 2 days later after I asked for help.
I looked at the package, just a box that has a printed label: JBJ 70w 20000K. Then I think, isn't the bulb supposed to be a 14000K bulb?
I've emailed them asking why the one they sent me is 20000K....
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7246229#post7246229 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EricBrian
I get my viper tomorrow!
Now, I just need to find a cheap moon light to afix to it.
I did get my Viper on Thursday but the bulb was broke. I called the place I ordered it from and they are sending me a new bulb. But, that will take a week to get to me. So, more wait.
Did you guys buy a back up bulb in case your bulb breaks? If so, where from?
jimsflies
Member
I got my viper a couple days ago. Like a lot of things jbj makes the concept is good, but the implementation falls short. I love the concept of the slim clip on halide. The worst part of the design is the reflector. It causes a lot of light to spill out of the tank. In fact, right under the light its dimmer than the light around going outside of the tank on the wall. I'm not sure if the reflector could be modded somehow? The intensity directly under the bulb is probably not a big deal for a nano tank. However, I find the light spillage to be annoying.
I think this has been said before, but the arms seem like they could be made out of heavier material. They seem a bit wobbly to me.
My stock bulb is working fine. But I don't care for the color as well as the pheonix 150s I'm running on my display tank. So, I will probably upgrade the bulb. (If someone is interested in a working jbj replacement bulb, let me know.)
I plan to use the fixture. I think it will work out. Its just too bad they didn't put a little more engineering into it.
I think this has been said before, but the arms seem like they could be made out of heavier material. They seem a bit wobbly to me.
My stock bulb is working fine. But I don't care for the color as well as the pheonix 150s I'm running on my display tank. So, I will probably upgrade the bulb. (If someone is interested in a working jbj replacement bulb, let me know.)
I plan to use the fixture. I think it will work out. Its just too bad they didn't put a little more engineering into it.
Newreeflady
New member
Hi Jim,
I agree with what you said, but i'm still very happy with the lamp. Looking at other 70w fixtures such as the pod, etc, you will pay a decent amount more than the $150 for the Viper. For $150, you can buy a retro kit, but you need to modify the hood for that. I think it's all about reasonable expectations, and for $150 halide, mine were met. I expected spillage with no top, and I expected it probably would have a cheesy reflector as the unit is pretty small. A spider type would be better, but this one works fine for the application (what about 13" x 13".) It is a little wobbly left to right, i'll agree, but at least it is pretty rigid in the important direction (up/down.)
Post your pics of the stock vs the phoenix if you can. I really like the stock color, but i'm interested in seeing other brands as well.
Thanks,
Angela
I agree with what you said, but i'm still very happy with the lamp. Looking at other 70w fixtures such as the pod, etc, you will pay a decent amount more than the $150 for the Viper. For $150, you can buy a retro kit, but you need to modify the hood for that. I think it's all about reasonable expectations, and for $150 halide, mine were met. I expected spillage with no top, and I expected it probably would have a cheesy reflector as the unit is pretty small. A spider type would be better, but this one works fine for the application (what about 13" x 13".) It is a little wobbly left to right, i'll agree, but at least it is pretty rigid in the important direction (up/down.)
Post your pics of the stock vs the phoenix if you can. I really like the stock color, but i'm interested in seeing other brands as well.
Thanks,
Angela
Newreeflady
New member
Sweet!
DragonFish
Unregistered Member
Sorry to resurect this thread but I have some updates. I've been living with my 150W viper for about 5 months now and its still working great. After having the stock JBJ bulb in for a bit I decided it was too yellow and dim for my tastes so I swapped it out for a 14K Hamilton. To my surprise the Hamilton was exactly the same color and only slightly brighter to the eye. I let that run for a while and I didn't notice any obvious change in my tank other than a bit faster coraline growth. Still not totally happy with the yellowish look to the bulbs I picked up a cheap ebay special 20K 175w bulb just to see the color. I paid $19 shipped for a brand new bulb. When I got it I was a bit worried that it wouldn't even fire being a 175w but was happy to see that it fires just fine. What REALLY surprises me is that I love the color and get this, it looks WAY brighter than either the JBJ or the Hamilton. The colors of my corals pop much better now and I think I'm getting a bit better growth too. My next bulb will probably be a 14K phoenix, as I've heard they have the best PAR of all the 150w bulbs.
Similar threads
