Odyssea 250 watt MH system...

[tangboy]

Just wondering what you experienced MH people think about the

Odyssea 36" Metal Halide system that has the 4 LEDs and the 2 96 watt PC actinics?

I can link you specifically but don't want to break the ToS here again

-geoff

 

[ct_vol]

I think gflat had one catch on fire... Casey had the fans stop working on his... That was one of the earlier models though... They have supposedly improved them... Pretty much you pay for what you get...

 

[tangboy]

Yeah... that means since I'm a cheap butt my house will catch on fire but at least the flames won't be that big since the fans aren't running

Thanks for the history on them, maybe I'll keep looking

I really do want to upgrade to MH BUT I don't want to have to hang a pedant or reflector from the ceiling etc. I like the way that hood system worked on it etc.

I dunno, still newbie to it all!

 

[ct_vol]

You could always build your own canopy and mount the pendants/reflectors inside... Thats what I have done on a couple of my tanks and many of our other club members as well...

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the ballasts are POS too...

 

[Bill Cobb]

I've had my 48" Odyessea for a year and a half and love it. Also got 3 of their 130 cf fixtures. They had problems years ago with the old tar ballasts, but since they switched to electronic they seem okay. Some people upgrade the ballast to Coralvue to get more punch in the lights. With the cost of the extra ballast you still save money over high dollar brand names.

 

[tangboy]

So the 36" system I'm looking at has the electronic? In otherwords if you have a powerful enough ballast you could even toss in a 400w bulb? Am I right on that?!

 

[fishdoc11]

Retrofits are the way to go IMO for the price if you are building your own canopy.
Here is a pic of the canopy I'm running now:

 

[tangboy]

I had a custom cabinet made for it but I just am not sure I like the height of the hood that would be required for MH compared to the ratio of the tank etc...

 

[tangboy]

man I sure am picky!

 

[Bill Cobb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13980533#post13980533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tangboy
So the 36" system I'm looking at has the electronic? In otherwords if you have a powerful enough ballast you could even toss in a 400w bulb? Am I right on that?!

If you bought 400w ballast, but you would have to check if the 250w holders would handle 400w. But with your size tank be careful not to bleach out the corals with too much light:eek1:

 

[ct_vol]

400w = too much light for a 40g...

 

[tangboy]

I know about the 400w being too much light, seeings even the 250w is for tanks 18-30" deep or whatnot and my 40g breeder is only 18 inches in height.

My Nova Extremes are doing ok I just feel like my clams would enjoy more light and would get more pop from my zoas, rics and other odds and ends.

I'll just have to keep doing more research, taking your opinions etc etc. Thanks for the good information and toss whatever else you got out there at me!

-geoff

 

[goreefer]

I do not think that a 250W MH ballast will fire a 400W bulb. From what I have researched you need to match the bulb with the ballast. It makes no difference if it is a magnetic or electronic ballast.
Have you thought about running T-5 bulbs on your 40?
I agree with Chris that retro fit is the way to go. You have much more flexibility with what you can do, have a better selection of ballast, bulbs, reflectors etc. You will end up spending the same $$$, but will end up with top of the line components.

 

[tangboy]

I currently have the 36" Nova Extreme T-5 on there now. It has two 10ks and 2 actinics which I just ordered some new bulbs for. I ordered a wider spectrum, 6.5k, 10k, and two different actinics.

I might as well just stick with the T-5s since I already have them and just be happy with what I have. It's not like I'm trying to grow out SPS