Odyssea - Considering Purchase

[lilalove]

I have an Odyssea over my 180 and am pleased with it. I did replace the ballasts with ice cap ones and there is a huge difference. But other than that.....I thought it was a good alternative for someone on a budget.

 

[tastingSalty]

Thanks for all the help guys, but I've decided to just stick with my T5 system. I wanted to make sure that I didn't pass up a good deal. I won't take my chances this time; my T5's are doing alright for me right now.

 

[DaveG99]

good decision. and coral growth isnt entirely dependant on lighting. Flow is just as important if not more. What can a coral live longer without? Light or flow?

 

[tastingSalty]

Let's also not forget water parameters

 

[RotaryGeek]

Thats cool and all, I just hate seeing people give crap reviews on odyssea when most havent even owned them. Its a great fixture for someone on a budget who cant afford a great fixture up front. With a few upgrades, its every bit as good as most the others. Dont discount it just becuase its cheap.

 

[Guy(ReefSmart)]

I purchased a 48" t5 fixture planned on changing the bulbs but never did. Growing sps fine in there and very good quality fixture I am surprised but pleased. Now this fixture was sold as the new and improved 2009 odyssea fixture so I can't comment on the older fixtures. I say go for it. At the worst you'll have to change the bulb in my opinion

 

[innercirclepro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15194620#post15194620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tperk9784
as far as I am concerned this is a reef urban legend. never seen anyone show proof that a ballast caught fire.

That being said a friend of mine bought a 250 watt fixture and replaced the ballast with a good one and he loves it..

ive got their 250w mh fixture too and yeah its cheap. .. but the only thing you could complain about, is the 10k bulbs that come with it. all in all for $250 as opposed to $800 or so, a 48" fixture, don't knock it if youve never tried... spend the money on coral. i get really good growth, although i would never know maybe better ballast would yield a higher par but its never been that important to me...
i have a sunpod 150w over my 20 gallon and really, both fixtures are metal, both put out light...

 

[pbukow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15200306#post15200306 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RotaryGeek
Thats cool and all, I just hate seeing people give crap reviews on odyssea when most havent even owned them. Its a great fixture for someone on a budget who cant afford a great fixture up front. With a few upgrades, its every bit as good as most the others. Dont discount it just becuase its cheap.

Amen brother . . . (or sister ) I can't wait to get a couple of those pendants when I get some xtra cash. Not telling when that will be tho.

 

[Chipie]

I just saw this thread. No it's not an urban legend about the balasts starting fires. It happened to a fellow reefer from my local reefers forum. He was lucky enough to have someone home to stop the fire or his house would have burned down. I would never touch those Odyssea fixtures.

 

[ds4x4]

the new fixtures are alot better than the old.. so if you spend 300 on a 48" setup then end up replacing the two ballasts with Icecaps or whatever your still cheaper than most fixtures out of the box.

 

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15219922#post15219922 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ds4x4
the new fixtures are alot better than the old.. so if you spend 300 on a 48" setup then end up replacing the two ballasts with Icecaps or whatever your still cheaper than most fixtures out of the box.

No, you're not cheaper than most fixtures out of the box. Seriously, you can get a quality T5 setup for that kind of money that will outperform the cheap chinese fixture in every possible way.

 

[fishwonder]

I am lucky. I bought a 48" fixture 4 c p 56 watts. No Problem. I checked the temperature and compared with Coral life fixture of my friend. They are the same. The color of Coral life is better. My friend was not lucky with Odyssea. He had to fix the switches. At the end of the life cycle, I'll change bulbs.