Odyssea T5 ballast fried

[vsco]

Check out what happened to one of my 2 ballast a couple days ago on my 4X39watt odyssea T5 fixture. I knew these were cheap lights to begin with, but the coral growth has actually been great. Especially after I switched from the blubs it came with to ATIs.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25118661@N06/5665758445/" title="IMG00285-20110427-1846 by vsco1128, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5665758445_6ee223cce0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG00285-20110427-1846"></a>

I am planning to upgrade my tank from a 40gal to a 90-120 gal and go LED, but that wont be another 4-6 weeks...Will my corals be ok with only 2X39watt T5s for the time being? I've increased the photo period from 7 hours up to 10 and they all seem to be opening up just as big as before.

 

[allsps40]

They will get by. Not surprised at all that ballast burnt up.

 

[vsco]

I guess you get what you pay for. I thought they would at least last a year...I was mistaken, only 4 months is what I got out of them. Could have been worse since it tripped my GFCI and shut off the whole system. Good thing someone was there when it happened.

 

[RokleM]

Unfortunately a very common thing with lighting and RO/DI.

People try to save money and end up spending more in the long run because a quality product wasn't purchased in the first place.