Aquatraders experience anyone?

[Heathd]

Unfortunately I am going to have to disagree with the Ice Cap statement. Their product was industrial lighting from China that was rebadged. They started going cheap with their products. That is why Calfo left them because they started using crappy rebranded bulbs for his line of bulbs. People were catching on and that is one of the many reasons the company started crashing.

One of the best reflectors I have seen to date is in the ATI LET modular lighting they have. My buddy works for the guy who designed the reflector and after he showed me them I was blown away.

I never said ice cap had good ballast or bulbs.

I said their t5 reflectors, very specific.

 

[burky_tc]

I never said ice cap had good ballast or bulbs.

I said their t5 reflectors, very specific.

And as I said there lights were rebadged industrial lighting which included the reflectors. They were never anything special. I deal a lot with lighting and I have a friend in the aquarium lighting business so I get the inside scoop.

 

[Heathd]

And as I said there lights were rebadged industrial lighting which included the reflectors. They were never anything special. I deal a lot with lighting and I have a friend in the aquarium lighting business so I get the inside scoop.

I know that they had most of their stuff made in China and rebadged, I knew that before you told me this. The president of MACNA did a presentation at our local club meeting and said it... and he used to work for them.

Their individual t5 refelctors were the best around, highly rated and praised, with a high reflectivity rate.

 

[FLESHY]

Burky...you sound like you know what you are talking about.

But I have owned, and set up a great deal of systems both reef, and planted with these fixtures. Not one issue once.

Perfectly fine for growing plants, and most corals. Will your colors be the absolute best? No, but you paid for a turd with a bow as you like to say, so its hard to feel bad about that.

Another word of advice, dont go talking about products you have never used. Its great that your friend owns ONE fishneedit fixture, but I have personal, and good experiences with aquatraders for the price. You have, yourself stated that you have very little experience.

 

[burky_tc]

Burky...you sound like you know what you are talking about.

But I have owned, and set up a great deal of systems both reef, and planted with these fixtures. Not one issue once.

Perfectly fine for growing plants, and most corals. Will your colors be the absolute best? No, but you paid for a turd with a bow as you like to say, so its hard to feel bad about that.

Another word of advice, dont go talking about products you have never used. Its great that your friend owns ONE fishneedit fixture, but I have personal, and good experiences with aquatraders for the price. You have, yourself stated that you have very little experience.

You mention that your corals may not look the best which is very true giving it a sub par light. Corals are a living creature and are no different then a fish or any other creature we keep. So why not give it what it needs? If you can not give something proper care then you should probably not keep it. I have learned if you have to cut corners in this hobby then most likely it is not for you.

I have owned and dealt with aquatrader lights so I do know they are very inferior and are cheaply made which in the end could cause disaster. These lights can be made into better lights with upgrade but whats the point? Just buy something better right off the bat. The fishneedit lights are highly recommended over Aquatrader lights on many forums I frequently visit. Plus after seeing one in person and getting time to look it over I would gladly purchase one myself but replace the bulbs immediately.

I joined the site to start researching freshwater rays but figured I could chime in on the saltwater area as I see myself as pretty knowledgeable. I am very active in my local club and even sit on the board. So far I have seen some mixed info being put out and some advice that I would never give anyone! So I am going to step away from the General Salt area and leave it to the small clique that has formed.

 

[dgk9723]

i have the t5 and used it for 2 weeks and not bad at all. (aqua-traders)

 

[Heathd]

You mention that your corals may not look the best which is very true giving it a sub par light. Corals are a living creature and are no different then a fish or any other creature we keep. So why not give it what it needs? If you can not give something proper care then you should probably not keep it. I have learned if you have to cut corners in this hobby then most likely it is not for you.
I could be wrong, since it could have changed, but I think a lot of it might have to do with the spectrum he is using in his fixtures. I dont think he has much actinic supplementation, which would certainly impact coloration.

The fishneedit lights are highly recommended over Aquatrader lights on many forums I frequently visit. Plus after seeing one in person and getting time to look it over I would gladly purchase one myself but replace the bulbs immediately.
Agree with you on the bulb part. The bulbs are cheap, and will color shift very quickly, or just go without much warning.

I joined the site to start researching freshwater rays but figured I could chime in on the saltwater area as I see myself as pretty knowledgeable. I am very active in my local club and even sit on the board. So far I have seen some mixed info being put out and some advice that I would never give anyone! So I am going to step away from the General Salt area and leave it to the small clique that has formed.
I think you should stay. I still disagree with you about the ice cap t5 reflectors, and always will, but your experience is always welcome here.

...

 

[jworth]

Thier revamped products have gotten a good rating from what I have read. No personal experience on the lights, but I just ordered their large protein skimmer so we will see how that goes.

 

[FLESHY]

Corals are living organisms...light quality has a lot to do with the bulbs though.

Coral health isnt really affected. I know lots of people that are growing corals like mad with these things.

Would the corals look better with some ushios in a nice reflector, yes. Does that really matter to someone who just wants to grow softies? No.

Discussion is what this is all about, if you leave...then there wont be much discussion. We need more people around here that are knowledgeable and we have been building a pretty nice SW section up around here over the past year.

I just dont, (and never will) understand why someone who just wants to jump into the hobby cant use that as a starting point before they decided that they want something more, with maybe a little more color.

 

[FLESHY]

Thier revamped products have gotten a good rating from what I have read. No personal experience on the lights, but I just ordered their large protein skimmer so we will see how that goes.

I am interested. Had a friend buy one of their skimmers, but never used it.