HELP light fixture just bit the dust

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
N

Nate Dogg

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jun 7, 2011
691
1
16
Louisville
My light fixture (deep blue) just bit the dust (1 out of 2 bulbs) I need a new fixture what should I get, I want it to be a resealable price I don't want to spend 500 buck but I also don't want to spend 100 on something that will only last a year. The tank is a 125 planted single brace. I am also wanting to add plants that need high light in the next month or two. No CO2 in the tank at the moment but hopefully by the end of the year.

what should I get?
 
I think I have narrowed my search I need input on the 3 lights below (or if yall know of a different on that is good to) I decided not to go with LEDs because 1 its only 6500k I like adding 10000k for me, 2. I was told it makes more of a spot light of light.

the lights are in order of what I am leaning to first is favorite last is least favored, what do yall think and some question with each light thank you:

http://www.aquatraders.com/36-inch-4x39W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Digi-Timer-Fixture-p/52324.htm
the what I think, I love the price and the increased wattage cooling fans and timer but I have heard some negative things, I have been told a year out of them is good, the biggest is that they have been know to cause fire (was told by someone who likes to talk and TALK BIG)

http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-su...c-life-36-t5-ho-dual-lamp-fixture-marine.html
just what do yall think I couldn't find many things about them good or bad

http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-su...o-double-bulb-fixture-with-moonlights-36.html
First the pic says he when I put it in the shopping cart (just to findd the price) it came up HO
This light scares me I have had 4 deep blue (24HO,(2)36HE,48HO)fixtures and 2 have had a bulb stop working and most of the moon lights go kaput very fast, but those are a little older and I know in time the problem(s) could have been fixed

So can I please hear every bodies 2 cents preferably on the three lights above.
 
Odyssea fixture doesn't have individual reflectors for each bulb so to me that would be a no from the start. I have no opinion on the other two other than for the same price you could get a catalina fixture which are proven light fixtures with great customer support and they come highly recommended by many planted tank enthusiasts.

You're also posting 36" light fixtures, is your aquarium 125gal or 125litres? What are your aquarium dimensions?
 
JKM said:
Odyssea fixture doesn't have individual reflectors for each bulb so to me that would be a no from the start. I have no opinion on the other two other than for the same price you could get a catalina fixture which are proven light fixtures with great customer support and they come highly recommended by many planted tank enthusiasts.

You're also posting 36" light fixtures, is your aquarium 125gal or 125litres? What are your aquarium dimensions?
Click to expand...

standard 6ft, 125 gallon I would need 2 fixtures, I don't want 1 6ft (if you can find them) just in case something happens I can at least limp on 1 fixture till I could get a second fixture plus the few 6ftes I have seen are high but will check out the catalina
 
Odyssea are cheaper. But you get what you pay for. Not any real warranty. Single reflector low output ballasts. Ive got one of their 36 inch units and hate it. The night light LED lights (its a T5H0 light) didnt work out of the box.

When you get a light get something decent. Catalina is a very good choice. Price vs quality is really good.

BUT ............. I would hold off on doing any high light planted tank lights until you have a quality pressurized Co2 system. Make sure your on a quality nutrient dosing system like Estimative index dosing to provide non limiting nutrients. If you havent done so, id recommend getting set up on dry fertilizers and save yourself a ton of money. Plus be sure to have enough powerheads in the tank for circulation as well as more then one way to introduce the Co2 into the water. Larger tanks have issues with getting good coverage of co2 into the tanks. This can cause trouble spots.

If you do the lights before anything else, I can assure you, your going to be an Algae farmer and be really unhappy with what youve got. Most all the high light plants you see also require the above stuff I mentioned to get them to work.

With plants Light = work More light means they can do more work. What do they do as work? Grow. Not enough nutrients/Co2 while doing all that work will cause lots of plant issues and let opportunistic Algae happen.
 
I recently got 2x 36in freshwater bright LEDs from aquatraders... All I can say is eh, not thrilled but not disappointed. Considering getting 3x 36 t5s from them, just for my apisto rack for growing java moss and Anubis which the LEDs don't seem to be doing. Unhappy in that aspect of them, but happy with them for the 9w each one uses and no bulb replacements. If they had a 36in 6500k led I would go with that over t5s but that's just my opinion and what color light I like. But then again the difference in their planted LEDs and t5s are like 4-7 watts iirc, just saves my aggravation of getting new bulbs every 6-9 months.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Brown Water said:
I recently got 2x 36in freshwater bright LEDs from aquatraders... All I can say is eh, not thrilled but not disappointed. Considering getting 3x 36 t5s from them, just for my apisto rack for growing java moss and Anubis which the LEDs don't seem to be doing. Unhappy in that aspect of them, but happy with them for the 9w each one uses and no bulb replacements. If they had a 36in 6500k led I would go with that over t5s but that's just my opinion and what color light I like. But then again the difference in their planted LEDs and t5s are like 4-7 watts iirc, just saves my aggravation of getting new bulbs every 6-9 months.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...

Just remember anubias and java moss are lower light plants. They are also slow growers. What seems to be the issue your having grow them? That much t5ho light would be bad and create a decent algae farm.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Aquaticfan said:
Just remember anubias and java moss are lower light plants. They are also slow growers. What seems to be the issue your having grow them? That much t5ho light would be bad and create a decent algae farm.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

Dunno. Java moss is thriving in some tanks and dies off in others. Grows like a weed in some tanks, and then growth is barely noticeable in others. Have it in almost every tank in my house lol.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom