need help with lights yo

[Dread]

I'd advise AGAINST those Aquatrader lights. I thought I was going to get some, the same as you, for my tank. I did some research and asked around with some Plant guys I know of, and it turns out they're terrible. The reflecter is bad, which would be enough, but as it turns out, the Oddysea company has terrible quality standards. There's plenty of cases of these lights going up in smoke (literally) and thats definately a risk. If you're willing to risk burning your house down, go for it.


Your cheapest best bet may be AH Supply.

 

[Wolf3101]

The shop lights can also be mounted on hoods...are easy to waterproof...(Plastic tubes are available for a few bucks that go over the bulbs.)...and can take a variaty of differant output bulbs.

 

[dangmatic]

ok thank a lot you guys. im going to go to home depot and get soem shop lights tonight. i still have some questions though. if i buy like a 30 " light fixture can i change the bulbs to get a higher wattage?

 

[Wolf3101]

sure you can. Look for ones marked daylight bulbs...those seem to be the best IMO. They have aquarium/plant bulbs as well so you can mix them if you like but personally I don't care for the look of those.

 

[Dread]

With the double fixture, if you want the best growth, I think a rating of 6700k and one of 10,000k work well as a mixture.

 

[trevorwhalen]

i went to kents today and bought the double fixture for $15.99 + tax
and i bought the tubes for $6.99 + tax and there rated at 20,000k
very nice light imo
ill post pics soon.

 

[Danyal]

The reflecter is bad, which would be enough, but as it turns out, the Oddysea company has terrible quality standards. There's plenty of cases of these lights going up in smoke (literally) and thats definately a risk. If you're willing to risk burning your house down, go for it.

actually, if you do the research you'll only get just a few FIRST HAND cases of people having trouble w/ their aquatraders lights, and almost all of those where the old MH fixtures with the magnetic ballasts. aquatraders has since remodeled some of their equpment and their fixtures are now almost on par with coralife fixtures, i've only ever actually heard of a first hand case of someone having issues with an aquatraders PC fixture and that was because it was an old model w/ magnetic ballasts and it was because a wire came loose, it started smoking but never actually caught fire.

 

[dangmatic]

and they sell all these different bulbs at home depot?

 

[trevorwhalen]

heres my new light

light in tank

gotta heave in this pic of my jd under the new light

 

[Wolf3101]

LOL nice JD I can see why you had to sneek him in...