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Budget T5 as a Gift:

deathbyart

By deathbyart,
in Lighting Forum

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deathbyart

deathbyart

Posted
Posted

My parents have a 4' tank and I HATE the cheap LED lights they have. With my stepdad's birthday coming up, I was looking for at this particular Odyssea light. Then pick up 4 ATI bulbs because I assume the ones that come with it suck.

 

48" Odyssea Light

 

Sorry, I don't have the money to have Dave build a light. :P

 

5L36gUp.jpg

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Halo_003

Halo_003

Posted
Posted

This might be a dumb question but would it be feasible to get your mom to split the cost with you so you can get something better? That way you guys might be able to swing something like an ATI SunPower 48" or a pair of Kessil's, etc. If it were me I'd be heavily looking at 2x A160's, no upkeep cost, great look, high quality, etc.

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ny300z

ny300z

Posted
Posted

I have the Odyssea 24" fixture. I changed the bulbs to ATI within a few months and its been a great light. It hangs, looks great with the ATI bulbs and has a timer and moonlights. You cant go wrong for the price. If you change the bulbs to ATI theres really no difference in having a expensive fixture. I have had mine for 2 years now

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clink51

clink51

Posted
Posted

odyssea used to have a small issue where it would randomly catch on fire. hopefully that has been fixed because they seem like amazing budget lights

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deathbyart

deathbyart

Posted
  • Author
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This might be a dumb question but would it be feasible to get your mom to split the cost with you so you can get something better? That way you guys might be able to swing something like an ATI SunPower 48" or a pair of Kessil's, etc. If it were me I'd be heavily looking at 2x A160's, no upkeep cost, great look, high quality, etc.

 

Not dumb at all because I agree with you. Especially with how much I love my Nano Box Duo. I looked into that but the Odyssea and bulbs is roughly $200. Going to Kessil or ATI takes that to roughly $500. So that just doesn't become feasible.

 

I have the Odyssea 24" fixture. I changed the bulbs to ATI within a few months and its been a great light. It hangs, looks great with the ATI bulbs and has a timer and moonlights. You cant go wrong for the price. If you change the bulbs to ATI theres really no difference in having a expensive fixture. I have had mine for 2 years now

 

That is what I was hoping to hear. While it's no perfect hybrid, it has to be a huge improvement over the crap LED.

 

odyssea used to have a small issue where it would randomly catch on fire. hopefully that has been fixed because they seem like amazing budget lights

 

What the sh!t. This has not been discussed in all the searches I have done.

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Cencalfishguy56

Cencalfishguy56

Posted
Posted

 

Not dumb at all because I agree with you. Especially with how much I love my Nano Box Duo. I looked into that but the Odyssea and bulbs is roughly $200. Going to Kessil or ATI takes that to roughly $500. So that just doesn't become feasible.

 

 

That is what I was hoping to hear. While it's no perfect hybrid, it has to be a huge improvement over the crap LED.

 

 

What the sh!t. This has not been discussed in all the searches I have done.

Pretty sure it's been fixed I read that in like 2013 but I had a fixture and never had a problem, the ballast ran cool

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clink51

clink51

Posted
Posted

agreed, it does look like the issues got fixed on the MH Pendents around 2013 but never saw anything about the T5s. i could be wrong but i personally wouldnt risk me. im terrified of fire

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Horerczy

Horerczy

Posted
Posted

I'd get a quality T5 fixture instead. There's more to T5 fixtures than bulb choices.

 

Ballast factor comes to mind. Reflector quality is important as well oddysea reflectors and the reflector on the light ny300z linked are garbage. I have both lights so I've seen the reflectors close up and popped open the ballasts.

 

It doesn't need to be an ati fixture but there are other lights out there.

 

Also does your stepdad dislike the led light? Just curious.

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ny300z

ny300z

Posted
Posted

Happy with it, I assume?

 

I am, it looks great and i have great growth from it.

 

Im not the most knowledgeable on lights when it comes to Reefs so maybe Horerczy is right about the reflectors and ballast being not as good in mine but im not sure what those even do. So a high end fixture with the same bulbs would get you better growth just cause the reflector and ballast is better? or it could last longer?

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deathbyart

deathbyart

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I am, it looks great and i have great growth from it.

 

Im not the most knowledgeable on lights when it comes to Reefs so maybe Horerczy is right about the reflectors and ballast being not as good in mine but im not sure what those even do. So a high end fixture with the same bulbs would get you better growth just cause the reflector and ballast is better? or it could last longer?

 

 

I also have an Odyssea T5HO (4x24watt) and I am (and have been for several years) happy with it.

 

Thank you so much for chiming in. I ordered the fixture, now I just need to read up on bulbs.

 

It was so much easier just buying my LED :P

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ny300z

ny300z

Posted
Posted

heres a list of the bulbs i am running ( i did a ton of research and this setup was probably the most popular) although its about personal preference. Good luck!

 

Aquablue Special

Purple Plus

Blue Plus

Blue Plus

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Cencalfishguy56

Cencalfishguy56

Posted
Posted

 

I am, it looks great and i have great growth from it.

 

Im not the most knowledgeable on lights when it comes to Reefs so maybe Horerczy is right about the reflectors and ballast being not as good in mine but im not sure what those even do. So a high end fixture with the same bulbs would get you better growth just cause the reflector and ballast is better? or it could last longer?

I'm guessing longevity on ballast and reflectors would only create more spread IMO

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ny300z

ny300z

Posted
Posted

I'm guessing longevity on ballast and reflectors would only create more spread IMO

 

gotcha that makes sense. thanks for explaining.

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evilc66

evilc66

Posted
Posted

odyssea used to have a small issue where it would randomly catch on fire. hopefully that has been fixed because they seem like amazing budget lights

Please stop perpetuating this. This was an issue from long ago (the post you linked to was from 2006 BTW), and ONLY with the MAGNETIC ballasts for the metal halide fixtures. It has not been an issue since they changed to electronics ballasts, and has NEVER been an issue with their T5 fixtures. Sure, there have been some minor issues with the electronic ballasts, but not nearly to the extent that they had with the magnetic ones.

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Cencalfishguy56

Cencalfishguy56

Posted
Posted

Please stop perpetuating this. This was an issue from long ago (the post you linked to was from 2006 BTW), and ONLY with the MAGNETIC ballasts for the metal halide fixtures. It has not been an issue since they changed to electronics ballasts, and has NEVER been an issue with their T5 fixtures. Sure, there have been some minor issues with the electronic ballasts, but not nearly to the extent that they had with the magnetic ones.

Thankyou lol everybody bashes them but they are a great bang for the buck and allows you to spend money on ati bulbs!

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Cencalfishguy56

Cencalfishguy56

Posted
Posted

Don't get the 20", hard to find bulbs for it.

+1 on that I had to literally use theirs or another brand can't remember

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Horerczy

Horerczy

Posted
Posted

I'm guessing longevity on ballast and reflectors would only create more spread IMO

Ballast would be longevity and making sure the lamp is run at the right wattage.

 

A good program start ballast is easier on bulbs when it fires them up. Cheap ballasts are usually instant or rapid start which slowly destroy the lamp cathode (program start do this too but to a lesser extent).

 

If the ballast is not running the lamp at the rated wattage it will also cause (usually minor) spectral shift.

 

The reflectors are about putting light in water. Most high end fixtures use individual reflectors (bent or truly separate pieces) for each lamp so that more light is aimmed towards the tank instead of the top of the fixture (wasted light) or each other (which heats the lamps up reducing their output efficiency and life).

 

That said these cheaper fixtures will work and nothing says you can't upgrade to good HEPGroup ballasts later down the road or make your own reflectors. Or even squeeze in some 12v fans for active cooling which, not being strictly necessary, is beneficial to the lamps output and lifespan.

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Cencalfishguy56

Cencalfishguy56

Posted
Posted

Ballast would be longevity and making sure the lamp is run at the right wattage.

 

A good program start ballast is easier on bulbs when it fires them up. Cheap ballasts are usually instant or rapid start which slowly destroy the lamp cathode (program start do this too but to a lesser extent).

 

If the ballast is not running the lamp at the rated wattage it will also cause (usually minor) spectral shift.

 

The reflectors are about putting light in water. Most high end fixtures use individual reflectors (bent or truly separate pieces) for each lamp so that more light is aimmed towards the tank instead of the top of the fixture (wasted light) or each other (which heats the lamps up reducing their output efficiency and life).

 

That said these cheaper fixtures will work and nothing says you can't upgrade to good HEPGroup ballasts later down the road or make your own reflectors. Or even squeeze in some 12v fans for active cooling which, not being strictly necessary, is beneficial to the lamps output and lifespan.

Great info thanks!

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