WTB a T5 48" fixture... which one?

[ladybug5234]

I need a T5 light fixture for my 48" planted tank and was wondering if anyone had one for sale and/or if anyone could recommend an inexpensive one. I've looked on ebay and found some cheap ones for less than $100, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with off brands like Odyssea and Fish Need It lights. I know these are not the best brands, but again, this is for a planted tank (which is kept in my laundry room) to breed snails and macros for sale. Ideally it'd have those types of legs that allow one to flip up the light to work in the tank. Any suggestions or anyone have one for sale?

[CoRPS]

I have a Odyssea PC fixture and besides getting pretty hot I'm completely happy with it.

[gemmasicolo]

I just had a thread about it and a couple of people reccomended the aquatraders.com Odyssea fixtures. Mine is arriving tomorrow. $133 including shipping. The difference I saw between that and the ebay ones is that it has the digital timer and the reflectors are shaped like individual ones instead of one flat one. And it has the legs that flip. There's a thread in the lighting forum about it with lots of feedback from people who have had them. I am on a budget so I couldn't pass it up.

[ladybug5234]

Thank you Corps and Gemma.

Gemma - I checked them out and it seems worth it, but according to the description on that light (the professional one) the legs aren't flippable. Can you post when you get it? Maybe they are including it, who knows.

[carlosngloria]

you have to be careful with these off brand fixtures as most of them are not ul listed. Which i heard they can start fires.

[CoRPS]

There's been a lot of debate on the Odyssea thread on the UL listing. They say that to be listed just costs $ and there are little to no inspections. Make sense as to why these fixtures are as cheap as they are. Still though, it is a threat.

[carlosngloria]

well id rather be safe then sorry. a fire is not a fun thing to have going on in your home when you are away at work or even while you are home.

[gemmasicolo]

Oops, looks like the flipable legs are with the advanced one only. I wonder if they sell them separately?

I'm home patiently waiting for UPS to get here. I'll post a pic of it if you want when it arrives.

[gemmasicolo]

Corps, I read that too about the UL listing.

I thought the fire hazard was on the older metal halide fixtures and they took care of that problem?

By the way, it's here! I'm going to open it up.

[gemmasicolo]

Here are some pics

[gemmasicolo]

I'm going to wait to test tonight when my husband comes home. I'll let you know if they light ok.

[ladybug5234]

Wow! It looks very nice. Let me know! I wrote them about the legs but I'm sure I can get them somewhere.

[gemmasicolo]

So we got them up and running. So far so good. I know from the other threads that the bulbs should be changed so I'll work on that next. The only thing was that the digital timer was mislabeled as HQI (just like the other guy in the thread) but it still works.

[ladybug5234]

Thanks Gemma for all the info and pics and updates! You're a life saver! Why do you need to change your bulbs right away?

[CoRPS]

ladybug, supposedly the bulbs it comes with are crap (cheap). But, with your application you mine as well keep them till it's time to buy new.

[ladybug5234]

OK, I bit the bullet and ordered one of these http://shop.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-48in-4x54W-T5-HO-Light-Fixture-Pro-Series-p/52211.htm. Thanks Gemma for all the info and Corps for all the insight! Hopefully this will do the trick. My Tek T5 only has 2 lamps and it was not enough for my macros.

[CoRPS]

Awesome! Did you ask them about the flip up mounts? The PC fixture I have came with them and it definitely comes in handy when putting your hands in the tank :)

[gemmasicolo]

Let us know how they work out. I'm also wondering about the flip legs.
By the way, I've read that the best way to contact them is by phone because they're not too good at responding by email.
This is their number: 650 872 1993

[ladybug5234]

My email from yesterday regarding the legs went unanswered and that made me a little weary about ordering but I figured for $133 it'd take a risk.

[gemmasicolo]

Yea, I read on another thread that their email isn't great and it's better to call. When I called they answered right away and confirmed they received my order and I received my email with shipping info. Because I ordered Friday it didn't ship until Monday, and since I didn't receive the email on Friday I called to confirm on Monday, and sure enought it went out that day.

[ladybug5234]

After I heard that (what Gemma said above) I called them and they verified they received the order and are shipping it out tomorrow (although they received it at 9 am their time). It is supposed to be here next week. I hope it hurries! My macros need light and the fixture I have isn't cutting it.

I hope this is not an indicator of their customer service if a problem arises. Otherwise, it's like flushing away money :furious:.

Oh and I also asked the lady that answered about the flip up legs and she said they would not fit :rolleye1:.

[CoRPS]

Some companies just aren't good with e-mail. Afterall, I'd rather talk to someone over the phone. Communicating w/companies through e-mail IMO is annoying, takes a couple days worth of back and forward for what can happen in a 5 minute conversation.

[lpsluver]

My only question is whether there is a cover for the lights? Looks like they are open. If so, it also looks like the end caps are not the water proof kind. Something that you may want to look into, IMO.

[CoRPS]

Mine has an acrylic cover as I'm sure most (if not all) of their models do.

[gemmasicolo]

Mine has the acrylic cover too. As a matter of fact when I got it one of the bulbs was loose and I couldn't figure out how to get to them. After a few seconds i figured out you just slide the acrylic out, lol. The acrylic is also protected by a white film when they ship it.

[ladybug5234]

Yes, the acrylic cover is on there.

[ladybug5234]

Gemma, did they send you a tracking number or update their tracking info on their website? The lady told me yesterday that they were shipping out today and it shows on their website as the order being processed.