Which el cheapo light fixture

[shanet1975]

Afternoon...
I have been posting a bit on here lately and everyone has been more than helpful and I really appreciate it.
I have been looking for a decent used 30 light fixture here and there and have had no luck. I am also on a tight budget to get my 56 tall up and running. I have found 2 that I can swing that look ok, but one is an Odyssea and the other I don't know. Out of these two does anyone recommend which one may be better than the other?
I know, I know, my house will burn down and they will break and all, but really, this is all I can swing and I do want to house coral at some point....
Thank you for your time again!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290547635328&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380318334710&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[shanet1975]

Anyone? :)

[nanojg]

If i had to pick one of those two I would pick the first.

[shanet1975]

Thank you. I would as well. I hear that is the newer Odyssea fixture which are better than the older fixtures.

[UnoZeus]

New Odyssea fixtures have proven themselves to be much better than the past. Go for it, but be on the lookout for some used reflectors to replace the sad one that Odyssea has in their fixture. Once those are replaced you really can't beat the price.

[pmrossetti]

i think it's cheaper on the aqua traders site

[bluezx636]

what about going with par38 LEDs

[evsalty]

They are both Oddysea fixtures. The first one looks like it comes with T5's and the second one comes with PC's. If you look at the second sellers other items they are almost all Oddysea products. Both sellers are using Aqua Traders to drop ship these items more then likely as anyone with a tax id can create a wholesale account with them.

Either fixture will get you by and will look good untill placed up against a better companies lights.

[shanet1975]

What are par38 LEDs ? I'll do a search, but I thought that leds were way out of my price range...

[1st timer]

The first would be my choice as more choices I think for the T5 bulb colors. At least I htink you can get some nifty ones in 24"

[Flightdeck]

What type of critters you trying to keep?
My pick would be the first with out the 15k bulb. with a deeper tank I would go 10k bulb for more par.
the 15k will look good and perform well but depending on your tanks inhabitants you may want the 10k bulb with the t5's all blue. it states on the auction 15k is free item if you ask them they may charge a couple of bucks more for the 10k bulb instead and may offer different bulb brand too.
The only reason I suggest this is 10k normally gives more par that would lead to better growth in most coral and then you have the blue t5's to supplement the white yellow look.
I had an odyssea in the 48 inch versions on one of my tanks with the 15k bulbs and after six months swapped out the 15k t xm10k bulbs and was blown away by the growth after only two months. Some of my sps even looked better with the 10k bulb ver the 15k
just from experience hope this helps. maybe others will chime in.

[rad1687]

Go with an aquatraders or fishneedit T5. The center brace on the 56 won't do well with a single metal halide.

[shanet1975]

Thanks Rad. I was worried about the center brace as well. And that fishnedit site is cheap. Would a 4 bulb t5 be better like:

http://fishneedit.com/30in-4bulbs-fixtu304.html

That is cheaper too. Or would I want to try to find a 6 bulb?

Thanks again

[shanet1975]

For the price I could add a :
http://fishneedit.com/30quot-2bulbs-fixtu302.html
down the road if they fir together....

[shanet1975]

They would fit and it would break the price up a little to get the 4 bulb now and then 2 more later. Is that OK to do though?