Lighting Poll

[Aquactinics]

We at Aquactinics would like to know what factor is most important to you in your decision on buying a Lighting System for your tank.

[Aquactinics]

It seems that Quality is the most important. Glad to see that. Are there other aspects when shopping for a lighting system that might not have been mentioned? We are looking for feedback as a continuing effort to provide the best service and lighting system for your needs. Thank you.

Tom
Aquactinics

[Mike@ReefVenture]

I think the way the fixture looks is important to most people. If you don't care about how it looks then you'll probably buy a retrofit and save some money. So after quality, I look at how the fixture looks.

[Aquactinics]

Mike,
Would you say Product performance (how well it lights the tank and keeps cool) is another important aspect?

Tom
Aquactinics

[Mike@ReefVenture]

How well the fixture lights the tank is the most important, but metal halides burn at the same temperature on matter what they are burned on. So I can't see how one fixture can be cooler than the next. I've seen larger fixtures that have good airflow being less hot to the touch. But they still produce the same amount of heat.

[Aquactinics]

Mike,
Very true, MH bulbs all burn hot. BUT, not all fixtures are created equal. Yes, a larger fixture with larger, faster fans will be less hot to the touch. What would you say, if I told you that I've designed a SE MH/T5 fixture that is smaller then all the others out there AND the outside of the fixture stays at room temperature? Also, will not heat up the tank at all, even when sitting on top of the tank. Oh ya, the ballast box will never get hot enough to even get close to burning you. What would you say to that?

[Mike@ReefVenture]

How well does the smaller fixture you have work? If you really want to sell some of your products then get Sanjay to test it. I personally put a lot of trust in his findings, reflectors are very important. You could make a fixture that had two huge noisy fans running full blast and still only have a 4" Wide fixture. Just cram everything together, t-5's are really small. So really to sell a product you need independent tests done by someone people trust. Sunlight Supply, PFO, and Ice Cap all donate products to be tested, from these tests people base their decisions. I look at quality in a lighting system as how it performs, then the workmanship and materials used for construction. So if your fixture could pass the performance part ( how well it reflects light into the tank ) then you would probably be set because it sounds like your fixtures are well made and use good materials. I would guess that reflector performance is what most people look for in a lighting system.

[Aquactinics]

Mike,
Thank you for info. I will look into Sanjay's testing. I agree, most people are very critical about how well the reflectors work. Thanks.

Tom
Aquactinics

[lactrain]

May I comment here .... Back in the summer I was fortunate enough to live within a 50 mile radius of the hosting city of the past MACNA. I purchased the all inclusive three day pass.

I know this is gonna sound like im some kinda of rep for Aquactinics, but Im not. Im just a satisfied customer ....

Well I was in need of a light set up when I attended and felt like this would have been the perfect time to shop around.

I came across the Aquactinics display and was completely baffled on how this lighting canopy (2x175 watt halides and 2x54 watt T5) ran so cool .... I visited his display on several occasions just to make sure he wasnt shutting the fixtures off on me allowing them time to cool.

Well I continued my shopping touching other ballasts and observing other fixtures and found myself returning to the Aquactinics display. Not one of them ran as cool as the Aquactinics even with the display he was using with one fixture lighting up the one below it.

I was completly impressed with the quality of his product .... and was weary about purchasing one considering it is unlike me, (along with many others im sure), to purchase a product without any other user input .... so i didnt place an order at MACNA ....

I completed my stay at MACNA and returned home. I immediatley jumped on my computer and searched RC and there was no info on it.

Well fortunately enough Toms shop in CT was a day trip away so i took the chance and purchased the fixture ....

Sorry I cant comment on the technical aspects of it we'll leave that for the pro's (Sanjay Joshi) .... keep in mind that Tom doesnt make the ballasts and bulbs ... he makes the fixture and housings .... and gets them to run cool ...

That much I can attest to .... If he is telling its running cool then thats exactly what it does... as far as craftmentship its there right down to the threaded holes for the stainless steel machine screws that hold the side plates on .... Thought for sure when I opened it that these would have been selftappers.

With this fixture it is WYSIWYG .... I myself would love to see how this fixture compares ... but Im perfectly confident that it will compete with the best ....

Sorry Tom here comes my honest opinion .... IMO Tom is just a bit behind the wave of technology ..What appeals to me he is focusing on issues that are concerns of the hobbyist performance (cool operation) and quality (craftmenship) .. he has perfected a mogul base canopy when many of the other high end manufacturers are coming out with the double ended .... Once he begins to market his double ended fixtures Im sure sales will increase...

Len

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