14k Lights on Ebay Express

[clown-lover]

I found this on ebay express.. Anyone deal with this guy or these lights before? They say they are for aquaria but the price is.. well unbelivably cheap.. I use mogul based lights and currently have 10k lights but have been thinking of upgrading to 14k.

Thanks in advance.
Mark

http://item.express.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ExpressItem&item=260140755542&ssPageName=ADME:B:EEOCA:US:13001

[joander123]

i do not have any experience but i too have seen those before. It is a cheap price, so in my opinion you cant really go wrong. If it works, thats great. If it doesnt, your only like 15 bucks or whatever it costs with shipping in the hole. Theres not many times you can say that in this hobby. Plus, has a good feedback, and claims to have a money back guarantee.

[gomrjoe]

Clown-lover,

I purchased 2 10k MH lights from the same vendor on Ebay, same brand and wattage and have not had a problem with them at all. They seem to light up my tank just fine, my corals are already starting to respond to upgrading to MH, so from my point of view, in the two weeks I have had these bulbs active, they are just fine.

He ships the bulbs within 72 hours, pretty reliable.

Go for it!

[clown-lover]

Thanks guys.. I think I'll buy a pair and give one of them a try on one side of the tank and see how things fair..

[Subliminal]

Wow. I paid like $70 for my 175w hamilton 14k bulb.

[Subliminal]

Couldn't help it...I just bought one of their 175w 20k bulbs. For under $20, why not?

[TomToro]

I can't believe this. Can somebody who buys these, please update and let me know how they do for you?
Thanks,
Tom

[Subliminal]

Whenever I get mine in, I'm going to swap out for a day or two, see how that goes...

Of course, it's going to be a tough comparrison, as I'm using 14k and I purchased 20k...but somehow, some way, I'll compare them.

:)

[clown-lover]

Thats what I'm going to do.. I'm going to closely monitor everything and if I'm out 20 bucks so be it.. Its definately cheaper than 85.. The only thing I'm worried about is if it does work, it may loose its spectrum faster.

[gomrjoe]

As we have probably all experienced, vendors tend to screw reefers!

They market the same product, but slap a marine ready sticker on it and can charge 25% more, or worse!

So far I have not had any problem with these bulbs, but of course a direct comparison like Subliminal is trying is the best bet... only time will tell with my bulbs. I can tell you this much though, having gone to MH from PC, my corals are responding very well already, my leather is bursting it is growing so fast.

[jtburf]

300% mark up is what is usually on any MH light system, I can make a 400 watt dual system for 80$ and they retail for about 300$.

[clown-lover]

As we have probably all experienced, vendors tend to screw reefers!

They market the same product, but slap a marine ready sticker on it and can charge 25% more, or worse!

So far I have not had any problem with these bulbs, but of course a direct comparison like Subliminal is trying is the best bet... only time will tell with my bulbs. I can tell you this much though, having gone to MH from PC, my corals are responding very well already, my leather is bursting it is growing so fast.

Well thats good to know.. I have a Hamilton Tech Double Reefsun setup with 10K XM bulbs now.. I am going to only put in one of the 14k bulbs for a comparisson. I didn't buy a 10k for a direct light to light comparisson as I've been wanting to upgrade to a 14k bulb anyway. But like I said its good to know that someone else is using his bulbs and having success.


300% mark up is what is usually on any MH light system, I can make a 400 watt dual system for 80$ and they retail for about 300$.

Your kidding right? 300%.. If I charged people a 300% markup for my fiber optic work I'd be able to retire in 5 years.

[jtburf]

Okay how much do you think they are paying the factorie workers, in China? or how about the materials, the stuff is soo highly marked up it's not even funny, I can completely light a 75 gallon with 400W of metal halide and 4 36" t5s for probably under a 150 not including light bulbs. that is by buying the ballast , sockets, and all other supplys.

[clown-lover]

Wow.. YOu make a good point but I figured there had to be something in the manufacturing process that raised the costs.. That and I haven't seen a unit not come with bulbs for the first time and I know those cost an arm and a leg.. But like I said if I can get these puppies to work, I'm gonna buy a 10 year supply from this guy.

[clown-lover]

Well I received the bulbs today and have one of them installed. I have never seen a 14k light on a system before so this is a new experience for me.. The difference in the spectrum is quite amazing. A nice blue tint that really makes some of the colors pop.

I'm going to run 1 10k and one of the new 14k bulbs for a few days and see how everything goes. Thanks to those who have given me input..

[Subliminal]

Man...I haven't heard anything or received anything yet. :(

[clown-lover]

Seriously? When did you order.. I sent him a mail through ebay asking when they were shipping so I knew when to expect them. He answered almost immediately and I got them like three days after I ordered.

I have actually switched over to both of these lights as of this point and I don't seem to be having any issues. My zoa is doing the same in fact I have noticed some new polyps.

[Subliminal]

He finally emailed me back this morning after pestering him for 2 days. Said sorry for the delay, they should be here in a few days.

Of course, he's around philadelphia and i'm about an hour away from there, so chances are he hadn't even shipped them yet, and if i hadn't emailed, I'd've never gotten them.

I hate when that happens.

[clown-lover]

I have gotten burned before and make it a general policy that if I don't receive (even automated messages) shipping information within 24 to 48 hours of a purchase they are getting emailed requesting that information. If I don't get a quick reply I start a process of documenting everything for when I turn it over to ebay/paypal.

I hope you get your lights, so far these seem to be doing the trick.

[gomrjoe]

Hey guys,

Updates? how are they doing so far? I am now going on one month on my 10k, and I can definitely see the difference on my Yellow Colony Polyps especially. The piece of rock I had them on was about 3/4 full, now in one month they have filled the entire rock and are now spreading onto two adjacent pieces.

I just bought some Frogspawn and so far after 4 days, it is fully open and looking good so far.

My only regret is not getting 14k, I think that would help bring out the color more. Maybe for Christmas I will spring and by some 14k's, for $20.00 it is worth it, and I can interchange them if I need to.

[clown-lover]

The 14k's have more blue in it then my old 10k's. They really make some colors pop.. But then the darker colors really get dark as well.. Overall I do like the lights but am paying attention every day just to make sure I don't get anything like an unwanted algae bloom etc..

[Subliminal]

Well, my 20k came in today. Funny, the package said $2.50 shipping and they charged $10. That's ebay for ya, though!

Anyway, I turned my ballast off and installed the 20k almost immediately.

Honestly, I can't tell any difference in the color yet.

Maybe it needs a couple of days to 'blue up', but I don't really know.

[clown-lover]

I ordered the 14k's and noticed a huge difference in blue right away.. I haven't ever played with a 14k to 20k before so I don't know how much more "bluer" it is supposed to be.. Hopefully someone else who has changed from/to those spectrums will pipe up.