Custom Sealife Lights

[superjohnny]

Hey Guys,
Anyone have one of these light fixtures (http://www.customsealife.com/NewFiles/briteLite.html)? Any reviews out or what's the general consensus on these? Any info helps :)

I'm torn between making it myself from ahsupply for $108 or just buying it pre-built for $130 (prices shipped with light).

Thanks,
Johnny

[Dabbler II]

For $22.00 I would get the one from Custom Sealife, a persons time is worth something. In my case I was looking at $70.00 Cdn for 110 wats of light or $235.00 from the LFS for the same light. Thats over $150.00, that makes it worth the time to build it myself. :D

[125gJoe]

Yes, I'm using Custom SeaLife lights.

I have 2 light fixtures. One has 6700K, and the other is 8800K rating.

[superjohnny]

And you like them? Are they noisy, hot etc?

Sure seems easier than building them (lazy mans way out...)

[Raithan Ellis]

I have had good experience with CSL power compact ballasts, all of which have been dead silent and only fairly warm to the touch. Great product.

On the otherhand, I've had nothing but bad luck with their EZ ballast kits for normal output bulbs. Quiet, but quite warm and they don't like to last more than two years.

Regards,
Raithan O. Ellis

[superjohnny]

I noticed that Big Als has CF lights by All Glass as well. How do they compare to the Custom Sealife lights?

The CS has 1 96w bulb, the AG has 2 55w bulbs. I can use as much light as I can get, but is the AG light of comparable quality? Anyone seen/touched/compared both? I think I'll order tomorrow so I can get double points.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by superjohnny
And you like them? Are they noisy, hot etc?
Sure seems easier than building them (lazy mans way out...) The lights are fine. No noise and normal amount of heat. There's no need for fans either, on these fixtures. The only way I would attempt to build a light fixture is if I wanted a large canopy (wooden) on top of my tank, and with Metal Halides, and CP Flourescents. Now that would be a project, and would most likely look real nice! :)

[superjohnny]

I found the Custom Sealife lights at my local store for $249 with bulb... I decided to go bigals for $130.45 shipped. Same light.

I also saw the fish store had Filstar XP3 canister filters for the not-so-moderate price of $189.99... bigals $109.99.

Fluval 404 LFS $174.99... bigals $94.99

Now I certainly don't mind supporting the local economy, in fact I'd love to buy my stuff locally, but they'll never get my business trying to charge such rediculous markups. I just won't drive 45 minutes across town to pay a near 100% markup. :(

I'm just going to do whatever you tell me 80gJoe so my tank will look like yours :D

Anyway thanks for the advice folks :)

[125gJoe]

Thanks superjohnny...
I also can not support such huge mark-ups. I do understand the need to increase the price from wholesale, but not outrageous increases.