Modern input on Odyssea lights

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Sean W.

Sean W.

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Aug 8, 2013
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Whats up guys,

I am going to be starting a new 110 gallon planted tank, its going to be based very closely to Pedro Rosa's " Green and Grey " iwugami aquascape. Im aiming for the low end of high ligh. Im just a humble 22 year old working part time at Bestbuy, so i dont have a ton of money to spend on a proper name brand fixture, but ive always gone with other no name brand products in the past and ive usually had good luck with them.
Ive done a ton of research about them, read every review and write up on every forum i could find and watched every video on youtube, but it seems like the most up to date review i could find was mid 2012, and that was just a quick unboxing video on youtube. The must up to date proper review i could find was like back in 2011.
So i was hoping people with Odyssea lights who have had them for a long time and people who have just bought the latest revision of the lights within the last few months could chime in.

Im looking at getting the Odyssea 60" quad T5HO 6500K fixture.

thanks for any input!

Here is a video showing Pedro Rosa's "Green and Grey " aquasacape.

[video=youtube;zunXTHGvSLA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zunXTHGvSLA[/video]
 
A

atreis

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Nov 24, 2013
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SW Ohio
I have an older (~5 years old) T5 fixture of theirs that still works well. I can't say it is the nicest T5 fixture I've had (that would be the ATI) but I've no complaints. Comments: It uses a single white reflector for all of the bulbs rather than individual silver reflectors. Net result: It's a lot less efficient in terms of light delivered into the tank per watt. The white is less reflective, and the neighboring bulbs absorb some of each other's useful light. A fixture with good quality silver reflectors (like ATI) will do better, but costs quite a lot more.
 
FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

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Jan 11, 2013
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Joel
I love my Odyssea 48" 6500K, twin-tube T5HO light on my 55g, but I've only had it for almost a year. I run it about 8hrs/day on a timer and take it off/on the tank atleast once a week for tank maintenance and water changes. This fixture was ~$59 shipped to my door with lamps. Mine has a mirror reflector (plastic foil?) think your absolutely on track w/ not spending a ton of money on a T5 fixture. The drawback with a 4-tube is going to be lots of heat and about ~220 watts being consumed.
 
ROYWS3

ROYWS3

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I had 2 of their T5HO "two foot fixtures" that came with a 10k and a blue actinic bulb that I used on my two 20H's. I loved the look and my plants grew great with that lamp combo. I just replaced both recently with one of their LED setups (again the 10k/actinic configuration).
My fixtures lasted just under 3 years and they both expired in a similar fashion. First the actinic bulb burned out then one of the 10k bulbs. I was swapping out lamps between the two fixtures to see if it was the lamps themselves or the ballast that went bad -- when I opened up the ballast (it is remote and a very easy "open"), I found that the assorted electrodes and diodes and all the other "what-nots" in there were all in various states of burning up.
I thought about replacing the ballasts but I would have had to replace all of the bulbs too. I was just as much as buying a new fixture.
Here's two links to the tanks that had the T5 fixtures:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?260515-My-daughter-s-20H
AND
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?256954-My-son-s-20H

This might be a good alternative for a similar price:
http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Aquarium-Lighting-EVO-60-p/56235.htm
or this
http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Pent-60-HI-Timer-6500K-p/56290p.htm

I really like the LED fixtures I got and the tanks are still doing great - sorry no photos since the LEDs came on board - my wife just got a new camera and still doesn't know quite how to use it.

Take care Sean - hope this helps
 
TL1000RSquid

TL1000RSquid

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Apr 6, 2011
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I have t5h0 thats a generation or two old, I've seen the newer ones up close too, for the money they're not terrible fixtures but as with any cheaper fixtures the reflectors aren't the greatest and sometimes the ballasts go, I personally haven't had any ballast problems though. The led night lights on mine went quickly, when taken apart they were wired rather badly with uber thin gauge wiring and poor soldering. Mines been running almost 2 years 16 hours a day over my sump.
 
Sean W.

Sean W.

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Aug 8, 2013
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Thanks guys so much for the input and fresh perspective. Just to make sure i covered all possibilities i went to home depots website and i just typed in " T5HO " and i got a few interesting results. Nothing i was going to be able to use from their store, but i found hydroponic lights, or grow lights.

and i found this fixture, its a 4ft 4 bulb, T5HO fixture with amazing individual reflectors that is rated for up to 20,000 lumens, the housing has a 1 year warranty and the ballast has a 5 YEAR WARRANTY, comes with four 6500K bulbs and its only like $120 . it doesnt have a splash guard, but thats not a problem because i am going to be hanging the light 8 - 12" above the tank. I think this is the light i am going to end up going with.

http://www.amazon.com/ft-F54T5-HO-Fluorescent-Spectralux-Included/dp/B003E7BBZO


[video=youtube;19PDXnVUZMI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19PDXnVUZMI[/video]




ROYWS3 said:
I had 2 of their T5HO "two foot fixtures" that came with a 10k and a blue actinic bulb that I used on my two 20H's. I loved the look and my plants grew great with that lamp combo. I just replaced both recently with one of their LED setups (again the 10k/actinic configuration).
My fixtures lasted just under 3 years and they both expired in a similar fashion. First the actinic bulb burned out then one of the 10k bulbs. I was swapping out lamps between the two fixtures to see if it was the lamps themselves or the ballast that went bad -- when I opened up the ballast (it is remote and a very easy "open"), I found that the assorted electrodes and diodes and all the other "what-nots" in there were all in various states of burning up.
I thought about replacing the ballasts but I would have had to replace all of the bulbs too. I was just as much as buying a new fixture.
Here's two links to the tanks that had the T5 fixtures:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?260515-My-daughter-s-20H
AND
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?256954-My-son-s-20H

This might be a good alternative for a similar price:
http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Aquarium-Lighting-EVO-60-p/56235.htm
or this
http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Pent-60-HI-Timer-6500K-p/56290p.htm

I really like the LED fixtures I got and the tanks are still doing great - sorry no photos since the LEDs came on board - my wife just got a new camera and still doesn't know quite how to use it.

Take care Sean - hope this helps
Click to expand...
Hmm, im going to have to check out that 60" Led, i saw those pent fixtures but when i was researching they didnt have any 60" ones, that one is new. for sure something to consider! i do love the shimmer of LEDs. right now its not in stock. Ive never read of someone having a problem with Odyssea LED fixtures.
 
Last edited:
A

atreis

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Nov 24, 2013
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SW Ohio
I use a 30" BeamsWork light on one tank, and a 72" BeamsWork light on my big tank. Both are very nice lights and have worked without issues. The 30" is over a year old, and the 72" is about six months old.
 
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