Anyone with a 'Freshwater Aqualight'?

Blinky

Blinky

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I'm considering adding another PC fixture to my tank (so I can keep more demanding plants), and I'm wondering if anyone has used this particular light and can recommend either for or against buying it. Here's the description I found:

" Freshwater Aqualight Compact Fluorescent Lighting Fixtures are specially designed for Freshwater and Planted Aquariums. These fixtures include Coralife 6700K™compact fluorescent lights that are ideal for freshwater plant growth and the overall beauty of freshwater fish and plants.
*Two-96 watt Coralife 6700K™ Compact Fluorescent Lamps Included
*2 On/Off switches and 2 power cords for separate timers
*Built-in Electronic Ballast and Cooling fans
*Sleek Aluminum Housing
*Highly-Polished Reflector
*Acrylic Lens Cover "

I've been looking at an Orbit fixture (which is around the same price), but the Orbit is geared towards SW and comes with an actinic and a 'dual daylight' 10 000/6700K bulb, so I'd need to buy another bulb to replace the actinic. If the Aqualight is a good fixture I think I'll go with that instead.

I'd appreciate any thoughts, ideas and opinions :D
 
Hi Blinky! I am looking at this lighting too. Have absolutely the same questions you do. The only difference is, I also consider Satellite as a possibility. I tried to find out something about Freshwater Aqualight on the other forum, but no one seemed to know anything about this lighting.
If you find out somethig new about Freshwater Aqualight, please let me know. And if you buy it, please, post a review here. :bowing:
Thanks.
P.S. Do you think it is possible to use Freshwater Aqualight, Orbit or Satellite with glass cover on a tank. There is no way for me to have an aquarium without a cover. :(
 
I'm looking at all three of those lights, it sounds like we're doing the exact same thing!

I absolutely think you can use any of these with a glass cover. The docking mounts may not fit; if that's the case, the light may have to lay directly across the tank, but I think it would be fine - after all, the mounts are sold as 'optional' for many of these type of fixtures. Alternatively, you could have someone custom cut small sections from the edges of the glass so the mounts would fit.

I did take a good look at a few fixtures last night, and came to the conclusion that I won't buy it unless it's got dual switches/cords, and a fan - the freshwater Aqualight doesn't appear to have a fan, so I'm thinking of getting one of the others.
[edit] I'm wrong, just checked, it does have a fan [/edit]

I'm assuming you're looking at ebay - if not, check it out. There are lights there priced pretty reasonably :)
 
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I have a dual 65W coralife light. I've been pretty happy with it.

I don't know if this is usually the case, but I think the cf bulbs with the square pin config may be cheaper than the ones that the coralife strips use. Please, can someone verify this? When I was looking, hellolights.com had the other bulbs going two for the price of one. That may very well have been a random promotion, too. I dunno.

As far as the light goes, I'm pleased with it, though.

Also, I have a glass top with the light on top of it. Works fine.

sAm
 
This is the web site where I am thinking to buy my lighting.

http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/power_satellite.html

30" Dual Satellite(2*65) is $120, 30" Freshwater Aqualight(2*65) is $129. Do you think it's a good price?

I guess Freshwater Aqualight is better for freshwater tanks, because you can use both bulbs it comes with, whereas you need to change one bulb that comes with Satellite or Orbit. Am I right?

One more thing, I wonder, if I put Freshwater Aqualight directly on the glass cover, wouldn't it melt? I've heard the heat is pretty strong. And also, would I be able to use fan in this set up?
Thanks.
 
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sguthrie, please clear something for me.
Coralife light and Freshwater Aqualight are the same thing, right?
If it is so, you already answered my question about using cover. You don't use legs, right?
 
jeanp said:
sguthrie, please clear something for me.
Coralife light and Freshwater Aqualight are the same thing, right?
If it is so, you already answered my question about using cover. You don't use legs, right?
Click to expand...

Aqualight is just Coralife's trademarked model name, or something like that. No, I don't use the legs. I just felt the glass under the light (mine is a 24" 135W model), and the glass is quite warm but not hot.

Sam
 
I just picked up the 48" single Satellite the other day at That Fish Place for just under $100. It's amazing. It puts my twin-tube standard fluorescent hood to shame. I think the dual model would be too much light for my unplanted tank. I did, however, swap out the SmartPaq 50/50 bulbs for the dual daylight bulbs. Much better now.

edit: here are some pics to compare the SmartPaq 50/50 tubes to the SunPaq Dual Daylight tubes:
SmartPaq 50/50
SunPaq Dual Daylight
 
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