Lighting from ebay?

[marvinsae]

i am thinkin of starting off a reef tank and it's my first time. lighting can get pretty expensive and i'm thinkin about going with t-5's. i've looked on ebay and they are pretty inexpensive. my question is, how is the quality? has anyone ever bought them off ebay?

here's a link to what i was looking at

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Aquarium-Light-T5-HO-6X-54-Lighting-w-bulbs-NIB_W0QQitemZ280484320591QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item414e2b154f

anyone know where i can get a set from any reputable dealers with cheap prices or even a set that are second hand?

[marvinsae]

im also thinkin of this
http://cgi.ebay.com/Metal-Halide-Retro-2X-250-Metal-halide-aquarium-light_W0QQitemZ300332402250QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item45ed34c64a

i know its just the ballast and all but what type of canopy would i need to screw this fixture in?

[fishay]

I would be careful with cheap t5 fixtures. Reflectors are really important for t5 lighting and most of the cheap fixtures have only 1 big reflector for all the bulbs. You could look into Sunlight Supply New Wave light fixtures they are cheaper than the Tek fixtures and are pretty good or do a retrofit if your tank will have a canopy. With retro you can make a very good lighting system for cheaper than most fixtures. For example, I hear you can buy ATI t5 reflectors (supposed to be the best reflectors out there) from reefgeek (only by phone) and put together a great retro that is almost as good as the super high end ATI fixtures.

[RIPTANK]

I wouldn't recommend buying anything on eBay... Yeah, it's cheaper but the risk of buying broken junk and having the hassle of returning it with eBay's stupid and useless protection policy isn't worth it.

Save up and buy it at the LFS, that way if there's anything wrong with it you can immediately return it.

[The Grizz]

I bought 4 - 4 bulb 48" Odyssea fixture's from E-Bay for my 8' tank, they are exactly the same fixture's that Kevin has on some of his tank's at Red Coral in Calgary. The bulb's are not the best but the fixture's are perfect, 3 power cord's & switches per fixture, acrylic cover's, built-in cooling fan's and mounting leg's for such an awesome price.

The only thing I would get more info on is the 5 year warranty.

[Aleks]

I bought 4 - 4 bulb 48" Odyssea fixture's from E-Bay for my 8' tank, they are exactly the same fixture's that Kevin has on some of his tank's at Red Coral in Calgary. The bulb's are not the best but the fixture's are perfect, 3 power cord's & switches per fixture, acrylic cover's, built-in cooling fan's and mounting leg's for such an awesome price.

The only thing I would get more info on is the 5 year warranty.

The odyssea fixtures don't have individual reflectors does it? Its a single large reflector? I'm kicking around buying the 24" at red coral right now......

[The Grizz]

The odyssea fixtures don't have individual reflectors does it? Its a single large reflector? I'm kicking around buying the 24" at red coral right now......

They are one piece but they are bent between each bulb to a peak. And if Kevin uses them that is good enough for me.

[globaldesigns]

They are one piece but they are bent between each bulb to a peak. And if Kevin uses them that is good enough for me.

Even if it is one piece bent to create individual reflectors, be careful. From what I understand the reflective material are not all the same. But having the bends to create seperate wells is better than just one big reflector for all.

[lockrookie]

i have the same one grizz has and like it was slowly changing the bulbs but it works well my sps seem to like it as well as everything else growing like weeds

[bvlester]

If you are going to buy off ebay buy something with guts:
http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Metal-Halide-250-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-Moonlights_W0QQitemZ180485001158QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a05be8fc6

Thats a prety sweet light.
here is a nother one that is better than what you posted.

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-4-ft-Metal-Halide-HQI-T5-HO-Marine-Reef-Light-716W_W0QQitemZ110511816492QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item19bb047f2c

the better ones cost a bit more but they are worth it.

and if you just wanted T5's try this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-NovaExtreme-Pro-6x54-watt-T5-HO-Model-1081B-W-SLR_W0QQitemZ280482981122QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item414e16a502

Bill

[The Grizz]

These are the one's I got

http://cgi.ebay.ca/48-4ft-T5-HO-Marine-Reef-Aquarium-Light-216W-LED-Legs_W0QQitemZ110511577762QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item19bb00daa2

[blacknife]

current wont ship to canada.. says right in the link

booo those looked so cheap even with shipping

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

"The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has been forgotten."

Other than a skimmer lighting is the one thing that you should buy as high quality as possible right from the start.

[ScubaSteve]

I would recommend figuring out what you want and then come one here and post "I am looking for...". You'll be surprised what you'll find or get. I did the same and got a beatiful coralife MH for cheap (less that what I would have paid for the T5 set up I was planning on).

[marvinsae]

current wont ship to canada.. says right in the link

booo those looked so cheap even with shipping

i was thinkin of renting out a mailbox in the states. they dont charge that much and then driving down to pick it up. niagara falls NY is only 2 hours away.

also, knowing what i want depends on the cost also for now LOL. i don't plan on skimping out on my fish tank it's just that i don't have all this money to blow at once so i'm gonna settle for things that will last me a bit until i can save up and upgrade. At the same time, i don't wanna buy something that down the line i will just end up replacing the whole unit because it's not good enough.

i have done a bit of reading on reviews and i haven't came cross anything negative yet on ebay lighting. has anyone ever had a problem with them?

[Ron99]

i am thinkin of starting off a reef tank and it's my first time. lighting can get pretty expensive and i'm thinkin about going with t-5's. i've looked on ebay and they are pretty inexpensive. my question is, how is the quality? has anyone ever bought them off ebay?

here's a link to what i was looking at

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Aquarium-Light-T5-HO-6X-54-Lighting-w-bulbs-NIB_W0QQitemZ280484320591QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item414e2b154f

anyone know where i can get a set from any reputable dealers with cheap prices or even a set that are second hand?

This one actually looks like the Sunlight Supply Sunblaze fixture I have so you should ask the seller if it is. It is a good fixture for the price. It only has one cord so you can't do sunrise/sunset etc. on timers but I seem to be getting 300+ PAR in the top part of my tank and close to 180 PAR at the bottom with 14 month old bulbs. I'm sure it would be higher with new bulbs. The tank is 20" deep.

i was thinkin of renting out a mailbox in the states. they dont charge that much and then driving down to pick it up. niagara falls NY is only 2 hours away.

Extremely worthwhile if you can. I have one in Blaine Wa but I live 5 minutes from the border crossing so it is very convenient for me.