catalina aquarium light question

agreeive?fish · 03/30/2011, 08:08 PM

anybody have any experience/comments on these lights(any type, ie power compact, t-5, MH)

http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/

are the lights any good?

are the fixture shells any good,

i have an odd ball sized tank(7ft) and the shell would be handy for a custom fixture as some of them say can be any size up to 8ft, but also wondering about the quality of the pre made (plug and play) fixtures

2004jetta · 03/30/2011, 09:20 PM

I've had one of their 4 bulb T5 fixtures on my fw tank. The night leds have their own clunky controller and I wish that they were brighter but other than that so far so good. I've had them for about 9-12 months.

agreeive?fish · 03/30/2011, 10:00 PM

thanks for the reply

psykobowler · 03/30/2011, 10:09 PM

I have used both their t5s and metal halide and I go to their warehouse occasionally (I live in sacramento). They will custom build whatever size lighting you want. They use individual german aluminum reflectors for their t5 light but they bend one sheet rather than cut the aluminum per reflector. They use the advance ballast for their t5s. I have used their t5 for sps and they do the job fine. I had actually bleached some corals with their t5 light. They also use the same exact mh ballast as sunlight supply (made in the same factory) but not branded as sunlight supply. I don't use their LEDs.

EllisJuan · 03/31/2011, 02:22 AM

I use a 2 bulb 36" T5 fixture for supplementing my MHs. It is a nice fixture for the money, but like a previous poster I wish the moonlights were brighter.

agreeive?fish · 03/31/2011, 11:39 AM

thanks for the reply

the prices seem reasonable but so does aquatraders and we all know the negative reports on odyssea lights thats why iam asking for experiences and opinions, isee where catalina says made in the USA which is a plus in my books

i submitted an email for an price estimate for the fixture with what i want for my oddball tank so we will see.. most mfg have totaly forgotten about 7ft tanks and my wife is touchy about looks of things in the house

agreeive?fish · 04/02/2011, 07:24 AM

bumb for the weekend crowd to see if they have any comments about the quality of these fixtures

sefrayser · 04/02/2011, 09:52 AM

I just purchased a Ultra Reef 24" from them. The light ROCKS! I am surprised it hasnt gotten slammed because it isnt a big name. I called them, and if you are looking to buy one you call them. He gave me what I think is a great deal. I got a 24" 250MH(15K), 4-24 watt T-5(2-420, 2-10k) and 6 LED moonlights with an electric ballast for 400. I believe that would have been a 500-600 light anywhere else. The only thing that I would ask about is the fan coming on with the MH. My fan comes on with the T-5's. Not really a problem because I run the MH and T-5's together. I have mine over a 34G Solana. The T-5's have their own switch and the LED has a dimmer. The MH doesnt have a switch, so you need a timer. I have mine hooked up to a Reef Keeper. The reflector in the fixture are really good. I had to build "skirts" for mine. I took plexiglass and made a skirt, it was blinding me. The fan they use is super quite. I am more than happy with mine. Call them for a better price, and he can make any configuration. He threw in the 250MH upgrade for the same price as the 150MH.

agreeive?fish · 04/02/2011, 06:03 PM

sefraysir

thanks for the info

JoeRonda · 04/02/2011, 06:15 PM

I've heard only good things about them, versus the bad reputation of like aquatraders. I would go for it, especially because they make your odd size fixture.

kclewis · 04/02/2011, 08:08 PM

I have no personal experience but a local reefer i know has used them for years and his tank may be the most badass reef I've ever seen.

sefrayser · 04/02/2011, 08:19 PM

I must add that here in Va almost all of the local vendors use these fixtures. Im not talking about the Petco's, Care-A-Lots. All of the specialty SW vendors.

windowlicker916 · 04/02/2011, 10:48 PM

I had a 7ft made by them for a fresh water tank. Worked great.

I have a 3ft as well made by them for another fw tank with moon lights and I agree the moon lights are too dim. Waste of money.

Might try asking them if they can fix that and if not pass on that extra.

03/30/2011, 08:08 PM	#1
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	catalina aquarium light question anybody have any experience/comments on these lights(any type, ie power compact, t-5, MH) http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/ are the lights any good? are the fixture shells any good, i have an odd ball sized tank(7ft) and the shell would be handy for a custom fixture as some of them say can be any size up to 8ft, but also wondering about the quality of the pre made (plug and play) fixtures

03/30/2011, 10:09 PM	#4
psykobowler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 2,137	I have used both their t5s and metal halide and I go to their warehouse occasionally (I live in sacramento). They will custom build whatever size lighting you want. They use individual german aluminum reflectors for their t5 light but they bend one sheet rather than cut the aluminum per reflector. They use the advance ballast for their t5s. I have used their t5 for sps and they do the job fine. I had actually bleached some corals with their t5 light. They also use the same exact mh ballast as sunlight supply (made in the same factory) but not branded as sunlight supply. I don't use their LEDs. __________________ Guitar playing reefer Current Tank Info: 300g & 90g display, 90g fragtank, 34g fuge, 120g sump1 w/ RO Xp-5000, 20g sump2 , 5 (2x54wattT5 retrofits) 3 radion xr15pros, 5mp60s, 4tunze6255s, Apex, WXM, KnopCaRx, Avast KalkRx

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
lighting questions	stevercleeze	New to the Hobby	8	02/18/2011 04:37 PM
lighting question	chingking327	Greater Connecticut Area Regional Forum	4	10/05/2010 01:07 PM
Catalina Aquarium lighting fixtures Nightmare..	Pazazz	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	98	01/25/2007 12:22 PM
catalina aquarium lights, vendor experience???	scubasteve247	Reef Discussion	10	07/18/2006 01:11 AM
Catalina Aquarium Lights?	conefree	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	3	03/04/2006 02:24 PM

03/30/2011, 09:20 PM	#2
2004jetta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alpine, NJ Posts: 191	I've had one of their 4 bulb T5 fixtures on my fw tank. The night leds have their own clunky controller and I wish that they were brighter but other than that so far so good. I've had them for about 9-12 months.

03/30/2011, 10:00 PM	#3
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	thanks for the reply

03/31/2011, 02:22 AM	#5
EllisJuan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 1,366	I use a 2 bulb 36" T5 fixture for supplementing my MHs. It is a nice fixture for the money, but like a previous poster I wish the moonlights were brighter.

03/31/2011, 11:39 AM	#6
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	thanks for the reply the prices seem reasonable but so does aquatraders and we all know the negative reports on odyssea lights thats why iam asking for experiences and opinions, isee where catalina says made in the USA which is a plus in my books i submitted an email for an price estimate for the fixture with what i want for my oddball tank so we will see.. most mfg have totaly forgotten about 7ft tanks and my wife is touchy about looks of things in the house

04/02/2011, 07:24 AM	#7
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	bumb for the weekend crowd to see if they have any comments about the quality of these fixtures

04/02/2011, 09:52 AM	#8
sefrayser Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 498	I just purchased a Ultra Reef 24" from them. The light ROCKS! I am surprised it hasnt gotten slammed because it isnt a big name. I called them, and if you are looking to buy one you call them. He gave me what I think is a great deal. I got a 24" 250MH(15K), 4-24 watt T-5(2-420, 2-10k) and 6 LED moonlights with an electric ballast for 400. I believe that would have been a 500-600 light anywhere else. The only thing that I would ask about is the fan coming on with the MH. My fan comes on with the T-5's. Not really a problem because I run the MH and T-5's together. I have mine over a 34G Solana. The T-5's have their own switch and the LED has a dimmer. The MH doesnt have a switch, so you need a timer. I have mine hooked up to a Reef Keeper. The reflector in the fixture are really good. I had to build "skirts" for mine. I took plexiglass and made a skirt, it was blinding me. The fan they use is super quite. I am more than happy with mine. Call them for a better price, and he can make any configuration. He threw in the 250MH upgrade for the same price as the 150MH.

04/02/2011, 06:03 PM	#9
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	sefraysir thanks for the info

04/02/2011, 06:15 PM	#10
JoeRonda Made in the U.S.A. Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington,PA Posts: 694	I've heard only good things about them, versus the bad reputation of like aquatraders. I would go for it, especially because they make your odd size fixture.

04/02/2011, 08:08 PM	#11
kclewis REEFER Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Beautiful Bargersville, IN Posts: 383	I have no personal experience but a local reefer i know has used them for years and his tank may be the most badass reef I've ever seen.

04/02/2011, 08:19 PM	#12
sefrayser Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 498	I must add that here in Va almost all of the local vendors use these fixtures. Im not talking about the Petco's, Care-A-Lots. All of the specialty SW vendors.

04/02/2011, 10:48 PM	#13
windowlicker916 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Citrus Heights, Ca Posts: 938	I had a 7ft made by them for a fresh water tank. Worked great. I have a 3ft as well made by them for another fw tank with moon lights and I agree the moon lights are too dim. Waste of money. Might try asking them if they can fix that and if not pass on that extra.