Is Sfiligoi Good Light?

Calireef11 · 08/29/2011, 09:52 PM

Has anyone have any problems with their lights?
I have heard of Sfiligoi having many probelms (cheap chinese fans that break, wiring components being wrong, and cheap overpriced insides components) and I want to know if it true. Someone told me that they aren't good company in Italy and they have been being bought switching business because it's bad product.
Please give me feedback and if you recommend it.

Putawaywet · 08/30/2011, 12:29 AM

I own one of their 12 bulb t-5 STEALTH pendants and have had nothing but problems with ballasts shutting off after startup.

The first time around I spent almost 6 months trying to repair it myself with the help of "emails" from Italy. It was quite the joke and pushed my patience to the limit. This unit used 220v ballasts powered off of a large metal box filled with HID type step-up tranformers. It was obvious they had taken European units and tweaked them to work in the US. The ballast box generated so much heat I had to point a fan at it.

After months of the problem not being diagnosed Sfiligoi agreed to send me a replacement unit. This unit was an upgraded model that ditched the step-up transformers and used true 120v ballasts. I got 6 months out of it before another ballast began shutting down. (approx 5 minutes after startup) By the end of the year I was up to two ballasts shutting off.

It's now going on 4 years and I have been living with a total of 3 ballasts the refuse to stay on. I'm done. I am now replacing this unit with AI Sol blues.

I understand Aquarium Obsessed has since closed it's doors (good riddence) and there is a new distributor handling this line, but even then, after the hoops they expected me to jump thru to fix this so-called high end unit I have absolutely no interest in using any Sfiligoi product in the future. IMO these fixtures are greatly overpriced for what you get. Their performance seems to be questionable and their internals seem to have trouble going the distance.

Brett

pmrossetti · 08/30/2011, 01:19 AM

wow,i was under the impression they were one of the elite.

look at their new genesis fixture at the Aquatics Elite forum, looks so high end. no?

Putawaywet · 08/30/2011, 02:25 AM

Well, they are pretty. Can't argue that. But if by elite you mean top shelf price then I guess maybe so. But when you are one of the most expensive lights on the market your customer service better be bend over backwards, top shelf to match IMO. And sadly, that's not what I experienced. I certainly wouldn't consider being emailed a hand drawn sketch of a wiring schematic to be top shelf service.

When their stealth first came out they promised PAR numbers for months. Then they began stalling and stalling some more before finally stating it was difficult to compare apples to oranges so therefore they couldn't provide specs.

Here are a few threads that aren't exactly raving about them.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...oi+stealth+par

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...oi+stealth+par

solitude127 · 08/30/2011, 11:12 AM

WOW, that's crazy. I considered going with a Sfiligoi but went with ATI. Boy, am I glad. Thanks for the write up.

Calireef11 · 08/30/2011, 06:25 PM

I did not know that Sfiligoi was that bad. Thankyou

Calireef11 · 08/30/2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Putawaywet

Well, they are pretty. Can't argue that. But if by elite you mean top shelf price then I guess maybe so. But when you are one of the most expensive lights on the market your customer service better be bend over backwards, top shelf to match IMO. And sadly, that's not what I experienced. I certainly wouldn't consider being emailed a hand drawn sketch of a wiring schematic to be top shelf service.

When their stealth first came out they promised PAR numbers for months. Then they began stalling and stalling some more before finally stating it was difficult to compare apples to oranges so therefore they couldn't provide specs.

Here are a few threads that aren't exactly raving about them.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...oi+stealth+par

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...oi+stealth+par

Did you have these problems with Aquarium Obsessed or Aquatics Elite?

fishez4alivin · 08/30/2011, 10:43 PM

Not sure about the T5's but I traded my 10 bulb Powermodule for a 2x400W Sfiligoi, and couldn't be happier. The reflector is second to none.

taxman95 · 08/31/2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishez4alivin

Not sure about the T5's but I traded my 10 bulb Powermodule for a 2x400W Sfiligoi, and couldn't be happier. The reflector is second to none.

Another very happy Sfiligoi owner here. I've been running 2 250w XR6's for a few years with no issues. I didn't car about the physical look since my tank is an in-wall, but I'm very happy with how it works and in particular with heat dispersion

08/29/2011, 09:52 PM	#1
Calireef11 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 30	Is Sfiligoi Good Light? Has anyone have any problems with their lights? I have heard of Sfiligoi having many probelms (cheap chinese fans that break, wiring components being wrong, and cheap overpriced insides components) and I want to know if it true. Someone told me that they aren't good company in Italy and they have been being bought switching business because it's bad product. Please give me feedback and if you recommend it.

08/30/2011, 12:29 AM	#2
Putawaywet 20 and over club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Long Beach, CA. Posts: 2,720	I own one of their 12 bulb t-5 STEALTH pendants and have had nothing but problems with ballasts shutting off after startup. The first time around I spent almost 6 months trying to repair it myself with the help of "emails" from Italy. It was quite the joke and pushed my patience to the limit. This unit used 220v ballasts powered off of a large metal box filled with HID type step-up tranformers. It was obvious they had taken European units and tweaked them to work in the US. The ballast box generated so much heat I had to point a fan at it. After months of the problem not being diagnosed Sfiligoi agreed to send me a replacement unit. This unit was an upgraded model that ditched the step-up transformers and used true 120v ballasts. I got 6 months out of it before another ballast began shutting down. (approx 5 minutes after startup) By the end of the year I was up to two ballasts shutting off. It's now going on 4 years and I have been living with a total of 3 ballasts the refuse to stay on. I'm done. I am now replacing this unit with AI Sol blues. I understand Aquarium Obsessed has since closed it's doors (good riddence) and there is a new distributor handling this line, but even then, after the hoops they expected me to jump thru to fix this so-called high end unit I have absolutely no interest in using any Sfiligoi product in the future. IMO these fixtures are greatly overpriced for what you get. Their performance seems to be questionable and their internals seem to have trouble going the distance. Brett __________________ She ain't broke, but can we fix her more better? Current Tank Info: A big box of water with some stuff in it. Last edited by Putawaywet; 08/30/2011 at 12:44 AM.

08/30/2011, 02:25 AM	#4
Putawaywet 20 and over club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Long Beach, CA. Posts: 2,720	Well, they are pretty. Can't argue that. But if by elite you mean top shelf price then I guess maybe so. But when you are one of the most expensive lights on the market your customer service better be bend over backwards, top shelf to match IMO. And sadly, that's not what I experienced. I certainly wouldn't consider being emailed a hand drawn sketch of a wiring schematic to be top shelf service. When their stealth first came out they promised PAR numbers for months. Then they began stalling and stalling some more before finally stating it was difficult to compare apples to oranges so therefore they couldn't provide specs. Here are a few threads that aren't exactly raving about them. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...oi+stealth+par http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...oi+stealth+par __________________ She ain't broke, but can we fix her more better? Current Tank Info: A big box of water with some stuff in it.

08/30/2011, 11:12 AM	#5
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	WOW, that's crazy. I considered going with a Sfiligoi but went with ATI. Boy, am I glad. Thanks for the write up. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

08/30/2011, 10:43 PM	#8
fishez4alivin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 301	Not sure about the T5's but I traded my 10 bulb Powermodule for a 2x400W Sfiligoi, and couldn't be happier. The reflector is second to none. __________________ AGE 40x28x22 tank, custom sump,Sfiligio 2x400W/2x24" Reefbrite blue, MP60wES MP40wES, ATB Elegance Pro 200, AquaCare Turbo Kalk reactor

08/30/2011, 01:19 AM	#3
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	wow,i was under the impression they were one of the elite. look at their new genesis fixture at the Aquatics Elite forum, looks so high end. no?

08/30/2011, 06:25 PM	#6
Calireef11 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 30	I did not know that Sfiligoi was that bad. Thankyou

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