Aquatrader lights good for the money?

dfcjr · 04/28/2006, 01:45 PM

I'm sure its been asked before but are they any good?I remember reaading somewhere customer service sucked,but other than that everyone seemed to like them.

flameangel88 · 04/28/2006, 02:08 PM

I've ordered twice from them and each time there's issue with either wrong bracket or connector problem. Not major issues but warrants your attention. The one thing they are very bad at is that they don't reply on email. Last July they didn't even call back after I left voicemail and last month after not getting reply from email I was 'lucky' to catch someone on the phone and problem was resolved relatively quick.

They do have exceptional prices but shipping is high and if you are not into brand names and handy then this is the right place for you. If you want high quality and good service then shop around first.

Their MH replacement bulb is $24.90 which is the lowest I've seen but this is the first time I'm using MH so I don't have anything to compare if there are good.

s3aL · 04/28/2006, 04:08 PM

Only good for the money if you want to risk burning your house down.

mr pink floyd · 04/28/2006, 05:10 PM

i just got my light from them today. i will NEVER order from them again

the light doesnt work. THe pc and lunars work, but the MH wont fire. the ballast says 150w, the bulb says 175, but its DE, anyone ever heard of a DE 175???

custerm services suck too, i called them up, they wouldnt help me, they told me to send an email and wait 2 days

im going to demand a whole new light, not just a ballast or anything, and they better pay shipping for it, because they sent me faulty parts

im goign to put the ballasts on pieces of glass, so if it arcs, or burns, its on the glass, away fro manything flamable, lie kpapaer or cloths

szwab · 04/28/2006, 07:47 PM

i've heard of many problems with ordering from them. no personal experience though

xtrstangx · 04/28/2006, 08:40 PM

Good lights if you don't mind burning your house down.

rich415 · 04/29/2006, 12:55 AM

I live in San Francisco and Aquatraders is about 10 minutes away in San Bruno so I've been ther a few times and even bought some products. I have never dealt with them online. I researched them first and read many posts about "burning the house down' by people but none of those people ever actually had their house burned down by any of aquatraders' products.

I bought the 24" MH light brought it home, plugged it in and blew a fuse. The light worked fine at the store, so I figured it was just a faulty fuse. I went to Radio Shack bought some fuses and went through 2 more before I packaged it up and went back to the store. They gave me another light fixture; I went back home and the same thing occurred. I took it back and got a refund. I did end up getting a tank stand, over flow box and a return pump. All have been great and were cheap. I also bought a titanium heater with external temp controller. The heater broke within a month but the temp controller works great. I now have it hooked up to a name brand heater.

Most of their stuff are knockoffs made in China. I think the manufacturers have poor quality control and buying becomes a crapshoot.

Sorry for the long post, just thought you might want to here some real life experiences with them.

cfarrow2 · 04/29/2006, 01:11 AM

I've also been interested in buying from them, but now think that my money would be better spent elsewhere. Why chance it? I think I'll buy some good T5s for the same price their MHs are going for and save the headache.

kau_cinta_ku · 04/29/2006, 06:19 AM

a guy in our club just had his fixture start on fire. so IMO go with a better rep. product

hollywood300m · 04/29/2006, 06:23 AM

once bought a PC light online from them. Fan was making noise, so I pulled it out of the light. Also, they claim that their bulb is actinic blue...more like neon blue. not even close to 420 or 460nm.

04/28/2006, 01:45 PM	#1
dfcjr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clinton Twp.,MI. Posts: 307	Aquatrader lights good for the money? I'm sure its been asked before but are they any good?I remember reaading somewhere customer service sucked,but other than that everyone seemed to like them. __________________ R.I.P. David James Garrett, my little brother and the best friend I'll ever have, life will never be the same without you. Current Tank Info: 65gallon mixed reef, 20gallon refugium, 250w SE MH w/ 65w actinic PC

04/28/2006, 04:08 PM	#3
s3aL Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fairfield, California Posts: 847	Only good for the money if you want to risk burning your house down. __________________ 58g oceanic (36x18x21) 36" Aquatinics 2x175w MH 2x39w T5 Deltec MCE600 3x Koralia 3's Litermeter3 Dual stage Ranco controller Matt

04/28/2006, 07:47 PM	#5
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	i've heard of many problems with ordering from them. no personal experience though __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

04/29/2006, 01:11 AM	#8
cfarrow2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 626	I've also been interested in buying from them, but now think that my money would be better spent elsewhere. Why chance it? I think I'll buy some good T5s for the same price their MHs are going for and save the headache. __________________ Happiness is contagious. What are you spreading? Current Tank Info: 55 gal. 216 W. T5s. Wet/dry sump w/ Mag 5 return. Softies, 3 fish, shrimp, urchin. HA factory for the time being.

04/28/2006, 02:08 PM	#2
flameangel88 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 3,998	I've ordered twice from them and each time there's issue with either wrong bracket or connector problem. Not major issues but warrants your attention. The one thing they are very bad at is that they don't reply on email. Last July they didn't even call back after I left voicemail and last month after not getting reply from email I was 'lucky' to catch someone on the phone and problem was resolved relatively quick. They do have exceptional prices but shipping is high and if you are not into brand names and handy then this is the right place for you. If you want high quality and good service then shop around first. Their MH replacement bulb is $24.90 which is the lowest I've seen but this is the first time I'm using MH so I don't have anything to compare if there are good.

04/28/2006, 05:10 PM	#4
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	i just got my light from them today. i will NEVER order from them again the light doesnt work. THe pc and lunars work, but the MH wont fire. the ballast says 150w, the bulb says 175, but its DE, anyone ever heard of a DE 175??? custerm services suck too, i called them up, they wouldnt help me, they told me to send an email and wait 2 days im going to demand a whole new light, not just a ballast or anything, and they better pay shipping for it, because they sent me faulty parts im goign to put the ballasts on pieces of glass, so if it arcs, or burns, its on the glass, away fro manything flamable, lie kpapaer or cloths

04/28/2006, 08:40 PM	#6
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	Good lights if you don't mind burning your house down.

04/29/2006, 12:55 AM	#7
rich415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 172	I live in San Francisco and Aquatraders is about 10 minutes away in San Bruno so I've been ther a few times and even bought some products. I have never dealt with them online. I researched them first and read many posts about "burning the house down' by people but none of those people ever actually had their house burned down by any of aquatraders' products. I bought the 24" MH light brought it home, plugged it in and blew a fuse. The light worked fine at the store, so I figured it was just a faulty fuse. I went to Radio Shack bought some fuses and went through 2 more before I packaged it up and went back to the store. They gave me another light fixture; I went back home and the same thing occurred. I took it back and got a refund. I did end up getting a tank stand, over flow box and a return pump. All have been great and were cheap. I also bought a titanium heater with external temp controller. The heater broke within a month but the temp controller works great. I now have it hooked up to a name brand heater. Most of their stuff are knockoffs made in China. I think the manufacturers have poor quality control and buying becomes a crapshoot. Sorry for the long post, just thought you might want to here some real life experiences with them.

04/29/2006, 06:19 AM	#9
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	a guy in our club just had his fixture start on fire. so IMO go with a better rep. product

04/29/2006, 06:23 AM	#10
hollywood300m Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 37	once bought a PC light online from them. Fan was making noise, so I pulled it out of the light. Also, they claim that their bulb is actinic blue...more like neon blue. not even close to 420 or 460nm.