odyssea lights

Hemlock71 · 07/19/2009, 09:26 PM

Hi all, I think I made a mistake after NOW reading all the bad things about the odyssea light I bought about 5 or 6 months ago. My question is do I replace all the bulbs and ballast or what ? I heard everything is junk like bulbs, ballast and burn up on people.
I have the 760w (2) 250w14k MH de and CF on 90g RT or do I build a T5 retro fit? Since I'm not a lighting guru any help would be appreciated.

darkdruid · 07/19/2009, 09:54 PM

If it's a new light, you're ok on the ballasts, they redesigned them. Some of the ballasts are weak and don't fire the bulbs very well. Put it on your tank and see how it looks. If you are happy with it, keep it. Mine had a weak ballast and gave everything a yellowish tint. I replaced the ballast with a new Galaxy and I love my Odyssea fixture.

Hemlock71 · 07/19/2009, 10:14 PM

It does have a little yellow tint to it but I think it should be a little more blue being 14k and all. I heard the bulbs aren't what they say they are so now I'm going nuts about the entire fixture...lol

darkdruid · 07/19/2009, 10:21 PM

The fixtures are great, sometimes the ballasts aren't. If nothing else, replace the ballasts and keep the fixture. It's cheaper than replacing the fixture and ballasts.

KyleP · 07/19/2009, 11:46 PM

I've had the electronic 2x250 for three years now. Bought the Icecap ballast a year and a half ago, still use the aquatrader 20k bulbs, added a couple of fans into the fixture. The color of the tank is excellent, bright white, with a hint of blue. Grows anything. And I still came out so much cheaper than any of the "name" brands.

Hemlock71 · 07/20/2009, 11:27 AM

Tahnk's guys, so maybe just replace the (2)ballast with the icecaps and even change the bulbs if I want to. Anyone else???

darkdruid · 07/20/2009, 11:41 AM

I used the Galaxy ballast, I like it better than the Icecap and a dual Galaxy is alot cheaper than 2 Icecaps.

nvdiz · 07/20/2009, 02:13 PM

I have a 48" MH fixture from oddyssea and I like it! Ya, sure the stock bulbs have a yellow tint, so just replace. I havn't heard any "catch fire" stories for years now so I don't think you should worry.

bjhubb · 07/20/2009, 04:34 PM

How much heat does it add to your tank? Do ya'll run a chiller? I'm looking to upgrade my lights but I do not have a sump yet and I don't want to add a chiller.

brad burditt · 07/20/2009, 05:04 PM

well bjhubb i have a 130 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump i have 2 175 watts mh and 4 vho's in a canopie but the lights are 13inchs above the water but i think the key is i have a big cooling fan that runs across the top of the water to pull the heat out thats what i have and theres no problems

darkdruid · 07/20/2009, 06:22 PM

Did you say big?...lol...I have a 20" box fan like you put in the window to keep my heat down. But I have a 250 HQI 5 inches off the water on a 46 gallon bowfront.

Hemlock71 · 07/20/2009, 09:23 PM

LOL dark, I have the same type of fan on my 125g sump and it keeps the 90g main tank at around 78 when the MH 250 lights are on. I'm also thinking about taking the glass tops off the MT, the lights are covered anyway.

07/19/2009, 09:26 PM	#1
Hemlock71 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 147	odyssea lights Hi all, I think I made a mistake after NOW reading all the bad things about the odyssea light I bought about 5 or 6 months ago. My question is do I replace all the bulbs and ballast or what ? I heard everything is junk like bulbs, ballast and burn up on people. I have the 760w (2) 250w14k MH de and CF on 90g RT or do I build a T5 retro fit? Since I'm not a lighting guru any help would be appreciated.

07/19/2009, 09:54 PM	#2
darkdruid Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 520	If it's a new light, you're ok on the ballasts, they redesigned them. Some of the ballasts are weak and don't fire the bulbs very well. Put it on your tank and see how it looks. If you are happy with it, keep it. Mine had a weak ballast and gave everything a yellowish tint. I replaced the ballast with a new Galaxy and I love my Odyssea fixture. __________________ Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything. Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bowfront and 35 gallon mixed reefs, several 10 and 20 gallon frag tanks, beginning a 125 build

07/19/2009, 10:21 PM	#4
darkdruid Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 520	The fixtures are great, sometimes the ballasts aren't. If nothing else, replace the ballasts and keep the fixture. It's cheaper than replacing the fixture and ballasts. __________________ Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything. Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bowfront and 35 gallon mixed reefs, several 10 and 20 gallon frag tanks, beginning a 125 build

07/20/2009, 11:41 AM	#7
darkdruid Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 520	I used the Galaxy ballast, I like it better than the Icecap and a dual Galaxy is alot cheaper than 2 Icecaps. __________________ Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything. Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bowfront and 35 gallon mixed reefs, several 10 and 20 gallon frag tanks, beginning a 125 build

07/20/2009, 02:13 PM	#8
nvdiz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Skokie Posts: 1,345	I have a 48" MH fixture from oddyssea and I like it! Ya, sure the stock bulbs have a yellow tint, so just replace. I havn't heard any "catch fire" stories for years now so I don't think you should worry. __________________ Nano Cube 24 <----- Look at pics in my albums Current Tank Info: SPS Biocube 29

07/19/2009, 10:14 PM	#3
Hemlock71 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 147	It does have a little yellow tint to it but I think it should be a little more blue being 14k and all. I heard the bulbs aren't what they say they are so now I'm going nuts about the entire fixture...lol

07/19/2009, 11:46 PM	#5
KyleP Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 252	I've had the electronic 2x250 for three years now. Bought the Icecap ballast a year and a half ago, still use the aquatrader 20k bulbs, added a couple of fans into the fixture. The color of the tank is excellent, bright white, with a hint of blue. Grows anything. And I still came out so much cheaper than any of the "name" brands.

07/20/2009, 11:27 AM	#6
Hemlock71 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 147	Tahnk's guys, so maybe just replace the (2)ballast with the icecaps and even change the bulbs if I want to. Anyone else???

07/20/2009, 04:34 PM	#9
bjhubb Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 230	How much heat does it add to your tank? Do ya'll run a chiller? I'm looking to upgrade my lights but I do not have a sump yet and I don't want to add a chiller.

07/20/2009, 05:04 PM	#10
brad burditt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: roscommon mi Posts: 145	well bjhubb i have a 130 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump i have 2 175 watts mh and 4 vho's in a canopie but the lights are 13inchs above the water but i think the key is i have a big cooling fan that runs across the top of the water to pull the heat out thats what i have and theres no problems

07/20/2009, 06:22 PM	#11
darkdruid Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 520	Did you say big?...lol...I have a 20" box fan like you put in the window to keep my heat down. But I have a 250 HQI 5 inches off the water on a 46 gallon bowfront. __________________ Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything. Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bowfront and 35 gallon mixed reefs, several 10 and 20 gallon frag tanks, beginning a 125 build

07/20/2009, 09:23 PM	#12
Hemlock71 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 147	LOL dark, I have the same type of fan on my 125g sump and it keeps the 90g main tank at around 78 when the MH 250 lights are on. I'm also thinking about taking the glass tops off the MT, the lights are covered anyway.