What is wrong with these bulbs?

surfnturf · 10/31/2009, 04:23 PM

http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/

The 48" 6 bulb TEK system with bulbs is only $440, but if you order it without bulbs you only subtract $44 from the price. I'm assuming that means these bulbs are beyond horrible, and it would be worth paying a little more to order from a different site, or to just by the fixture and order bulbs separately. What do you guys think, would these startup bulbs be ok for the first 6 months or so, or are they useless?

adambirk · 10/31/2009, 05:56 PM

i too am looking at this site to order an 8 bulb tek light. from what i can tell you can choose giesemann bulbs which are an excellent bulb. way more than 44 dollars worth so i dont know why that is all for a price difference. makes me wonder that is why i havnt ordered yet. trying to do some more research to find out more about the company and find out more about there costomer service. so if any one has dealt with them before chime in please.

James77 · 10/31/2009, 05:58 PM

Do they give you pick of those T5 bulbs off their site, or are they generic ones?

Reefgeek sells the same fixture with bulbs for $470. They sell the top performing bulbs like GE, ATI, and Giesemann.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

Check out the ATI sunpower fixtures on Reefgeek also. The 4 bulb can be had for the same price as the above Tek, and the 6 bulb is ~$150 more. Those fixtures are far better than Teks due to active cooling and shileding of the bulbs.

surfnturf · 10/31/2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adambirk

i too am looking at this site to order an 8 bulb tek light. from what i can tell you can choose giesemann bulbs which are an excellent bulb. way more than 44 dollars worth so i dont know why that is all for a price difference. makes me wonder that is why i havnt ordered yet. trying to do some more research to find out more about the company and find out more about there costomer service. so if any one has dealt with them before chime in please.

Ok I feel the same way. If you find anything out, could you let me know?

surfnturf · 10/31/2009, 07:56 PM

James, the bulb choices are Midday 6500K, Aqua Blue + 11K, Actinic + Blue, and Pure Actinic. I can't find anything that gives the bulb manufacturers though.

Reefgeek is my second choice, if this website still scares me. Do you think the 4 bulb Sunpower is better than the 6 bulb TEK in terms of performance? Would it still allow me to keep SPS in a 75 gallon (20" tall) tank?
I was thinking that if I cleaned the bulbs and reflectors regularly and had fans cooling the ends of the bulbs, the TEK would be better than the 4 bulb Sunpower.

nikon187 · 10/31/2009, 10:15 PM

All the bulbs are giesmann and are good quality bulbs. I don't know why it say actinic + blue, It is just actinic +.

surfnturf · 10/31/2009, 11:01 PM

Cool. Where does it say they are Giesmann, and do you know anything about their customer service? I mean the online site, not Giesmann.

nikon187 · 11/01/2009, 01:03 AM

It doesn't say they are all giesmann, I just know thats the 4 T5 bulbs giesmann makes. Aquablue + , Actinic+, 6500 midday and pure actinic are all giesmann powderchrome bulbs. Google it and you will see. I know nothing of the customer service provided, if it were me i would go with reefgeek as they have the figi purple bulbs you can add when buying

surfnturf · 11/01/2009, 02:12 AM

Interesting. It seems so sketchy that they have the fixture with good bulbs for so much cheaper than everywhere else. I guess I'll have to keep looking around for other people who have dealt with them before.

mojo~ · 11/01/2009, 08:28 AM

I agree those are the name of the giesemann bulbs. THey still make money on it at that pice. lol.

I had the tek 48 in 6 bulb. ITs a great fixture for the money. Almost bought the 3 ft for my rimless but went with the ati sunpower. The tek is a good performing fixture no doubt.

E.intheC · 11/01/2009, 08:46 AM

to the OP, it's a package deal. Just like "buying 1 xyz will cost 6.99 but you can get 2 for $10." It doesn't mean the second xyz is worse. Just that it's a package deal.

surfnturf · 11/01/2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.intheC

to the OP, it's a package deal. Just like "buying 1 xyz will cost 6.99 but you can get 2 for $10." It doesn't mean the second xyz is worse. Just that it's a package deal.

Yeah that's what I'm hoping. I would love to hear about their customer service from someone though.

JonnyQuest · 11/02/2009, 11:49 AM

I recently (~1 month ago) purchased a 175w MH Iwasaki bulb from them since it was about $10 cheaper than everywhere else. I was pleased that the bulb came in a large box with plenty of packing via FEDEx Home Delivery.

I initially had some issues with the ordering system and the guy sent replys back within a couple of hours of sending E-mails. I suggest sending an E-mail or calling to ask questions. I think there is only one guy running the online business or maybe even the entire business.

surfnturf · 11/02/2009, 02:54 PM

Thanks Jonny

10/31/2009, 04:23 PM	#1
surfnturf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 118	What is wrong with these bulbs? http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/ The 48" 6 bulb TEK system with bulbs is only $440, but if you order it without bulbs you only subtract $44 from the price. I'm assuming that means these bulbs are beyond horrible, and it would be worth paying a little more to order from a different site, or to just by the fixture and order bulbs separately. What do you guys think, would these startup bulbs be ok for the first 6 months or so, or are they useless?

10/31/2009, 05:58 PM	#3
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Do they give you pick of those T5 bulbs off their site, or are they generic ones? Reefgeek sells the same fixture with bulbs for $470. They sell the top performing bulbs like GE, ATI, and Giesemann. http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply Check out the ATI sunpower fixtures on Reefgeek also. The 4 bulb can be had for the same price as the above Tek, and the 6 bulb is ~$150 more. Those fixtures are far better than Teks due to active cooling and shileding of the bulbs. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

11/01/2009, 08:28 AM	#10
mojo~ Skimmer Guy Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: IN Posts: 5,647	I agree those are the name of the giesemann bulbs. THey still make money on it at that pice. lol. I had the tek 48 in 6 bulb. ITs a great fixture for the money. Almost bought the 3 ft for my rimless but went with the ati sunpower. The tek is a good performing fixture no doubt. __________________ Mojo~

11/01/2009, 08:46 AM	#11
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	to the OP, it's a package deal. Just like "buying 1 xyz will cost 6.99 but you can get 2 for $10." It doesn't mean the second xyz is worse. Just that it's a package deal. __________________ -Eric

10/31/2009, 05:56 PM	#2
adambirk Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 358	i too am looking at this site to order an 8 bulb tek light. from what i can tell you can choose giesemann bulbs which are an excellent bulb. way more than 44 dollars worth so i dont know why that is all for a price difference. makes me wonder that is why i havnt ordered yet. trying to do some more research to find out more about the company and find out more about there costomer service. so if any one has dealt with them before chime in please.

10/31/2009, 07:56 PM	#5
surfnturf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 118	James, the bulb choices are Midday 6500K, Aqua Blue + 11K, Actinic + Blue, and Pure Actinic. I can't find anything that gives the bulb manufacturers though. Reefgeek is my second choice, if this website still scares me. Do you think the 4 bulb Sunpower is better than the 6 bulb TEK in terms of performance? Would it still allow me to keep SPS in a 75 gallon (20" tall) tank? I was thinking that if I cleaned the bulbs and reflectors regularly and had fans cooling the ends of the bulbs, the TEK would be better than the 4 bulb Sunpower.

10/31/2009, 10:15 PM	#6
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	All the bulbs are giesmann and are good quality bulbs. I don't know why it say actinic + blue, It is just actinic +.

10/31/2009, 11:01 PM	#7
surfnturf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 118	Cool. Where does it say they are Giesmann, and do you know anything about their customer service? I mean the online site, not Giesmann.

11/01/2009, 01:03 AM	#8
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	It doesn't say they are all giesmann, I just know thats the 4 T5 bulbs giesmann makes. Aquablue + , Actinic+, 6500 midday and pure actinic are all giesmann powderchrome bulbs. Google it and you will see. I know nothing of the customer service provided, if it were me i would go with reefgeek as they have the figi purple bulbs you can add when buying

11/01/2009, 02:12 AM	#9
surfnturf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 118	Interesting. It seems so sketchy that they have the fixture with good bulbs for so much cheaper than everywhere else. I guess I'll have to keep looking around for other people who have dealt with them before.

11/02/2009, 11:49 AM	#13
JonnyQuest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 44	I recently (~1 month ago) purchased a 175w MH Iwasaki bulb from them since it was about $10 cheaper than everywhere else. I was pleased that the bulb came in a large box with plenty of packing via FEDEx Home Delivery. I initially had some issues with the ordering system and the guy sent replys back within a couple of hours of sending E-mails. I suggest sending an E-mail or calling to ask questions. I think there is only one guy running the online business or maybe even the entire business.

11/02/2009, 02:54 PM	#14
surfnturf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 118	Thanks Jonny