72" Odyssea MH/T5 Combo - good or bad idea?

Pprice01 · 02/23/2011, 03:13 PM

Hi Everyone,

I see that aquatraders has what looks to be a nice looking 72" MH/T5 setup for $399. This seems like a good deal, but being a bit of a newb I thought that I would throw this the experts on RC for some feedback.

http://www.aquatraders.com/72in-Meta...ht-p/54269.htm

Would I still have to buy ballasts?

Would this configuration be a good thing inside a canopy, or would a retrofit or some pendants be a better option.

Is this too good to be true at this price, or is it something to jump on?

I look forward to the feedback, thanks.

Paul

chimmike · 02/23/2011, 03:15 PM

odyssea=crap.

Most of aquatraders stuff is garbage.

Pprice01 · 02/23/2011, 03:22 PM

Thank you. I figured someone would know.

What would be recommended then for a canopy on a 180? Pendants or Retros? types, numbers?

leeit2me · 02/23/2011, 03:26 PM

here we go again.. all the haters will come out of hiding.. when "Odyssea" is on the topic of a thread...... hating on odyssea stuff. LOL..

2 years going with my 24" MH/pc. Nothing wrong with the fixture itself. replace the ballast and bulb, thats about it. The new black ballast seems to work better then the older silver ballast.

pkirby · 02/23/2011, 03:26 PM

I haven't used their lights, but the more I researched them the less I liked them. I know what you are saying though... Hard to pass up the price! The light I ended up getting for my setup was more than twice the cost of odyssea, but I'm very happy with it.

I think you already know, when something sounds too good to be true, it probably is... That said, if you do decide to try it out let us know what you think! Fair warning, a few years back they had a lot of units catch fire...

chimmike · 02/23/2011, 03:27 PM

You could do some good retros. If you can find some icecap ballasts on clearance, I'd do 3 250w ballasts with 3 good reflectors. Marinedepot has an excellent selection of reflectors and Reefgeek is supposed to be very good too.

Since you're in a canopy I'd do the retros/method I described above. Pendants are usually meant for open air. Within the canopy the method I described will require active cooling (cooling fans installed in the canopy). This is no different than pretty much any other lights you put in a canopy, even LED's, they'll all require active cooling. But hey, just part of the territory.

hybridazn · 02/23/2011, 03:27 PM

48" mh/pc fixture from them. In use for well over a year. Have only had to swapvout bulbs. All ballasts still working.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

chimmike · 02/23/2011, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeit2me

here we go again.. all the haters will come out of hiding.. when "Odyssea" is on the topic of a thread...... hating on odyssea stuff. LOL..

2 years going with my 24" MH/pc. Nothing wrong with the fixture itself. replace the ballast and bulb, thats about it. The new black ballast seems to work better then the older silver ballast.

shouldn't have to replace a ballast on any fixture within the first 2-3 years. Why this doesn't seem like a big deal to odyssea owners, I'll never know.

My ATI fixture should at least double or triple that before ballasts give me any problems, if ever.

lisafoster · 02/23/2011, 03:34 PM

I started out with one of their fixtures I have had to upgrade everything. If I was you I would go with a retro someone is always selling ballasts etc. You will end up in the end having the odyssea cost as much as a better lighting system in the end. I finally after 2 years just upgraded ballasts because I figured they were working so why replace them. I wish I had done it sooner the bulbs are so much brighter now huge difference.

Pprice01 · 02/23/2011, 03:40 PM

Thank you everyone very much. I am thinking that to do this right I could pick up 3 Icecap ballasts at 250W and 3 Lumenmax or Lumenbrights to do the job. Maybe I'll have to supplement with T5 too, I'm not really sure.

What are your thoughts between Mogul and DE/HQI? It seems that Mogul would be easier to deal with and they are already UV Coated.

leeit2me · 02/23/2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimmike

shouldn't have to replace a ballast on any fixture within the first 2-3 years. Why this doesn't seem like a big deal to odyssea owners, I'll never know.

My ATI fixture should at least double or triple that before ballasts give me any problems, if ever.

Hey, some people like to mod stuff. Just like buying a car, most people will just leave it stock. But some people out there just like to tinker with stuff, so modding is only way to go.

If I can do a home-made-turbo on my 96 civic mod, I can definitely mod a fixture like that.. it's walk in a the park..

frish85 · 02/28/2011, 08:44 PM

i have the 72" odyssea 3 250 mh i have switched out the bulbs havent had any problems with it i did had one switch go out but thats it

02/23/2011, 03:13 PM	#1
Pprice01 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 305	72" Odyssea MH/T5 Combo - good or bad idea? Hi Everyone, I see that aquatraders has what looks to be a nice looking 72" MH/T5 setup for $399. This seems like a good deal, but being a bit of a newb I thought that I would throw this the experts on RC for some feedback. http://www.aquatraders.com/72in-Meta...ht-p/54269.htm Would I still have to buy ballasts? Would this configuration be a good thing inside a canopy, or would a retrofit or some pendants be a better option. Is this too good to be true at this price, or is it something to jump on? I look forward to the feedback, thanks. Paul

02/23/2011, 03:15 PM	#2
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	odyssea=crap. Most of aquatraders stuff is garbage. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

02/23/2011, 03:27 PM	#6
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	You could do some good retros. If you can find some icecap ballasts on clearance, I'd do 3 250w ballasts with 3 good reflectors. Marinedepot has an excellent selection of reflectors and Reefgeek is supposed to be very good too. Since you're in a canopy I'd do the retros/method I described above. Pendants are usually meant for open air. Within the canopy the method I described will require active cooling (cooling fans installed in the canopy). This is no different than pretty much any other lights you put in a canopy, even LED's, they'll all require active cooling. But hey, just part of the territory. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

02/23/2011, 03:34 PM	#9
lisafoster so much to learn Join Date: May 2010 Location: massachusetts Posts: 621	I started out with one of their fixtures I have had to upgrade everything. If I was you I would go with a retro someone is always selling ballasts etc. You will end up in the end having the odyssea cost as much as a better lighting system in the end. I finally after 2 years just upgraded ballasts because I figured they were working so why replace them. I wish I had done it sooner the bulbs are so much brighter now huge difference. __________________ 125 mixed reef/ semi aggressive 15 gallon angler nano reef tank 40 breeder reef Current Tank Info: 125 gallon evolving reef/ 15gallon angler nano reef, 40 gallon breeder reef

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02/23/2011, 03:22 PM	#3
Pprice01 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 305	Thank you. I figured someone would know. What would be recommended then for a canopy on a 180? Pendants or Retros? types, numbers?

02/23/2011, 03:26 PM	#4
leeit2me Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: bklyn,ny Posts: 241	here we go again.. all the haters will come out of hiding.. when "Odyssea" is on the topic of a thread...... hating on odyssea stuff. LOL.. 2 years going with my 24" MH/pc. Nothing wrong with the fixture itself. replace the ballast and bulb, thats about it. The new black ballast seems to work better then the older silver ballast.

02/23/2011, 03:26 PM	#5
pkirby Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 408	I haven't used their lights, but the more I researched them the less I liked them. I know what you are saying though... Hard to pass up the price! The light I ended up getting for my setup was more than twice the cost of odyssea, but I'm very happy with it. I think you already know, when something sounds too good to be true, it probably is... That said, if you do decide to try it out let us know what you think! Fair warning, a few years back they had a lot of units catch fire...

02/23/2011, 03:27 PM	#7
hybridazn Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Grapeville PA Posts: 887	48" mh/pc fixture from them. In use for well over a year. Have only had to swapvout bulbs. All ballasts still working. Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

02/23/2011, 03:40 PM	#10
Pprice01 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 305	Thank you everyone very much. I am thinking that to do this right I could pick up 3 Icecap ballasts at 250W and 3 Lumenmax or Lumenbrights to do the job. Maybe I'll have to supplement with T5 too, I'm not really sure. What are your thoughts between Mogul and DE/HQI? It seems that Mogul would be easier to deal with and they are already UV Coated.

02/28/2011, 08:44 PM	#12
frish85 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: stl Posts: 187	i have the 72" odyssea 3 250 mh i have switched out the bulbs havent had any problems with it i did had one switch go out but thats it