Sunlight supply has bad customer service

smith1571 · 05/02/2007, 01:43 PM

Last week I ordered a lumen max 3 250wand blue wave 3 ballast. Hello lights called me today and told me they have been having problems with sunlight supply and are no longer gonna deal with them. they gave me my money back.
MY questions

1 what are some alternative pennants, Ive heard that the lumen max 3 has the best output. So now everything else seems less quality.
2 Does anyone know where to get the lumen max 3 for as low a price as hello lights.
I think the ballast was $162 and the pennant was $147

NewSchool04 · 05/02/2007, 02:26 PM

try www.reefgeek.com

smith1571 · 05/02/2007, 04:11 PM

The ballast is still a hundred dollars more than hello lights. What would you suggest from reefgeeks as far as pennant and ballast?

Would a optix 3 be as good or better than a lumen max 3?

NewSchool04 · 05/02/2007, 04:59 PM

I don't think you'll get the spread from the Optx 3 but it's a good reflector. What sized tank are you going to use it on? Have you looked at the mini Lumenarc's yet? They make them in black, very nice reflector. Go to www.reefexotics.com. I went with the Coralvue E ballast and mini's, very good customer service.

smith1571 · 05/02/2007, 06:32 PM

I went back to reef geeks and when you buy the lumen max with the ballast it ended up the same price as hello lights. So thank you the suggestion. I really like how the lumenarcs look. Would I be better of with one of those? or is lumen max still the best.
I dont know what size aquarium . I have a 65 g already set up but I think thats probably to big so any suggestions would be great. Maybe a 20h.

NewSchool04 · 05/02/2007, 08:04 PM

Is the reflector going over your 65 gallon? What are the dimensions of the tank?

jamesdawson · 05/02/2007, 08:12 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by smith1571
[B]Last week I ordered a lumen max 3 250wand blue wave 3 ballast. Hello lights called me today and told me they have been having problems with sunlight supply and are no longer gonna deal with them. they gave me my money back.

QUOTE]

Doesn't surprise me at all. SS had a spectacular flameout here on RC when they had a forum and their excuse-of-a-rep was trolling the IC forum defaming individuals and IC in general. Not only did the company not fire the rep, the last word before SS pulled their forum and the rep was banned was that they were threatening legal action against IC for coming out with their own (and superior!) T5 reflectors.

I own 2 crappy teklights (with reflectors so permanently stained/corroded that I now use them only on refugiums) and a noisy maristar. Worst company I have ever dealt with from McDonalds all the way to buying homes and cars.

I get the distinct impression that SS gets most of its business from dope growers and apparently customer service doesn't matter to them very much

James

smith1571 · 05/02/2007, 08:26 PM

the dimensions are 36x18x24

NewSchool04 · 05/02/2007, 08:42 PM

If you are looking to use one reflector over the 65, a lumenarc mini will give much better spread of light than the lumen max 3.

Here is a picture of one mini lumenarc over my 180 a couple of weeks ago when I was setting it up. The 180 is 72 x 24 x 24 so that will give you a good idea on the light spread.

smith1571 · 05/02/2007, 09:00 PM

Would it be worth canceling my order with reef geeks lumen max 3 and
buying a mini lumernarc?

NewSchool04 · 05/02/2007, 09:30 PM

I've never used the lumen max so I'm not sure. I think you'll get a wider spread with the lumenarc and at 36" you'll be stretching both.

GSMguy · 05/02/2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by smith1571
Would it be worth canceling my order with reef geeks lumen max 3 and
buying a mini lumernarc?

no they have similar spread
the big lumenarc has more spread but the mini isnt as big so it has about the same spread as lumenmax

hahnmeister · 05/02/2007, 10:46 PM

BTW, its not a Lumenarc MINI that you are considering, or what is in that pick... the Lumenarc Mini is a 14x14 single-ended bare reflector... a mini version of the full size 19x19 lumenarc. The pendant you are looking at is the LumenarcDE pendant. And yes, I would consider it a much better buy than the Lumenmax3... its $130 vs. $150 for the LM3... thats a start.

NewSchool04 · 05/02/2007, 11:33 PM

That is a Lumenarc Mini in that pic hahnmeister, I'm not following what you are saying? They also make the Lumenarc Mini for DE and SE? It's a mini version of the Lumenarc / 14.5" x 14.5".

here is the link: http://www.reefexotics.com/lumenarc.htm

I got the black ones because they would be visable.

smith1571 · 05/03/2007, 05:42 PM

Well my lumen max 3 and and blue wave 3 ballast had already been sent. I hope I made a good purchase.

hahnmeister · 05/03/2007, 06:18 PM

The Lumenarc 3 Mini is a bare reflector on the outside, like the regular Lumenarc3. The Lumenarc 'Black Vented Pendants' might very well be LA3 minis in the SE version, but in DE...??? They are simply LA pendants.

NewSchool04 · 05/03/2007, 06:55 PM

I'm sure you'll like the lumen max 3's and the blue wave ballast smith1571!

I still don't know what you're talking about hahhnmeister. They sell the black vented Lumenarc mini in both SE or DE, depending on what type of bulb you want to use.

NYReef · 05/03/2007, 09:03 PM

I bought a Luminarc and it came very roughly finished and scratched from the socket not be padded enough and just thrown in the box with the fixture. There were top screws not driven all the way in and the reflector looked kinda cheaply made. I returned it and ordered the Lumen max SE from Premium Aquatics, its on sale for $147. I was not impressed at all with the Luminarc and think the reflector on the Lumen max is a better design and constructed better. They will both do the job but I am happier with the Lumen max.

the_anti_honda · 05/03/2007, 11:24 PM

I have had both reflectors and feel as though that the Luminarc was and is cheaply made. I don't really like SLS as a company for warranty reasons but I have not had any issues with the products needing to be warrantied. That being said I have the Lumen Max pendents now and wouldn't switch to anything else.

smith1571 · 05/04/2007, 05:30 PM

That makes me feel a lot better. It just hard to tell from pictures what has better quality. thanks

aninjaatemyshoe · 05/04/2007, 08:08 PM

If SS hates IC so much, why does the Blue Wave IV have an Icecap ballast in it?

asonitez · 01/10/2009, 12:05 AM

do they make a lumenarc HQI reflector?

kdblove_99 · 01/11/2009, 09:08 PM

I would stick with the Lumenmax! your looking at the bluewave ballast? I saw one at aquacave for $130 last month

kdblove_99 · 01/11/2009, 09:09 PM

yep still $129.95!
http://www.aquacave.com/blue-wave-3-...pply-1183.html

Stoney G · 01/11/2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by smith1571
Last week I ordered a lumen max 3 250wand blue wave 3 ballast. Hello lights called me today and told me they have been having problems with sunlight supply and are no longer gonna deal with them. they gave me my money back.
MY questions

1 what are some alternative pennants, Ive heard that the lumen max 3 has the best output. So now everything else seems less quality.
2 Does anyone know where to get the lumen max 3 for as low a price as hello lights.
I think the ballast was $162 and the pennant was $147

Sounds to me that hello lights might be passing the buck. Wouldn't be the first time from what I've heard on other RC threads.

05/02/2007, 01:43 PM	#1
smith1571 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 183	Sunlight supply has bad customer service Last week I ordered a lumen max 3 250wand blue wave 3 ballast. Hello lights called me today and told me they have been having problems with sunlight supply and are no longer gonna deal with them. they gave me my money back. MY questions 1 what are some alternative pennants, Ive heard that the lumen max 3 has the best output. So now everything else seems less quality. 2 Does anyone know where to get the lumen max 3 for as low a price as hello lights. I think the ballast was $162 and the pennant was $147

05/02/2007, 02:26 PM	#2
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	try www.reefgeek.com __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/02/2007, 04:59 PM	#4
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	I don't think you'll get the spread from the Optx 3 but it's a good reflector. What sized tank are you going to use it on? Have you looked at the mini Lumenarc's yet? They make them in black, very nice reflector. Go to www.reefexotics.com. I went with the Coralvue E ballast and mini's, very good customer service. __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/02/2007, 08:04 PM	#6
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	Is the reflector going over your 65 gallon? What are the dimensions of the tank? __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/02/2007, 08:12 PM	#7
jamesdawson Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: I AM THE SEA Posts: 1,303	Re: Sunlight supply has bad customer service [QUOTE]Originally posted by smith1571 [B]Last week I ordered a lumen max 3 250wand blue wave 3 ballast. Hello lights called me today and told me they have been having problems with sunlight supply and are no longer gonna deal with them. they gave me my money back. QUOTE] Doesn't surprise me at all. SS had a spectacular flameout here on RC when they had a forum and their excuse-of-a-rep was trolling the IC forum defaming individuals and IC in general. Not only did the company not fire the rep, the last word before SS pulled their forum and the rep was banned was that they were threatening legal action against IC for coming out with their own (and superior!) T5 reflectors. I own 2 crappy teklights (with reflectors so permanently stained/corroded that I now use them only on refugiums) and a noisy maristar. Worst company I have ever dealt with from McDonalds all the way to buying homes and cars. I get the distinct impression that SS gets most of its business from dope growers and apparently customer service doesn't matter to them very much James __________________ Old Reefers Never Die, they just...join the crew! Current Tank Info: I'm expanding my reach

05/02/2007, 04:11 PM	#3
smith1571 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 183	The ballast is still a hundred dollars more than hello lights. What would you suggest from reefgeeks as far as pennant and ballast? Would a optix 3 be as good or better than a lumen max 3?

05/02/2007, 06:32 PM	#5
smith1571 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 183	I went back to reef geeks and when you buy the lumen max with the ballast it ended up the same price as hello lights. So thank you the suggestion. I really like how the lumenarcs look. Would I be better of with one of those? or is lumen max still the best. I dont know what size aquarium . I have a 65 g already set up but I think thats probably to big so any suggestions would be great. Maybe a 20h.

05/02/2007, 08:26 PM	#8
smith1571 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 183	the dimensions are 36x18x24

05/02/2007, 08:42 PM	#9
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	If you are looking to use one reflector over the 65, a lumenarc mini will give much better spread of light than the lumen max 3. Here is a picture of one mini lumenarc over my 180 a couple of weeks ago when I was setting it up. The 180 is 72 x 24 x 24 so that will give you a good idea on the light spread. __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/02/2007, 09:00 PM	#10
smith1571 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 183	Would it be worth canceling my order with reef geeks lumen max 3 and buying a mini lumernarc?

05/02/2007, 09:30 PM	#11
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	I've never used the lumen max so I'm not sure. I think you'll get a wider spread with the lumenarc and at 36" you'll be stretching both. __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/02/2007, 10:46 PM	#13
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	BTW, its not a Lumenarc MINI that you are considering, or what is in that pick... the Lumenarc Mini is a 14x14 single-ended bare reflector... a mini version of the full size 19x19 lumenarc. The pendant you are looking at is the LumenarcDE pendant. And yes, I would consider it a much better buy than the Lumenmax3... its $130 vs. $150 for the LM3... thats a start.

05/02/2007, 11:33 PM	#14
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	That is a Lumenarc Mini in that pic hahnmeister, I'm not following what you are saying? They also make the Lumenarc Mini for DE and SE? It's a mini version of the Lumenarc / 14.5" x 14.5". here is the link: http://www.reefexotics.com/lumenarc.htm I got the black ones because they would be visable. __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/03/2007, 05:42 PM	#15
smith1571 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 183	Well my lumen max 3 and and blue wave 3 ballast had already been sent. I hope I made a good purchase. Last edited by smith1571; 05/03/2007 at 06:17 PM.

05/03/2007, 06:18 PM	#16
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	The Lumenarc 3 Mini is a bare reflector on the outside, like the regular Lumenarc3. The Lumenarc 'Black Vented Pendants' might very well be LA3 minis in the SE version, but in DE...??? They are simply LA pendants.

05/03/2007, 06:55 PM	#17
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	I'm sure you'll like the lumen max 3's and the blue wave ballast smith1571! I still don't know what you're talking about hahhnmeister. They sell the black vented Lumenarc mini in both SE or DE, depending on what type of bulb you want to use. __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/03/2007, 09:03 PM	#18
NYReef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 203	I bought a Luminarc and it came very roughly finished and scratched from the socket not be padded enough and just thrown in the box with the fixture. There were top screws not driven all the way in and the reflector looked kinda cheaply made. I returned it and ordered the Lumen max SE from Premium Aquatics, its on sale for $147. I was not impressed at all with the Luminarc and think the reflector on the Lumen max is a better design and constructed better. They will both do the job but I am happier with the Lumen max.

05/03/2007, 11:24 PM	#19
the_anti_honda Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Menifee Ca, Posts: 708	I have had both reflectors and feel as though that the Luminarc was and is cheaply made. I don't really like SLS as a company for warranty reasons but I have not had any issues with the products needing to be warrantied. That being said I have the Lumen Max pendents now and wouldn't switch to anything else. __________________ ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> Current Tank Info: Taking a break from the hobby

05/04/2007, 05:30 PM	#20
smith1571 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 183	That makes me feel a lot better. It just hard to tell from pictures what has better quality. thanks

05/04/2007, 08:08 PM	#21
aninjaatemyshoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,333	If SS hates IC so much, why does the Blue Wave IV have an Icecap ballast in it? __________________ You are not brought upon this world to "get it"

01/10/2009, 12:05 AM	#22
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	do they make a lumenarc HQI reflector?

01/11/2009, 09:08 PM	#23
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	I would stick with the Lumenmax! your looking at the bluewave ballast? I saw one at aquacave for $130 last month

01/11/2009, 09:09 PM	#24
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	yep still $129.95! http://www.aquacave.com/blue-wave-3-...pply-1183.html