Viper HQI Clamp Lamp

Doc Hammer · 07/16/2007, 04:21 PM

I want to get a HQI for my 12g Nano Cube and the Viper looks like the most likely candidate for the job, I'm just curious about opinions on it so I know I'm getting something good.

Doc Hammer · 07/16/2007, 06:21 PM

Nobody has a say on this product?

Blair · 07/16/2007, 07:44 PM

I have the 150 watt version and am very happy with it. The color temperature of the bulb is great even without actinics. I have it over a 20 gallon and plenty of light gets in the tank. The ballast is magnetic but is quiet. My only faults are that the part that clamps to the tank is a little big and extends a bit under the water level. Also, the part of the fixture that contains the bulb gets extremely hot. It is very easy to brush against and it burns. Other than that it is a great value for the money.

Blair

Doc Hammer · 07/16/2007, 08:13 PM

Well I'm thinking about getting the 70 watt just because it's cheaper and since it's just going to be for a 12g.

ReefWreak · 07/16/2007, 08:19 PM

I've got the 150w Coralife Aqualight Pro or w/e it is that's just the single bulb, much the same experience as the Viper Light.

To be honest, I would never put halides over a nano again. Everything was nice and in control when I had the stock hood and PCs (2x32w). Once I put the halide over it, everything exploded, which I mostly mean algae. For whatever reason, I guess everything was in balance before, but now everything is crazy and I have not been able to keep it under control. Also it evaporates water like crazy so you really need to be on top of your topoffs expecially if you're putting a halide over a 12g.

By all means if you know what you're doing and are very comfortable with what's coming, then go for it. I just didn't know what to expect, and my tank has never been the same, in a negative way, since then. I really want to cook my rock in the tank and start over, but I've got too much coral in there to do that.

Just be very aware that if you think things swing in your 12g now, wait until you get halides on it.

cbonito · 07/16/2007, 08:24 PM

Yep, I have been bit by mine before too. Hurts! lol

My complaints about it are that the bulb is way too close to the reflector and the glass. The reflector needs to be polished because it becomes oxydized where the bulb is and the glass seems to have been burned. The perimeter around the glass is frosted or something and it screws with the color of the light. That was a ridiculous thing to do on the part of JBJ.

I've had mine for about 7 months, and it works, but I am going with a pendant now as the reflectivity and spread of a pendant is way better and so is the resulting par. I think the capabilities of the bulb are mostly negated in this fixture because of the design.
They didn't think about anything other than it looking cool, and it does look cool, but not enough to justify it's continued use over my tank. I am using a 10k BLV bulb in it and that visually doubled the light output over the stock bulb.

For most it'll do the trick, but for the more discerning with higher light demands, it's not the way to go. A pendant is a better option in that you get a lot more light than this fixture.

Doc Hammer · 07/16/2007, 08:38 PM

Alright, thanks guys, I'll look into other stuff. I'm just looking into what lighting I need for what coral.

Also ReefWreak, I love Boca Raton and am even looking at Florida Atlantic, along with Eckerd, and if all else fails, I'm going with FSU. I mean, I really like FSU, but I'm going to college to study marine biology and I'd like to be down south more for that.

ReefWreak · 07/16/2007, 08:50 PM

Well Hammer, you're welcome to stop by any time you would like and check out my tanks. I dunno how your local reefing community is up there, but here its freakin off the chain. 200+ members and such in our FMAS community.

As far as school, FAU has a good marine bio and other marine science program. Academic and Scientific Diving and Recovery are specialties, and most other programs are really good at FSU (yes, except the current football team ha ha ha

) I've got a friend that goes to Eckerd, and if you can afford it, it's supposed to be a great school with a lot of oppertunity. She sold her house to go there, so she must love it.

Go Seminoles, Fight Team Fight!

Doc Hammer · 07/17/2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReefWreak
Well Hammer, you're welcome to stop by any time you would like and check out my tanks. I dunno how your local reefing community is up there, but here its freakin off the chain. 200+ members and such in our FMAS community.

As far as school, FAU has a good marine bio and other marine science program. Academic and Scientific Diving and Recovery are specialties, and most other programs are really good at FSU (yes, except the current football team ha ha ha ) I've got a friend that goes to Eckerd, and if you can afford it, it's supposed to be a great school with a lot of oppertunity. She sold her house to go there, so she must love it.

Go Seminoles, Fight Team Fight!

Yeah, I've got a uncle (well, he's not a blood uncle, but he is my father's best friend and he's like a uncle to me) who is nuts about the Seminoles. If something has the logo on it, he has it. My father met him at Eckerd, but they did more partying than studying.

billhig1 · 07/17/2007, 02:34 PM

I just bought 2 150's and put them over my 55 gallon. Looks good so far.

121a · 07/17/2007, 03:15 PM

I heard a lot of good thing about the 70w sunpod. I think you could get one for $200 shipped, if you look around.

Doc Hammer · 07/17/2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 121a
I heard a lot of good thing about the 70w sunpod. I think you could get one for $200 shipped, if you look around.

Yeah, I'm looking at it now and it looks good. I'm probably going to try to get more of people's review on it though.

07/16/2007, 04:21 PM	#1
Doc Hammer Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hellertown, PA Posts: 189	Viper HQI Clamp Lamp I want to get a HQI for my 12g Nano Cube and the Viper looks like the most likely candidate for the job, I'm just curious about opinions on it so I know I'm getting something good.

07/16/2007, 08:24 PM	#6
cbonito Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: michigan Posts: 398	Yep, I have been bit by mine before too. Hurts! lol My complaints about it are that the bulb is way too close to the reflector and the glass. The reflector needs to be polished because it becomes oxydized where the bulb is and the glass seems to have been burned. The perimeter around the glass is frosted or something and it screws with the color of the light. That was a ridiculous thing to do on the part of JBJ. I've had mine for about 7 months, and it works, but I am going with a pendant now as the reflectivity and spread of a pendant is way better and so is the resulting par. I think the capabilities of the bulb are mostly negated in this fixture because of the design. They didn't think about anything other than it looking cool, and it does look cool, but not enough to justify it's continued use over my tank. I am using a 10k BLV bulb in it and that visually doubled the light output over the stock bulb. For most it'll do the trick, but for the more discerning with higher light demands, it's not the way to go. A pendant is a better option in that you get a lot more light than this fixture. __________________ Cbonito Current Tank Info: 60ish gallon (48x24x12h) reef

07/16/2007, 06:21 PM	#2
Doc Hammer Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hellertown, PA Posts: 189	Nobody has a say on this product?

07/16/2007, 07:44 PM	#3
Blair Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 114	I have the 150 watt version and am very happy with it. The color temperature of the bulb is great even without actinics. I have it over a 20 gallon and plenty of light gets in the tank. The ballast is magnetic but is quiet. My only faults are that the part that clamps to the tank is a little big and extends a bit under the water level. Also, the part of the fixture that contains the bulb gets extremely hot. It is very easy to brush against and it burns. Other than that it is a great value for the money. Blair

07/16/2007, 08:13 PM	#4
Doc Hammer Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hellertown, PA Posts: 189	Well I'm thinking about getting the 70 watt just because it's cheaper and since it's just going to be for a 12g.

07/16/2007, 08:19 PM	#5
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	I've got the 150w Coralife Aqualight Pro or w/e it is that's just the single bulb, much the same experience as the Viper Light. To be honest, I would never put halides over a nano again. Everything was nice and in control when I had the stock hood and PCs (2x32w). Once I put the halide over it, everything exploded, which I mostly mean algae. For whatever reason, I guess everything was in balance before, but now everything is crazy and I have not been able to keep it under control. Also it evaporates water like crazy so you really need to be on top of your topoffs expecially if you're putting a halide over a 12g. By all means if you know what you're doing and are very comfortable with what's coming, then go for it. I just didn't know what to expect, and my tank has never been the same, in a negative way, since then. I really want to cook my rock in the tank and start over, but I've got too much coral in there to do that. Just be very aware that if you think things swing in your 12g now, wait until you get halides on it.

07/16/2007, 08:38 PM	#7
Doc Hammer Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hellertown, PA Posts: 189	Alright, thanks guys, I'll look into other stuff. I'm just looking into what lighting I need for what coral. Also ReefWreak, I love Boca Raton and am even looking at Florida Atlantic, along with Eckerd, and if all else fails, I'm going with FSU. I mean, I really like FSU, but I'm going to college to study marine biology and I'd like to be down south more for that.

07/16/2007, 08:50 PM	#8
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	Well Hammer, you're welcome to stop by any time you would like and check out my tanks. I dunno how your local reefing community is up there, but here its freakin off the chain. 200+ members and such in our FMAS community. As far as school, FAU has a good marine bio and other marine science program. Academic and Scientific Diving and Recovery are specialties, and most other programs are really good at FSU (yes, except the current football team ha ha ha ) I've got a friend that goes to Eckerd, and if you can afford it, it's supposed to be a great school with a lot of oppertunity. She sold her house to go there, so she must love it. Go Seminoles, Fight Team Fight!

07/17/2007, 02:34 PM	#10
billhig1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 115	I just bought 2 150's and put them over my 55 gallon. Looks good so far.

07/17/2007, 03:15 PM	#11
121a Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 803	I heard a lot of good thing about the 70w sunpod. I think you could get one for $200 shipped, if you look around.