36" Metal Halide T5 Lighting 406W Total

Any input on this light? I have a T5 x 4 (39W) on my 40 breeder currently that works just fine. It was actually much more than I had expected. This particular fixture includes 1 MH in the center. I'd be adding this to my 92 corner. I was considering either this lamp or (1) 36" T5 x 4 (39W) and (1) 24" T5 x 2 (39W).

36" Metal Halide T5 Lighting Aquarium Marine Reef 406W - eBay (item 110543269130 end time Jun-17-10 17:52:58 PDT)

OR

36" T5 HO Aquarium Light Marine Cichlid 156W 4x 39W - eBay (item 110530245286 end time May-12-10 20:33:01 PDT)

AND

24" T5 HO Lighting Aquarium Marine Reef 96W LED Legs - eBay (item 290442121378 end time Jun-17-10 17:51:12 PDT)

 

Sorry but they've all ended. If they are/were built by Odyssea I suggest looking for better quality.

 

Yes, one of them I purchased for my 40 breeder. Although, the idea is for input on the setup and light itself. I currently use the 36" on my 40 breeder and works great. Why spend cash into a fixture when comparing apples to apples? The variable between "4 (36W) T5 in Xbrand and 4 (36W) T5 in Ybrand" is only light reflection.

 

They're under driven. Poorly constructed. Unusual pin configuration on the connections. The tiny 40mm fans are useless and fail which causes them to overheat. This not only substantially decreases output from your bulbs it shortens thier life span and is a fire hazard.
I had 0 growth and very poor color in any of my softies for months while under a 36" Odyssea T5HO. LPS had to be placed at the top of my rock work just to survive. I'm so relieved a wiring harness chose to burst into flame while I was home.

 

you get what you pay for, if the apples to apples was true that'd be nice, but it's not, in terms of light fixtures.

For something that will be running for hours every day it's good to take a bit more time to research a brand. I have heard a few horror stories involving the Odyssea Metal Halides and home fires (like what ReefMonkey posted). That would be enough for me to not chance buying lower-end fixtures. Stick with better known quality brands like WavePoint, Current, AquaticLife, Sunlight Supply TEK, Aquactinics, ATI. There is a reason that those brands are more expensive than Odyssea.

 

Thank goodness for surge protectors. ;D On a serious note. Many don't realize there is an obvious difference between a power strip and a surge. I believe generic brands want to make their strips to appear to be surges just so they sell.

 

Fans are a breeze to upgrade, btw.

 

It was on a gfi outlet. It tripped but the casing on the wires still smoldered into flame. The gfi tripping is what caught my attention. I didn't see or smell the smoke until I was right up on the fixture. I panicked and slapped the whole thing off of the tank. All I could think about was my fish and corals, the house burning down didn't occur to me til after the fact LOL