Opinion of this light.

I'm in need of a new light for my 55 gallon tank, the one I have is a Chinese made no namer, I bought from a friend of a friend over the phone, and it sits on top of my tank, doesn't have any legs. I want a name brand light with legs. What are yall's thoughts on this one? Thanks in advance.

T.

AquaticLife 48" T5 HO 4 Lamp Fixture with Lunar Lights

 

I have not tried that one. I have heard a few say they were happy with some of the results.

What I will mention is that when you are looking for a light make sure you check the reviews on the reflectors as they are of the utmost importance. Not all T5 4 bulb fixtures are the same. Also check to make sure which ever fixture you choose look at the shape of the reflectors. The rounded type do not direct the light into a concentrated beam. The beam they give has a wider spread which can be deceptive.

I prefer Tek as do some others from reading. The reflectors on the Tek are very good. Also youre probably going to have to change the bulbs once you get any fixture. I'd recommend ATI combination of 2 Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus, and 1 Aqua Blue Special. One reason I do like Tek is because they dont come with any lights. Youre going to need to order the legs and the splash guard as well.

Also dont buy something just because thats all you can afford at the moment. Better to save and get what you want. Last thing you want is buyers remorse. At the end of the day you have to live with your tank so go with what you think will make you happy.

Hope this helps!

 

I have an Aquatic Life t5 fixture on my freshwater tank and it has been great. If you use the search feature above, you will see many people have been happy with them. They are not considered "top of the line" but they are dependable. That being said, you need to make sure you consider the size of your tank and what (if any) type of corals you intend to keep before purchasing a light fixture. If you provide those details, people here will have a better idea of whether they would recommend this fixture or not.

 

That is an excellent fixture for your tank. You will do well and be happy with it.

 

Awesome, good advice! Right now, I'm just looking at some different options, I've actually forgotten about the Tek lights, I remember people recommending them a few years back when I had my 29 gallon. I'll look into them as well. In terms of corals, its hard to say, I want a variety of corals in my tank, however I am partial to the softies, so I'll be leaning in that direction. Main concern for me is a good name brand light, and it has to have legs because the one I have now just sits on top of my tank about an inch and a half away from surface of water, and the salt just accumulates all over it, major pain to have to clean once a week. Anyway, thanks again. Gonna do more research in mean time.

T.

 

I think you should consider led lights. I started about 3 to 4 months ago and regret not saving for an led fixture instead I went with an odyssea fixture which okay but won't work for sps or clams. Leds will save you money in the long run because unlike t5 they don't have to be replaced every year, they also use less electricity.