608 watts

You are linking examples of using 3w crees for adding shimmer, which they are very good at. In your op you were referring to moonlight leds, which will do absolutely nothing during daylight hours. You need to be clear on what you are talking about.

If your goal is to win totm, then you shouldn't be running an odyssea fixture. The reflectors in them are not the best, and the ballasts do not drive the bulbs as hard. Obviously if you are a totm, then you are probably not on a budget. If you want a good light and you are on a budget, and want to keep MOST corals, then buy a brand new odyssea. Its as simple as that. Just because they are budget entry level fixtures, doesn't make them junk.

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Agreed. Junk comment withdrawn. They can serve a purpose.

However, I stand by my point that, someone who wants to grow anything, would be better off buying a more expensive, name brand product initially, than to buy a budget entry level fixture, only to upgrade in the near future.

 

IMO that's too much light for a 55g. You also have to think about heat with that amount, you would def need a chiller & evap would be increased so you'll need to top off a lot more or get an ATO.

Agree with all that mentioned a lower wattage MH unit, LED's, or a 4-bulb T5 fixture with good bulbs & individual reflectors. TEK, AquaticLife, ATI are all good T5 brands. I would go with a nice combo of ATI bulbs: Blue +, Purple Plus, Aquablue Special.

On the odyessea brand I have no personal experience with them. However I have read too many negative things to have entrusted my reef tank with one of their fixtures. Again just my opinion.