Cheaper light?

What you need is a 4 bulb T5 fixture. 48" t5 bulbs are 54 watts. Therefore you need a 216w fixture or simply 4x54w.

If your looking for really cheap, go with the odyssea 4x54w t5 fixture. Has independent reflectors, 1 power cord instead of 3, builtin cooling fans, builtin digital timer to set the actinics and daylights to come on different times. You can get it shipped for $150. The only problem is that odyssea is known for their lack of quality and lack or warranty and customer support.

If your looking for a fixture that is quality with less features, the current 4x54w t5s are the answer. The main thing with T5 fixtures is that you need independent reflectors per bulb. If it only has one chunk of aluminum rounded around all the bulbs its not going to be very efficient. The single light reflectors is what makes T5s the shiz!

 

I have heard many horry stores involving flames from people using odyssea fixtures. I would stay far away from them.

 

If you have a canopy, or can build one this is what I would do. I would get a good quality 2 bulb T5 retro kit with good bulbs included like this one.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...put_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_AquaIllumination

That will keep softies and LPS just fine a tank that's only 13" wide. If in the future you want to keep higher light stuff you can easily buy another retro kit and bump it up to 4 bulbs. Buying a cheap fixture may mean you end up with a broken fixture in 6-12 months.

 

The fire problematic fixtures were halides, not T5s. This was also 4 years ago and was only one specific model, not all of their halide fixtures. The specific model wasnt even UL Listed, the new fixtures are. I have first hand experience with the T5 fixtures. Ballast gets warm, not even hot. They have definitely improved their newer equipment and have added features that even some of the most expensive don't have. Most recent posts online about odyssea just regurgitate what they hear, they do not speak from first hand experience. For the price, its worth it.

 

IMHO odyssea pc lights stay away from.. unless you feel like buying a couple extra ballasts and new bulbs within a few months.. I already went through 2 ballasts in 6 months.. thought i needed to get a 3rd ballast.. but it was only a loose connection at the bulb holder.. their bulbs do suck for par and color. but after upgrading stock bulbs to uvl's pc bulbs.. its much better, more par, nicer light.. but for the money I invested in it, I could have got a better unit from the beginning..I do like the lunars and 3 seperate switches though..

now for my odyessa T5 units (mines=54wx2).. that units pretty good.. no problems.. just had to upgrade my bulbs with uvls..much better now.. my unit only has a parabolic reflector and not individual ones.. I think there new 2009 pro series has singles ones..

so long story short..

paid:

Odyssea 4x65w PC w/ lunars = $175
Replacement ballasts x2 = $60
UVL PC x 4 bulbs = $110

Odyssea 2x54w T5 = $85
UVL T5 x 2 bulbs = $50

6month reef lighting budget Total: $480

For this amount I could have just got a current 8x54w T5, with a couple stand alone lunars!!! from the get go..

overall: im happy, but just a little education for ya from a beginners point of view..