IceCap and Blue life vs. Odyssea

Just to chime in quick here

Just recieved my SPS 14,000K bulb today, I am putting on my 50g tank I use for testing. Is being driven by a Hamilton Tech. Ballast.

So far... I love the color ;D

It replaced a Megachrome Marine (12,500k) bulb. The testing tank houses a mix of SPS, LPS, and soft corals/zoos as well as a lots of inverts.

In addition to testing conditions for corals, I also will transplant GHA's from other tanks to try and determine which cleaners will consume it.

Looking forward to seing what effect this bulbs effect on the system as a whole is....

 

10 days later. My monti was all gray after a month of Odyssea... Now the Orange is starting to come back. The orange areas were not there 10 days ago. My Cali Blue tort is the bluest I've seen it, same for my blue turaki. My red planet SPS is noticably pinker.

One negative I think my Pink Square Anthias is hiding all the time now. I've read they will fade with bright lights.

 

Just to recall, you installed SPS bulbs with IceCap ballasts..........right? Luna

 

That's correct.

 

I just did the reverse. I replaced the 14K SPS bulb with 20K Odyssea bulb. The SPS bulbs where too strong, I think, They where bleaching my Candy Canes. Luna

 

Yeah, my lava chalice was really starting to turn white quick. I had to move it far away. The Odyssea bulbs were great for non SPS tank.

 

The first pic is with Odyssea bulbs on both sides and icecap ballast on the right/ odyssea ballast on the left. It's noticably brighter but the big difference was the bulb.

 

Odyssea light on ebay

WOW... I wish I would have found this site a few days ago. I just purchased an Odyssea light on ebay (36" Metal 1x250w Halide Aquarium Reef Light 4x total 442W Power Compact) Now a I am wondering if I should return it ( still have 30 days) Or should I do all of the suggestions to just make it work? BTW.. Can someone put together a list of things that they would recommend you update when you get your fixture? For example, ballast, bulbs, wires, etc...)

 

Change the bulbs,,
a XM 15 or 20k or Coralvue/reeflux HQI 250... My friend tested those bulbs and all fired right up ont he 36"250 and 24" 150 HQi set ups. I think he even tried a hamilton 14k and 10k but both of those did not like the Oddy ballast.

I have no pics . I know the XM's/Coralvues do fire up and look way better than the Factory Oddy bulb.

I also visit AuquaTraders(Huge Carrier of ODYSSEA) almost twice a month ,, The newer lights are night and day over two years ago.Yes ive read evrything there is to know about the Old Lights and burnt BBQ things:

Besides I usually pick up fish for a few friends that used to do wholesale in the Southbay
( Auquatraders biggest thing is Freshwater and Salwater fish).

When ever i can, i always look at the Lights first hand to see how thier made and what they can and cant do. Ive owned may Odys lights but have always made my own Halide setups.

Best news on Odyssea over the years,
.2008/2009 new ellectronic More Reliable ballast on 150/250HQI and PC/T5 fixtures.

Worst ive seen
(Light Bulbs)Slow progress on Color and bulb life.
ATM the main thing is the Bulbs Color K..
Atinics are 460spectrum and you should swap them for ATI/ULV/Giesman/Hamilton or something that is True 03.
This goes for PC/T5's

Odyssea 20k is like a yellow/white10k
As for what HAlide Bulbs work other than Odys Factory bulb I only know of XM and Coralview/Reeflux bulbs working on thier ballst HQI 150/250watts..
(Unless you change to a ARO electronic 150/175watt or 250watt Ballast from(Hellolights)
Actually fairly easy to do.

Please if more people have tried other bulbs chime in. Odyssea running better with the 2009 line of 150/250 HQI.

Sometimes i have to Remeber Aquatrader does not Make the lights they only sell them. Ive seen happy people in thier store that use odyssea. Ive also seen them exchange fixtures on the spot when some one has walked in with a problemed Odyssea.



Ive not had bad vibes with thier T6/T5 or PC fixtures. Ive always run Better bulbs in all the fixtures from day one.

ATM if using the HQi fixtures ,,a simple bulb change will go along way.
Untill you make or Buy that uber halide setup.

 

Current and Aqualine bulbs also work with Odyssea's ballasts. Luna