MH fixture, which one?

Would you guys recommend the current usa outer orbit or the sunpod? Would the sunpod produe enough blue light from the leds to act like actinics? It would be the outer orbit 48" 2x250 with 4 t-5 actinics, or the sunpod 48" 2x250 with blue leds and white leds.

 

only drawbacks with a fixture is the stock ballast. Try to find an electronic ballast not magnetic.

 

I would go with the Outer Orbit. It allows you to customize the coloration of your tank. As well as the extra PAR levels.

Magnetic ballasts push a MH bulb harder with more output than most electronic versions. The downside is heat and power used.

 

you can get a cheap odyssea and mod it..... most bang for the buck. get the 250w version with t5s

 

Yeah i would upgrade my ballasts to icecap 250s

 

ice caps..... heard nothing but good. couple others including myself upgraded to galaxy ballast. Good warranty..

Definitely dont buy expensive fixture if your gonna mod. I made that mistake with out knowing i was gonna upgrade items on it.

I dropped $700 on the 48" coralife aqualight pro 150w just to spend and additional $400 to upgrade

 

what kind of upgrades are we talking about?

 

If I was to do it all over again I would buy an odyssea fixture with t5s w 250w halides.

I would gut out the halide components besides the sockets. purchase new bulbs, lamp cables and ballast. You would have a semi custom fixture at the cost of a "good" stock fixture. You get to choose your bulbs and ballasts. You then could sell your stock ballast and bulbs to lessen costs.

The odyssea fixture is identical to the coralife one. I personall like the slim look of em hanging from my ceiling. The odyssea fixture is inexpensive. Usually seen on ebay (even though I couldnt find one tonight)

This is what I would do.... I dont know what kinda tank or what corals are to be kept. But this would prevent any upgrades in the future if you were to go with a fixture.

Its all simple... I did it to my coralife and I am completely satisfied with my fixture now. It hasnt even phased me to ever change my lighting since the mod. Except to replace the power compacts with t5s.... but havent thought about it too seriously.

 

I got an Odyssea and put Icecap ballast in it. They just plug in. If you go that route get one with T5 actinics. The PC bulbs cost more $$$.

 

ever consider upgrading????