need a review on a brand of lights

We ordered a sunblaze light that was listed as being 12" wide, it was 18" wide which is definitely WAYYY TOO BIG to go over a 55gallon tank that is only 13"wide. We sent it back because they screwed up and said it is 12" ...and it's not. So they sent us a light that DOES fit over the tank AFTER we sent the sunblaze back. It's not a tek never said it was a tek light I never mentioned tek. DarthClownfish was explaining the product and brand and the difference between sunblaze and tek, thats all. The first light we got was a sunblaze, the new one they sent is NOT a sunblaze [or a tek]. It's a Solar by Catalina. I really don't see how this is so confusing lmfao:yelrotflm we bought something, it wasnt what they said it was, we sent it back, and they sent a new product that suits our needs, that's all there is to it.

So I'm guessing no one here has had a sunblaze light [which we really don't need reviews for now lol] so hopefully someone out there has a Solar t5ho by Catalina and will chime in and let us know how it held up for them and what they think about it. That's all I'm looking for. Any actual help will be greatly appreciated.

 

well, it was very easy to get confused in all the jumble earlier in the thread, but glad you got it strightened out. Hope someone here can help you out with it. I ALMOST bought that same light, in a 72 inch version!

 

thanks rod, did you end up getting another light, if so what kind?

 

A sun blaze 4 lamp model # UPC 87083004965 IS 48'X10;2.5" fits a 55 perfectly 159.00 The sunblaze 8 tube is 17.5 wide .

 

tigerlily, I did end up getting a 60 inch Current USA Outer Orbit light with 2 150 watt HQI's and 4 54 watt T5HO bulbs. I got it for just over 500 shipped new on ebay, so couldnt pass it up.

 

I'm thinking that the sunblaze light we originally ordered, they don't make it anymore. It was a 6bulb fixture, and I couldn't find it on any online stores other than e-bay when I was originally trying to find reviews on it. Only could find the 4,8,12 bulb fixtures. It was also a bronze color where as the ones online were either black or silver. Thanks anyway though.

The Solar light we have now is a 6x54watt t5ho 48"x8.5" has 3 cords each for the 3actinitcs, 3 10k bulbs, and the 8 blue LEDs. One switch for 3 bulbs, one for the other 3, and a dimmer for the LEDs. We plan on getting a timer for each cord from Lowes. Each bulb has its own individual reflector. The company website, and e-bay, do not specify the type of ballast. I'm sure we could take it apart and find out. Catalina also sells Splash Guards for the Solar light fixture so we will be able to get one of those if need be.

their website is Catalina Aquarium

 

Lets move on.

The only thing that was wrong is that someone said that it was a sister company/product, then you go on to say that "we ordered a TEK and got something else and we were happy about it."

No matter how we look at it now, it is going to do one thing and that is raise a post count. Lets get on to the review of it and be done with it.


I am currently out of town on business but when I get back we can carry this thread further with the pro's and con's of the fixture.

Sound like a deal people?

 

Sunblaze 6 bulb

The one we ordered and recieved was total junk to be honest with you. I was a bit heated when I saw the actual product. It was cheap and definately showed it. One single reflector just curved for the bulbs. I am just starting out with all this and can honestly never recommend that light to anyone. It is stated online to be 12 inches wide but I believe they used the 8 bulb's housing (Considering tangster said the 8-bulb is the same width) with different ballast and reflector. Only one power cord with two switches and the bulb connectors are standard, not sealed.

 

Well its almost been a month now having these lights and I like them a lot. One of our cats managed to get up there and knock the whole light down and only one bulb broke. So except for the bulbs, its very sturdy lol. It doesn't get that hot, and doesn't overheat the tank. I know there was an argument about whether or not light helps grow coraline algae, but after we put these lights on the coraline that was dying on the live rock we bought has made a big comeback and is starting to grow all over that rock and on all the other rocks on the tank. We also have some type of ricordea growing, and a hairy mushroom, under this light that seem to be doing great.