Is this a good light?

[drillsar]

I was wondering if this is a good light. Im planning on now upgrading my light since the ballast crapped out on me. What can I have with this light?

I have a 55gal tank by the way:

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-JEBO-ODYSSEA-POWER-COMPACT-AQUARIUM-LIGHT-260w-LEG_W0QQitemZ7726268935QQcategoryZ46314QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[theatrus]

Its cheap. I bought a similar one about a year ago. The bulbs are junk. But it does work...

[mike bracken]

Not a bad light, if you plan on having LPS and softies. You might be able to keep some deeoop water acros, up high. Monti caps will survive too.

[snorkelmark]

The Jebo Odyseas are kinda noisy and the fans are suspect. I have both a CoraLife and Jebo Odysea (one on tank/one on fuge both 2x65 watt). The Jebo is a constant pain - very noisy. The acrylic shield also does not fit as well, and the legs are cheaper. The Coralife in same wattage is about same price on eBay but a MUCH better unit - the fans run silently, it's much better engineered and acrylic shield fits better, and legs are much better. It's a much better product for about same price.

[theatrus]

The "actinic" buls also suck (they were not actinic in my Jebo fixture, instead just this weird blue color). I replaced them with true actinics from Hellolights which greatly improved the tank's look.

I've had problems with the ballast not starting bulbs on some mornings. Required multiple on/off cycles to get them going again.

I had much better luck with a 2x96W retrofit kit I placed into a shoplight fixture.

[moprint]

i have the 24 inch version 2 x 65 on my 15 gallon and the fan is not as loud as my coralife fixture 96 powerquad. when the odyssea was 65 shipped and the power quad was 115 shipped very disapointed with coralife and their lights.

[mott768]

is that the newer version of the odysea or the old version? that guy's feedback stinks I would be carefully buying from him. I got my odysea from www.tfjpetcenter.com and its the newer version that comes with a warranty. I wouldn't buy aquarium supplies from a person that sells cars parts, thats like going to pathmark to buy lumber. imo

[moprint]

it is the new version, i have dealt with that seller easy transaction went smooth

[twnship]

I have the similar question. Being christmas time i always buy me a to me from me gift and this time im thinking about getting new lights for my tank. The first question is i was wondering if 542 wtts is too much for a 55 gallon tank? Reason for asking is on aquatraders.com they have a 48in mh/pc fixture for a little over 300. If thats too much wattage? Will a 36 inch be too small for my tank? The tank is 4 foot long. The 36 inch fixture is only 305 wtts. If they wont work then im going to buy that odyssea thats 260 wtts pc fixture its only like 100 bucks. But all i read is you guys talking about they are junk. So im lost have no clue what lights to buy and all i have is 300 or so dollars to play with and i want no limitations as to what i can keep in my tank

[ste6168]

well i thought about getting the oddysea fixture also, but it only has one powercord which means you could not automate light times, that would get on my nerves, unless i bought two fixtures, one complete actinic and one complete 10000k

[twnship]

i just seen at aquatraders that they have a new pc fixture with 3 powercords its 48 inch 260 wtts for like 100 bucks and a new mh/pc fixture thats 492 wtts and is 48 inchhes as well. Wonder if 492 wtts is too much for a 55 gallon tank

[ste6168]

well 492w would be almost 9w per gallon on a 55, i wouldnt think it is too much IMO, but i am by far not an expert on lighting (or anything in the aquarium hobby)

[twnship]

i just cant find a m/h fixture thats in my budget and is good for my 55 gallon. maybe someone can point me in the right place to look. But all i got is about 300 or so bucks to play with. Maybe some t5's will be ok if i can find them for a reasonable price or quess ill just get that 260w pc odessea with 3 cords and be happy with that

[moprint]

twnship i would look at the odyssea t5 ho fixtures if you can find them. look for a thread started by horace he put 3 of these over his 75, but i think you can only get 2 over a 55, or go with the mh fixture that is what i would do jmo

[zedx6]

I would stay away from Odyssea lights as a few people had them catch on fire, I would do a search was not to long ago.

[mott768]

I would stay away from aquatraders sure they are the cheapest but they have a bad reputation for having no customer service and selling refurbs. There is a thread on them here on RC. Also that is where you saw about the metal halide catching fire. I haven't heard anything about the power compacts catching fire. out of all the sellers of odyssea on ebay i asked, the only one I found to have good customer sevice and give a decent warranty was tfj.