Viper clamp on light

[Bursa]

What do people think of these?

Looking at 2 to cover a 48" tank.

Are the reflectors big enough?

Thanks

[zma21]

Cheap.

Save a bit longer and buy a worthwhile light.

[Bursa]

Not an issue of $$ but rather an issue of space.

My other option is 2 MH pendants from the ceiling.

[zma21]

I've owned both the viper clamp lamp and the hamilton reef star.

I recommend the reef star.

But also the coralife clip ons are NICE in my opinion.

[Bursa]

Really? I have heard the opposite about the Coralife clip on. Most people dont like it.

[racksteris]

Stay away from JBJ.

[stevelkaneval]

sorry for hijacking, but would a clip on be enough to cover a 20 long its 30 inches long. if i got the 150 watt and put my shrooms off to the sides and the more light demanding in the middle?

[3fins]

Originally posted by racksteris
Stay away from JBJ.

yes, far FAR FAR away!
cheap lights,
-James

[cherubfish pair]

I have two Coralife pendants for sale or trade on the trading forum. They're very nice and adjustable. I decided not to go with a 48" tank.

[zma21]

Originally posted by racksteris
Stay away from JBJ.

I can't belive you'd say such a thing!

Do you work for current?

[the_anti_honda]

No its the truth. Most JBJ products are serious crap including those vipers. If you need something to clip on the coralife fixture is not bad at all.

[tonyespinoza]

had a great experience with my 150W JBJ Viper over the past 6 months... i'll change the bulb in January and that'll be the real test (i've heard they are hard to crack open after they've been running for a while -- expansion, maybe?). Not sure what's so "cheap" about them... i run mine on a 29G AGA and it's just about perfect.

[Rosseau]

For whatever reason I have 2 x 70W HQI's over a 24" long tank. (DIY, bought ballast, bulb and reflector). ballast ~ $40, bulb ~$20-70... there is a decent selection of bulbs out there.

Sometimes I wish I had more power, though they give me a great spread over the tank and I'm able to offset the on/off cycles as you mentioned above.

How deep will your tank be?

[racksteris]

Originally posted by the_anti_honda
No its the truth. Most JBJ products are serious crap including those vipers. If you need something to clip on the coralife fixture is not bad at all.

You are so right man. I would never get anything from JBJ again.

[cwilson]

bursa,
two JBJ's are NOT enough to cover a 48" tank. disregarding quality of light, bulb spectrum, height off of water, or anything, you must consider the design of the light itself. those lights have TINY reflectors, which would really limit the area you can illuminate. if ou were to try to use the JBJ clip-ons, even with the 150W you would have a "spotlight" effect on your tank (two circles of light, and everywhere else is unlit).

if you want to use halides to get the shimmer lines and definition, i would look elsewhere. you can find some nice offordable, T5 lights in 48", but complete ballests for 48" will cost you all kinds of cash. but if you just want halides, which there is nothjing wrong with that (i had a 46gal bowfront with 2X150W), i would get 2X250W pendants. i know i just said i had the 2X150W, but if i could do it all over, i wouldve got 250's

please keep in mind that i have never used the JBJ's, it is just something i instantly noticed about them and i know reflectors can make a huge difference in lighting.

also, im assuming we are talking about tthe JBJ K2 Viper?
and im assuming the 48" to be a 55? (48X12X22). if your tank is 18" wide, WITHOUT A DOUBT go for the 250W

good luck and let us know what you choose to do!

[3VoL]

for the amount of $$ you are spending why dont you buy a nice slim t5 set-up? Heat will not be an issue like Mh will. Also I have a viper 150watt Mh on my tank, they seem to work really well. The people knocking them, have they owned it?

[Conductive]

I have had a 70watt viper over my 6 gallon eclipse for a few months now, and am pretty happy so far. My sps and clam seem to be doing fine. Really, my only complaint is that the color of the stock 14k bulb is a bit too blue for my taste. Also, ive read that this bulb loses intensity rather fast, so i'm planning on switching to a Helios 12,500k sometime in the near future.
Hello christmas moneys! http://www.commodityaxis.com/ProductData.aspx?id=57

[cherubfish pair]

Rosseau, what do you mean off set on/off cycles?

I'm wondering how a 70w viper would do on my fuge.

[racksteris]

Originally posted by zma21


I can't belive you'd say such a thing!

Do you work for current?

You have your self to thank for that.........

[cwilson]

sorry i should have been clearer.

i believe the viper would be a poor decision for a 48" tank. i was recently considering setting up a nano, and that wouldve been the first light i choose. also, i would not hesitate to use them to light a sump/fuge

conductive- theres no doubt in my mind that the viper works wonders on your tank, but would you feel comforable putting two of those on a 48" tank with nothing else?

so i guess i was not knocking them, i was jst say i wouldnt use hem for that big of a tank. if im totally wrong, please let me know.

[b0bby1]

i've owned the coralife and the jbj clip on and the better of the two is jbj. i get better coverage with it and seems pretty reliable. the coralife randomly stopped working one day. look at reviews on all of coralifes products, they are terrible. jbj make one of the best chillers out there and they have a pretty nice nanocube that they make. i don't personally have one, i have a finnex.

[zma21]

Interesting post, bobby.

I have owned the viper, and I really liked the coralife. However, I'll do more research now on the coralife. Thanks!

[the_anti_honda]

JBJ doesn't make their own chillers thats why they are good.

I have owned both lights and the JBJ puts out crap for coverage. Yea it might work well on a gold fish bowl but any real tank large then 5 gallons I wouldn't even bother.

Do yourself a favor and buy a good lighting setup it will be worth it to you 10 fold.

He who buys cheap buys twice in this hobby.

[cwilson]

Originally posted by the_anti_honda


He who buys cheap buys twice in this hobby.

AGREED!!!

[cwilson]

Originally posted by the_anti_honda


He who buys cheap buys twice in this hobby.

AGREED!!!