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Hello,
Does anyone see a difference in these products besides price? Anyone bias toward one or the other regardless of price?

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=338
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BJNL24/ref=s9_asin_image_3-hf_favarsnfggenpx_2267_p/102-9377210-6599338?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I26ME9H2JKRSEN&colid=25QQBC1VMCSUY&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_r=18A8898YBJGNKEHGMSB1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=279439001&pf_rd_i=507846

Thanks.

Chris

Well, i think the first one is better because it comes with mounting legs (if you have a glass hood you might not need these). Also, the first comes with a moonlight. The first is the one i would choose. It is a sleek black look, containing compact flourescents. Plus the price is soooo much better. #1 is the way to go for me!

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The first one is an off brand only has one cooling fan but does have built in lunar light and one arctic blue light bulb.

The second is a brand name. and has two of the same type of bulb, but you can change that later. it has 2 cooling fans with no visible lunar lights.

I would go the the first one myself. I don't see a lot of difference in lights now a days except for price. Odyssey lights are good I use them have no problems with them.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

Alot of people get heated up over the off brand lights causing problems. Most of those people though can't claim to personally have had any problems. Usually I hear about how somebody they know knew somebody else who had one catch fire. Compared to how many major light brands I've heard of also having issues with particular products I don't see any real difference. I've had no trouble using cheap off brand lights so long as you watch how many cooling fans they include. With 1 fan to two 65w bulbs it should be fine especially on mounting legs. I did get one with no fans and four 65w bulbs that has no mounting legs. While several years later(maybe 5?) it still works I have to be careful how I set it on the tank. It can get hot enough to actually melt the glue attaching the handles to the lid and heat the top of the tank up by several degrees.

I guess I will get the second Hood. I am wondering if I can fit a HOB filter with that setup, I don't want to break off a piece of plastic or buy a canister for only this. Also Do moonlight bulbs affect the amount of light the plants get? Thanks.

Chris

You understand that a hood and a light are two separate items. Both lights are just lights, the off brand comes with legs to hold the light above the tank, the other light does not, you will have to buy them separately. This style of lighting you will have to buy a glass cover for the tank if you have fish that will jump out or if you have shrimp's/crayfish. They are designed with a 2" opening in the back to allow a HOB, heaters and wires. they also have a plastic strip that covers the opening and you can cut or dill opening for your filter and such. This will give a safe cover. Lunar lights just are use to view your fish at night. I see no ill affects on my plants but I wouldn't say they are getting 24 hours of sunlight. Lunar lights are a decoration but some people say it a more natural effect to the fish the whole sun and moon thing.

I'm confused at to what light your decided on the Odyssea or the Coralife.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

I am thinking about the Odyessa. I am confused about a light and a hood. Is either a hood? It appears that they both are hoods with the strip that holds it up above the tank and the hatch to feed with, right?

Chris

Both of those are only wide enough to hold the lights so using a glass cover under them is best and even necesary for the 2nd light. They will only cover around 7" of the top of the tank. Depends on the width of your tank but generally that's not much. My odysea the entire thing flips back on the mounting legs but it's never necessary to do so since even with 2 bulbs wide the fact it's up on mounting legs gives plenty of room to open the top of the tank. The other will just lay across the top of the tank and if you need to move it will have to be lifted off and set elsewhere. Usually all I have to do is slide my nonmounted light back a little to give more room and then slide it back to the center of the tank and glass top. For the odyssea they often come with plastic covers for the bulbs so you don't have to use a cover/hood on the tank but there are various reasons not to run an open top tank. Having a cover on the tank stops fish from jumping out, lowers evaporation, and helps keep the temp stable to name a few reasons. For the 2nd light you will definitely need a glass cover or water will reach the bulbs and ruin the light.