It amazes me that lights can be so expensive.

[SeymourDuncan]

What the heck! I have been aware of this since day one, but really...What is the reason these things run so high??? Laptops are cheaper than alot of the lights out there. I did my own lighting and it was less than the cost of My skimmer. Now, I didnt form a metal case and cut a piece of glass out to cover the bulbs, but even then would not have cost 4 grand. Even LEDS are Cheap to make yourself. Timers are 5 bucks!!

Is it just because they are in the SALT WATER category? This huge cost scares alot of people away from the hobby. My friends all say, Well if the light wasnt so expensive...These companies are stunting the coral industry I think. If they could be more affordable without being poor quality, I dont see why they dont. They will sell more in the long run anyways.

I dont know, just a thought as I am putting away my cheapo fixture I just replaced. Look at Honda....They are cheap and last FOREVER.

Their needs to be a light company like Honda..Except from America So I can at least find a job a little easier. Bwaa haaa haa has

 

[mfdrookie516]

There are plenty of cheaper fixtures on the market that are more than capable of supporting corals. If people are willing to pay $4k for a fixture, then it only makes sense for a company to make one.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

I guess its ok to charge people for water too. What a world what a world. lol. I think they should invent LIQUID LIGHT. (They meaning any crazy scientist)
Now, metal halides in liquid form!!! Spot feed your corals with LIQUID LIGHT, brought to you by the makers of SOLID WATER, "No its not ice!!!"


Time for sleep.

 

[_Alex_]

Look at the new coral life led light $2000+ lol I laughed when I seem that it's crazy everyone wants to make a big Buck off a few small sales instead of making a dime off a couple 1000 some sales.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Yeah! Its nuts! I bought a head light (for my head not my car) off ebay for 99 cents. It came with a 3w cree bulb and the lense is adjustable. It takes 3 tripple a batteries. Came from china....bright as hello!

99 of these @ 99 cents..possible diy there?

 

[jonbar1]

Some people want to pay more to have "the best". What I think is just wild is the cost of planted aquarium lights from ADA(they are the Ferrari of planted tank equipment). They want around $1000.00 for a 150w MH pendant.

You pay for the name like anything else.

 

[GratefulReef]

Im in the same boat, I want to upgrade my older t8 4 bulb setup with a 4-6 bulb t5 setup. A prefab is out of the question as far as the price, and Im not that good with electrical to feel confident in doing it myself right now without causing a fire or electrical hazard in my home or fish tank. Hopefully around tax time I can find something nice, used that will be far superior to my current lighting system. I totally agree they should lower the price, sell more and make the same amount. If they are really doing it for the love of the hobby, it seems clear cut they would be more reasonably priced. Its corporate greed, and in the end they are the only winners.

 

[ritter6788]

There are many affordable lighting units out right now. Unless your lighting a 20ft. tank then lights shouldn't be anywhere near $4000.

 

[Dave3112]

I have used the aqua traders fixtures in the past and liked them. They are cheap. I just use ati bulbs because I prefer them.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Yeah, the bulbs have an excuse to be pricey. That is the whole point of the fixture. I could pay for a 6000 dollars for a light and use the bulbs from a Deep Blue Solar Xtreme Light....it would look like 300 bucks.

Or I could buy the 300 dollar light and like Dave says, use the nicer bulbs. Unless his fixture has some kind of non penetrating glass cover, it probably looks Like 8000.

And yes, the DIYs are tricky looking...they are more or less like hooking up a stereo (if its a decent kit). One I was recommended when I said I had a 200 dollar budget ended up running over 500 bucks :/ Or I could go without all the extras...which is basically more lights of different color.

I am seriously considering the Natural Sun Focusing skylight. If i have to change that bulb then my reef is the least of my concerns. (I know I will still need actual lighting as well, but nowhere near as much).

Think about what it takes to light up 1 54 watt T5 bulb for 8-12 hrs a day....for 10,000 dollars, a light fixture should be submersible and bulletproof.

Bulletproof.




And they should have bluetooth if not WiFi and Gps.



Throw in A/C and a DVR and I'll buy it, but it better roll my sorry *(DONKEY)* out of the parking lot.

 

[bige]

Look at the new coral life led light $2000+ lol I laughed when I seem that it's crazy everyone wants to make a big Buck off a few small sales instead of making a dime off a couple 1000 some sales.

I saw this fixture! It was 2500 at my lfs. But it doesn't have to be that expensive. I think it's anemonekeeper has those real fancy LEDs with controller and a remote for 299. You could get two to replace that 2500 unit. But some people want that name and are willing to pay.

 

[BebeCR]

Right now I am looking for some new "no-so-expensive" LED fixtures for both of my tanks: one 36g (31" long) and one 75g (48" long).

I've been reading the thread https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/le...ht-emitting-diodes-q-you-ask.html#post1035962 LED Q&A (You ask, I'll answer). Anemonekeeper wrote about the bridgelux fixtures (cheap and have the violet LEDs available).

I search the Internet and found the fixtures:
HY-A03-SD series intelligent LED aquarium light can be manually controlled by remote controller,and also automatically simulate the sunrise,sunset,lunar cycle in 28days.
1.Customers can be set up own User-defined Programming Function on Brightness/Time by SD-card "hy.txt" file.
2.Five Time Mode Inner Programming Choice as Factory Setting. On the build-in functional system in 5-MODE (Normal,Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter).
3.Without fans, no noisy. Passive cooling system [FONT=宋体]4.External Power Supply. Comply to UL,ROHS, CE, FCC certification
[FONT=宋体]5 .Aluminum housing case with good heat sink

[FONT=宋体][FONT=宋体] 1 unit 24" HY-A03-24X3W for my 36gallon tank. Unit price is $205USD. available color ratio 4pcsx3w White 10000k
4pcsx3w White 14000k
4pcsx3w White 18000k
5pcsx3w blue 460nm
5pcsx3w moon bule 453nm

1pcsx3w purple 427nm
1pcsx3w green

1 unit 48" HY-A03-48X3W for my 75gallon tank. Unit price is $315USD. available color ratio
8pcsx3w White 10000k
8pcsx3w White 14000k
8pcsx3w White 18000k
12pcsx3w blue 460nm
8pcsx3w moon bule 453nm

2pcsx3w purple 427nm
2pcsx3w green

IMO this price is unbeatable!! :smile:







[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

 

[GratefulReef]

Wow I hope these are as good as they sound. I am looking forward to finding out

 

[Redstag]

All the T5 lighting fixtures are the same why most reefers want to buy the ATI than others name brand. Tell me

 

[dougers31]

All the T5 lighting fixtures are the same why most reefers want to buy the ATI than others name brand. Tell me

Not the same. Different ballasts, reflectors, fans, housing, and design make ati worth more money in my opinion. Believe me I would buy cheaper if I could find similar quality, but for the money its hard to beat, with maybe the tek elite coming in a close second. Also you tend to get what you pay for when it comes to customer service as well.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

All lights are the same..a plug, some form of current changing/distributing device, and bulbs...some have a timer...

The thing that gets me is the difference between built in and external timers.
My microwave cost less than the difference.

Here is what i say we do.


No matter what light we buy, we only give them 100 dollars cash. If any light in the entire world is worth more than that (for the average reef tank) it would be those lighting mimicing LEDS....thats just cool...i made a ghettofied lighting effect on my fresh water years ago for that was on a strobe and a suspended spraybar....not so natural...the fish busted out glowsticks and drank alot of water.



But yeah...100 dollars is my personal value of a light capable of lighting a standard 75 gallon tank. With a 5 dollar timer.

Thats how much i paid to light my entire 150g 6ft tank. 6 t5s, and a 400w metal halide high nooner...all on timers!
Now my electric bill is more than my rent (just kidding, but expensive none the less).

 

[NanaReefer]

LED's remind me of the Furby & Cabbage Patch craze

 

[huuta]

Not all t5 are are the same.It's like comparing a BMW to a Kia.Why does BMW cost more then a Kia,after all they are still just cars.If you can compare a ATI next to a Oddysea fixture,you will see the difference.You get what you pay for in this hobby or in anything really

 

[palvyre]

Check out Apollo Reef. Close to the same price point and quality equal to the fixtures that cost twice as much.

http://apolloreefled.com/shop/acti-red/

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Not all t5 are are the same.It's like comparing a BMW to a Kia.Why does BMW cost more then a Kia,after all they are still just cars.If you can compare a ATI next to a Oddysea fixture,you will see the difference.You get what you pay for in this hobby or in anything really

So you are saying its worth 10 million for a light that can short out just as easily as a 100 dollar??

And to be a smart ace...you also get what you trade for

Bmws are flipping great cars though....(i think cars are way more appropriate to price ridiculously since the worlds economy is based on liquid dinosaurs.)