FishNeedIt T5HO review?

[el_heb]

Hi all
Does anyone has any experience with fishneedit T5HO fixtures? I've read that their HQI lamps are very good, but haven't found any reviews on the T5HO fixtures. Some old reviews (maybe from 2007-2008) say that the ballast wasn't reliable, but i don't know about now.

Thanks!

[Armonious]

From what I've read (I don't actually own the light but know a decent bit about it), they have been switched to electronic ballasts that are external. This was sometime in late 08 or early 09 if I remember correctly.

Other than that, from what I gather, the other aspects or the light are mostly the same; alledgedly somewhat flimsy construction, but worth the price in my opinion.

[alan j t]

nay

[VadimShevchuk]

I own a 2' 4x25 watt T5 HO fixture. Im gonna run it on my hightech 37 gallon and the fixture is really good for the money. I paid 100 shipped for mine and i got it on sale. If you have the money then i would go tek but it costs way more. Bulbs and reflectors are crap but if you change the bulbs then you have a decent fixture. I have picture in my journal of the fixture pages 5/6. I had it for 2 months so i cant comment on how long it will work. Joraan has a fixture and hopefully he can chime in and offer his opinions on this fixture. I know tom barr ran a MH from fishneedit i think.

[bsmith]

I would go Catalina. I have 2 of their fixtures and have been very happy with them.

[jargonchipmunk]

I have a 24" 2 bulb fixture. I haven't had any issues with it. They use the cheapest materials they can find including the remote ballast, but it's worked so far. Other than that I can't say much.

oh... the light legs. They're obviously made for rimless tanks. They don't fit over the standard trim on my 15gal tank. I had to cut into the trim to fit the darned legs on the tank. That would be my one gripe.


I also own a couple Catalina fixtures, and I'd always recommend them first, but I got the fishneedit light free, so.... yeah lol.