Has anyone had this many problems?

jberd · 05-08-2007, 02:33 AM

Ok so I have ordered an icecap 36 inch retro kit from champion lighting supply which comes with ballast, end caps, stand offs reflectors and coralife bulbs, along with 2 UV lighting company super actinic bulbs. Here is what I received: icecap 430 ballast, 2 48 inch reflectors, 2 48 inch coralife bulbs, t-12 end caps and stand offs, and 2 36 inch reflectors. So I called told them the problem he told me he would send out the rest of the stuff. I thought great so here is what i received on shipment 2. I received 2 36 inch UV super actinics and 2 36 inch coralife bulbs. Still no stand offs or end caps. So again I called them this morning and he said he would get them out to me as soon as possible. Are you kidding me. It is going on 3 weeks now I would like to complete my retro.

jberd · 05-08-2007, 02:35 AM

Oh also is this going to be enough light for a 37 tall.
150 watt hamilton 10k hqi
2 60 wat t-5 uv super actinic

jenajet · 05-08-2007, 06:04 AM

should be plenty of light. have done very little ordering online myself because of things like that. when I have ordered usually there is a problem but has never taken more than one reship to get the correct parts. You may want to shoot them an email and tell them exactly what you are missing and you would like those parts, Ask for overnight for all the hassle and explain hey you need lights!

mcliffy2 · 05-08-2007, 08:45 AM

I ordered tunze nanostreams and a few misc. items from champion w/o a problem. sorry to hear about your problems. wouldnt write off online purchasing tho, it does save a ton of cash. I've had success with dr. foster & smith and aquacave too. I HIGHLY recommend etropicals.com for your clean up crew - free shipping over $60 and super low prices.

And I think that should be enough lighting, but you might think about a 250w MH since the tank is tall...is it 24" deep? Either would work I'd think, you'd just have to keep your SPS at the top with the 150.

fyrfytr1717 · 05-09-2007, 12:38 AM

I'd recommend ReefGeek for any future IceCap purchases. Great customer service and living in San Diego you should get your stuff in 1-2 days.

Doug1 · 05-09-2007, 02:33 AM

I have heard several issues with Champion, but no personal experience. FWIW I wouldnt accept less than than URI VHO bulbs, I have never been happy with the coral life VHO, theres a reason they are called Coral death, but thats just my opinion

jberd · 05-09-2007, 02:49 AM

Yeah the uri from what I have heard are awsome that is why I got those as well it just came with the coralife ones. Yes the tank is 24 inches deep. When you say towards the top with the sps how far under the water should they be and how close to water should my lights be?

mcliffy2 · 05-09-2007, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jberd

Yeah the uri from what I have heard are awsome that is why I got those as well it just came with the coralife ones. Yes the tank is 24 inches deep. When you say towards the top with the sps how far under the water should they be and how close to water should my lights be?

This is all from hearsay, but actually you may be able to do 24 with T5s if you overdrive them w/ icecap ballasts (didnt notice the icecaps before). You may have to raise them to the upper half, but I have seen some SPS T5 tanks with serious growth. it should be fine.

jberd · 05-09-2007, 03:40 AM

That is exactly what I have read. That is why I bought the icecap ballast and the uri bulbs. If I am not mistaken you can overdrive them to almost 60 watts each on a 36" bulb. Whiskey do you still have the par tests you did?