Lights for Seahorse/Macro algae tank?

[Zack]

I'm in the planning and buying stages of a 65 gallon seahorse aquarium that will have various macro algae growing in it. I was planning on buying the same light I've got on my 27 gallon, the Aquaticlife T5 4 bulb fixture with lunar lights and timer. However, for the 65 gallon tank, the 36" Aquaticlife fixture will cost around $340. Since I'll be paying big bucks for a chiller, I was wondering if I could cheap out on the lights. Odyssea makes a fixture almost identical to the Aquaticlife fixture, but it's just over $100 instead of $340...... WOW.... I know the quality isn't as good, and the bulbs probably leave much to be desired, but it has all the basics (I love having a built in timer, so spoiled!). I know the seahorses won't care what light I use (as long as it's not too bright), but how would the macros fare under this type of light? Does anyone use the Odyssea fixtures? It's not gonna blow up or anything, is it? Does it come with a warranty? Or maybe I should look around for a used PC fixture (not sure how macros would grow under PC's)? Thoughts, ideas, experiences would be much appreciated!

The odyessa metal halide fixtures are junk, the ballasts stink and the bulbs are no good. Their t5 fixtures on the other hand are not bad. I swapped out their bulbs to higher end ones and ran that bad boy for a year on my 10 gallon with pretty good results. The reflectors were nothing to write home about but I've seen both worst and better ones. The led moonlights are really nice and from what I've heard the built in timer is decent.

[Zack]

Even with buying top of the line bulbs you'd still be saving money off of a name brand fixture. There's a few very long threads on reef central of people who took apart their t5 fixtures and added high end bulbs and had great results. The stock bulbs are not bad, but they lose color after a few weeks and get very yellow from what I've read online.

And of course, my house/ apt did not burn down from using them. The ballasts never got more than lukewarm.

[Kimi]

Or you could do a par 38 led bulb or two

I'm not familiar at all with LED's, I'd have to do some research first...

[Kimi]

The odyessa metal halide fixtures are junk, the ballasts stink and the bulbs are no good. Their t5 fixtures on the other hand are not bad. I swapped out their bulbs to higher end ones and ran that bad boy for a year on my 10 gallon with pretty good results. The reflectors were nothing to write home about but I've seen both worst and better ones. The led moonlights are really nice and from what I've heard the built in timer is decent.

Thanks Zack, it's good to hear from someone who has actually used the Odyssea T5's! I'm leaning towards buying this fixture and then swapping out the lights, maybe going with a couple of those Hagen 6500K Life Glo bulbs. Sure would save me some money so buying the chiller won't hurt as much. Speaking of, if anyone has a chiller that would work on a 65 gallon tank for sale, I'd be verrrrry interested... ;)

[Kimi]

And of course, my house/ apt did not burn down from using them. The ballasts never got more than lukewarm.

LOL, Good to know!!