Why buy AH Supply 13watt retro kit???

TygGer

Large Fish
Aug 18, 2003
117
0
0
VA
Visit site
#1
I've ordered the 13watt bright kit from them in the past and have been happy with their product and customer service.

This kit's total output is 26watts. As I was searching on Drsfostersmith, I came across Power Compace Fixtures... specifically a Single bulb 24" 40 watt fixture for $32.

Just wondering, is there a reason why everyone recommended the AH Supply retrofit kits? For a few bucks more, you can get more wattage and a brand new fixture. I wish someone would've recommended the fixture to me instead of the retrofit. O well...
 

Lotus

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
Aug 26, 2003
15,115
13
38
Southern California
home.earthlink.net
#2
If I had a 24" tank, I doubt I would have bought a 2x13w retrofit. It's one of the most common sizes for all kinds of fixtures. I would have thought the 36 watt AH supply fixtures would be a better bet for a longer tank anyway. I would buy the 2x13 if I had a small tank and needed a lot of light. As wonderful as some suggestions can be online, they're not always the best ones for your situation. By the way, those Drs Foster and Smith fixtures seem to be really good value, but they are pretty new.
 

catfishmike

Superstar Fish
Oct 22, 2002
2,614
0
36
Sin City, again...
#3
um because,9 times out of ten that 40 dollar deal isn't avalible.also drsf&s don't tent do have very good deals so i don't think a lot of people look often.plus a retro kit is more versital(if your mechanicaly inclined)
i picked up a 2x96w 72 inch light strip from custom sea life at big als for just under 200 dollars u.s.
personaly it was a better buy because i don't have very good hand tool skills and a pre fab hood is much more to my liking.
it's really all a matter of whats on sale at the time though.
 

styxx1

Large Fish
Jul 1, 2003
143
0
0
49
Baton Rouge, LA
Visit site
#4
I recently have ordered a 2nd 24" double 40w fixture from drs. fostersmith and its a STEAL for only 48.00 (including shipping)!! I haven't been able to even find a double 40w fixture for my size tank until I found them. The closest I could get was a single 65w bulb Coralife fixture and that isn't 4.0wpg friends! But I agree catfishmike, drs. fostersmith doesn' t usually have such unreal prices and this is an unusual thing, I was informed that these prices for these CF fixtures only lasts until Spet 3rd. so get em while they're hot !!
 

TPIRman

Small Fish
Apr 2, 2004
30
0
0
Hanover, NH
Visit site
#5
The 2x13-watt AH kit is typically installed over a 10-gallon -- AH supply even offers free instructions for installation in a 10-gallon (20") lightstrip.

AH Supply's 55-watt kit can be retrofit in a 24" lightstrip if you mount the ballast on the outside of the strip. Either that or the 36-watt kit would be a better bet for a 2-foot aquarium.

If you don't want to muddle with all the hardware, though, seems like those F&S fixtures are a pretty good deal, even without the current 20% discount. I'll be interested to hear how people fare with them -- are they high-quality, long-lasting, etc.?