How are the Coralvue T5 retro kits?

[Ratpack]

I saw these at Custom Aquatic and they look pretty good. Just wondering if anyone uses them and what their opinions are. I am looking at 3 of them across a 75 gal tank. I plan to keep mostly LPS, some softies and perhaps a few SPS in the higher part of the tank. Will these work?

[pearl_aqg]

I'm not familiar with the Coralvue brand, but there's an interesting spectral analysis online here of their metal halide lamps: Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine - Product Review: Spectral Analysis of CoralVue Reeflux 120000K and and Reef Optics Metal Halide Lamps

It suggests that they aren't the best quality, which could very well extend to other products of theirs, esp. lighting.

[Samper]

I use all coralvue fixtures....but I immediately change out the bulbs and use the stock ones for backups. Their T5 bulbs last approx 6 months and don't look that good to me.

[BinaryReefer]

Lumenarc stopped selling CoralVue products due to poor customer service and now they redirect all warranty/RMA requests to CoralVue directly. Saying that they were not honoring thier warranties.

Speaking from personal experience I dont think it matters what retrofit kit you choose. But the reflector, ballast and the bulbs are what makes it all count.

I would look for a decently priced kit in the $100-125 range that includes individual reflectors. I have had great success with ATI bulbs and thier blue + bulb has a great PAR rating. I would also go for an IceCap 660 ballast which will overdrive the bulbs. Watch out though there have been some people with overdriven 6-8 bulb setups that will literally melt away certain soft corals.