Giesemann 260 - Expensive? $$

[invincible569]

I was reviewing the Giesemann 250 and the price caught me off guard at $2300. hmmm.. anyone own one of these and care to comment. I do like this part, but can still be done by a controller on a separate lighting system:

Source: marinedepot.com

The System 260 Moonlight, flagship model, simulates natural living conditions day and night, allowing you to observe your fish in the moonlight.

Moonrise and moonset, and even the phases of the moon, pose no problem for the complex microprocessor control. Cloud simulation was even thought of.

As the moonlight lamp requires a mere five watts, the System 260 moonlight is incredibly energy efficient. The amount of light emitted corresponds to that of the natural moon, ensuring plants and fish still have their period of rest.

The perfectly thought through design details commonly associated with this light have been augmented by continuous, rapid-action height adjustment and a flexible spiral cable.

[GTR]

Edward... no experience with this but my thought has always been the pricing of their products is directly related to the design elements in their products. I'm sure the engineering is top notch also but most of the power components must be off the shelf products.
I'd consider one if I wanted an open top tank but I prefer the surrounding room to not be flooded with overspray light.

SteveU

[Orion76]

Look at their new Basic line. It doesn't have the moonlight and dimming features and is about half the price. Just bought one myself for a 100g tank I'm building in my office.

I don't think my corals will do much better on a fancy moonlight schedule

[invincible569]

I have an Aquaspacelight with vents, but dont see them on this Giesemann... anyhow, its so hot to touch after a couple of hours. I wonder if that controller is ok at those type of heat levels since it sits inside the fixture.

[Orion76]

At that kind of price, you'd hope they would have taken the heat into consideration

[moonpod]

Giesemann fixtures are absolutely friggin' beautiful. They have an auto like finish to the paint. Really, really nice looking. Very few complaints about breakage etc...BUT the reflectors are actually nothing special. Sanjay tested the DE reflector and it frankly didn't do all that well vs our "standards" the ROIII+ and Mini. Giesemann's are all about aesthetics. That being said, the reflectors arguements are somewhat "silly" in the sense that probably for "most" setups, you don't have to have a maximized reflector for good results.

[Miguelito]

I used to run Geisemann pendants and they ARE the best looking pendants made. I loved it, but heard the spread on the Aquaspacelights were better, so I bought a 48" one and loved it more than the Geisemann for spread. Then I heard Sunlight Supply pendants were great - I bought them and they were the ugliest, cheapest looking things I'd ever seen, but they BLEW AWAY the German models. Then I went back to Aquamedic because design became important my my current set-up. I just sold them all, the spread sucks. But it IS brighter, and more pointed.

So I guess it really depends on what you want. I guess if you have a 40"L x 18"W tank, 2 Geisemanns are perfect. But you don't really get the standard 2' x 2' IME.

But boy are they beautiful.

[invincible569]

Thanks Miguelito. I love my Aquaspacelight and since it performs so well, I bought another for my prop tank. Now i have two, one 72" and one 48". The spread of light is definitely good. No dark spots anywhere.

[laurent78]

Giesmann bulbs

Do you use the giesmann megachrome bulbs HQI 250W ?

[Aged Salt]

Hi Laurent, I'm presently using the 400W-SE-Giesmann-13K bulbs over my reef. It is bright white, with no yellow-tint & it does not "wash-out" the SPS. Bob

[mane3215]

I have the moonlight 260 and I do very much like it. I love the computer, its cool to the touch even after running all day long with no fans, or at least that I can hear. Its very clean and is awesome for open top tanks.

They are very expensive, and I do like the spread on my PFO 250w de pendants better but for my 40g breeder its all I need. I love the light and the moonlight and the t5's =). Its nice having it all in one package with nothing to worry about and very clean looking.

Here is a shot of it over my 40g:

[moonpod]

Do you use the giesmann megachrome bulbs HQI 250W ?

They seem to be the same as the BLV10k IME.

[laurent78]

I have to change my bulbs...
I originally have a UFO 3X400W .The problem was the heat . 32°C all year! Now i have 3X250W Arcadia.