[Kevin W]

I want to buy this fixture and I have had some bad advice about it. Will anyone voice there opinion on this light fixture please!! Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights 432watt

[pogodzib]

I have a nova 4 bulb T5HO unit over my 20L frag tank and think that the fixture has decent build quality, back the bulbs seem to be less bright and poorer coloration than I expected. I've been usign the fixture for about a year now. However, I am able to keep SPS corals alive (but barely growing) in the tank. The bulbs that come with the unit aren't that great, but bulbs get replaced over time anyway so that wasn't a major concern for me. The 8 bulb unit should work good and provide plenty of light, however, be prepared to replace some of the bulbs right away to get better coloration.

[Kevin W]

Thanks for some good info Brian. I have mostly soft and lps corals under 3 96w pcs now but I want to do some higher light corals and clams but I don't want to do hq lights.

[BLKBRDTA]

I own a Nova Extreme Pro, which is much like the Extreme. I will second the good build quality, and will also back bulb average coloration/intensity that the stock Current T5's throw off. I am currently running 2 - 10K's, 2 - 460's and 2 - 420's because I like the blue coloration the 460's and 420's give off. When the annual time to replace the bulbs comes around, I plan on swapping every one out for all UVL's.. Try out their Daylight's, Actinic's and maybe a new 75.25 or two.. Maybe. Only downside I would comment on the fixture would have to be the ICR's (Individually Contoured Reflectors.) Although the website says "New Individual Single Lamp Reflectors" for the Extreme model, rather than one single contoured sheet. But I have yet to see a new Extreme model to see if its true or not.

$0.02

[Magaman]

We have that model as well. Its very good, ours is almost a year old, so its time for bulbs, this is my plan(more blue less white):
Geismann
3 Actinic+
2 Pure Actinic
2 Aqua Blue+
1 Midday

Instead of the 4 daylight 4 actinic the fixture comes with. We are also thinking of adding some blue lunar LEDs as the ones in the fixture are white.
Also as stated, some retailers list it as individual reflectors, which is false its one solid reflector. We haven't run into any problems growing anything under it. We have a Birdsnest up close to the surface, granted its considered the easiest SPS but either way it has grown and is doing fine.

[SweeTang22]

i have this same light over my 55 gallon, which is my newer reef. Not many corals in it at this point but ill get there. Aside from it not have SLR's im very happy with it. I parted the bulbs out as well and used some already in stock bulbs. I have the 4 bulb unit by the way. The build quality is great, the fan is loud and the heat disipation is moderate. So far its keeping a massive purple tip seabae nem big and healthy. Id say if this is something you'd like to do, go for it. Id advise to spend the extra dollars on the PRO model though, so you get the individual reflectors. That will give the unit much more bang for your buck. good luck

[Kevin W]

This is the light I ended up with. So far very happy! The bulbs are not the best but will work for now. Thanks to everyone who posted here your advise helped my decision on buying this light...



T-5 Aquarium Lighting: Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights