[admann]

I'm looking at the current outer orbit 72in 3x 150w hqi 8x 39w t5 ho for my 180gal. I will have a 4-5 inch dsb so the bottom would be 20in down. I am also looking at the aquatecnic constellation ( 14 x 39w ). All opinions appreciated.

[RyanG]

150watt should be fine! nice light!

[pogodzib]

If you want to have some of the more colorful and light demanding SPS corals than you'd probably want to up the MH to 250W, but for anything else, the combination of the 150HQI MH and the T5HO bulbs would be plenty.

[admann]

Thanks guys, I just seen on ebay a 72in fixture that is 8x80 watt t5 vho. cant find a brand name but it dose come with the individual reflectors. trying to see if he will respond and tell me the brand name. also how hard is it to find good bulbs for this?

[pogodzib]

The bulbs are easy to find. Find out what brand the fixture is before buying it though because there is a huge difference in quality and light output between the good brands and the bad ones.

[sgarron]

Go for the outer Orbit. T5's are a little more economical and less heat but, you can't beat the look of MH.

IMO.

[admann]

I was just looking at my dr. foster cataloge and see that current now has a 72in 12x39watt t5 fixture. anyone know or heard anything about this fixture?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

At 2.6 watts per gallon the current fixture doesnt provide a lot of light.And it doesnt have single lamp reflectors.

[admann]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

At 2.6 watts per gallon the current fixture doesnt provide a lot of light.And it doesnt have single lamp reflectors.

according to current the t5's do have individual reflectors. you can look here
Nova Extreme Pro | Current What's Next with the individual reflectors will it be enough or should i go with the outer orbit?

For outer orbit watts are, 3 x 150 watt mh is 450 watts plus the 8 x 39 watt t5's is 312 watts for a total of 762 watts. 762 watts for 180gal would be 4.233.

[pogodzib]

I like the Outer Orbit units much better than the Nova units

[sgarron]

The nova does not have individual reflectors, it has a single sheet bent to mimic individual reflectors. It's the same reflector used on the outer orbit with mh and t5's.

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by admann

Thanks guys, I just seen on ebay a 72in fixture that is 8x80 watt t5 vho. cant find a brand name but it dose come with the individual reflectors. trying to see if he will respond and tell me the brand name. also how hard is it to find good bulbs for this?

Be very cautious about off-brand name fixtures if you don't want to be replacing parts within a short time period, eBay is notorious for pushing these.

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by admann

according to current the t5's do have individual reflectors. you can look here
Nova Extreme Pro | Current What's Next with the individual reflectors will it be enough or should i go with the outer orbit?

For outer orbit watts are, 3 x 150 watt mh is 450 watts plus the 8 x 39 watt t5's is 312 watts for a total of 762 watts. 762 watts for 180gal would be 4.233.

They DO NOT have individual reflectors on the older models, they have a SINGLE reflectors. Make sure you are getting the correct version of the fixture. The older version have single reflectors, bulbs and all that inluded for the T5 portion of the light.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I am confused about this fixture.First off there are no 80 watt t-5 vho bulbs,If it is 48 inch's it could be 85 watts.There no 72 inch bulbs in t-5 vho or t-5 ho.In order to get a 72 inch unit you have to use 2 36 inch units.Simply put,there is no such thing as a 72 inch 80 watt -5 vho fixture. And just one more thing,there are to my knowledge no vho fixtures in any size being made.

[pogodzib]

There are 80w, 60", T5HO bulbs

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Sure there are. But thats s till a long way from a 72 inch 8x80 watt t-5 vho fixture.