[map95003]

Hi All, do any of you guys have any experience with this light fixture? Would this be enough light for my 75g reef if I'm planning on keeping all sort of colorful softies (leathers, mushroomes, etc) or should I just spend the extra $$ and get the halides that would jack up my monthly electric bill? Is $230 +$39 S&H a good price? Thanks for your response.

48" Nova Extreme 4X54W T5 High Output Aquarium Light - (eBay item 120144461271 end time Sep-20-07 07:43:28 PDT)

Or is this one recommended?
48'' Metal Halide T5 HO Aquarium Light 2X 150 Moon New - (eBay item 290155749817 end time Sep-05-07 13:56:27 PDT)

[Lowej82]

buy them here

48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 4x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Lighting )

cheaper and should be free shipping

that second one that you have a link for is a jebo//oddy...... it will come with thicker (cheap) bulbs, that should be replaced with sunpaqs i was thinking of getting it myself until i checked i nto it myself

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by map95003

Hi All, do any of you guys have any experience with this light fixture? Would this be enough light for my 75g reef if I'm planning on keeping all sort of colorful softies (leathers, mushroomes, etc) or should I just spend the extra $$ and get the halides that would jack up my monthly electric bill? Is $230 +$39 S&H a good price? Thanks for your response.

48" Nova Extreme 4X54W T5 High Output Aquarium Light - (eBay item 120144461271 end time Sep-20-07 07:43:28 PDT)

Or is this one recommended?
48'' Metal Halide T5 HO Aquarium Light 2X 150 Moon New - (eBay item 290155749817 end time Sep-05-07 13:56:27 PDT)

To be honest I order everything from Marinedepot free shipping on anything over 175. That first light you listed is choice but I dont think its enough light. I would invest in a little more and get the light that will allow you to do anything you want in that tank without having heat issues. IMO its this one... 48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights (48in Units )

[map95003]

Tonz, is this the best lighting I could get for ~$425.00. Keep in mind that my tank is in-wall so the lighting unit wouldn't be seen. I was also hoping to get something that have the blue lunar lights...I like that effect. Thanks to all for your comments and recommendations.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/...bc5e769dd87aea Have a look at this 7 bulb fixture.You wont find better anywhere.

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by Tonz of fun

To be honest I order everything from Marinedepot free shipping on anything over 175. That first light you listed is choice but I dont think its enough light. I would invest in a little more and get the light that will allow you to do anything you want in that tank without having heat issues. IMO its this one... 48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights (48in Units )

I too was deciding on a new light fixture and didn't want to get MH. I think I will purchase this 8x54W light fixture. One question, are T5 bulbs HO or VHO or something completely different?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The t 5 unit you posted is ho.At his point in time if you want vho you will have to build it yourself.VHO bulbs in 48 inch are 85 watts.Look at the Ice cap retro,s here and check out the UVL bulbs under bulb choices.T5HO Retro Kits - DIYReef

[Tonz of fun]

Native are you not a fan of the currant system? Should I be suggesting a different fixture?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Greg,I am in favor of whatever system meets the needs of the tank and the aquarists pocket book.And while i am here have a look at this system.https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/...hp?cPath=55_90

[Lowej82]

wouldnt that be sweet over my new 55

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Greg,I am in favor of whatever system meets the needs of the tank and the aquarists pocket book.And while i am here have a look at this system.https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/...hp?cPath=55_90

So do you feel that the 8 x 54W NovaExtreme is a good fixture for the price of $432? Or would you suggest the Aquactinics $569 I believe it was?

[map95003]

Thanks for all the responses. Sounds like I need 300w - 400w no matter which type of lighting I use (T5, MH combo or even just T5) and I have to spend ~$400. Based on the info I got from you guys and other "lighting" related threads it sounds like it's a split decision, it's 50/50 depending of who I ask, T5 or MH? Some say the MH because they like the "shimmering" effect, others like the T5 because the MH is too hot....tough decision to make, so I'll put it out there again...here are the ones I'm looking at (and yes, once I make a decision based on your feed back I'll check with MarindDepot.com). The fixture would be behind the wall so the cosmetic appearance is not as important to me as the quality of light and the price. I'm also open to other suggestions. Thanks

48'' Metal Halide T5 HO Aquarium Light 2X 150 Moon New - (eBay item 290155749817 end time Sep-05-07 13:56:27 PDT)

48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights (48in Units )

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by map95003

Thanks for all the responses. Sounds like I need 300w - 400w no matter which type of lighting I use (T5, MH combo or even just T5) and I have to spend ~$400. Based on the info I got from you guys and other "lighting" related threads it sounds like it's a split decision, it's 50/50 depending of who I ask, T5 or MH? Some say the MH because they like the "shimmering" effect, others like the T5 because the MH is too hot....tough decision to make, so I'll put it out there again...here are the ones I'm looking at (and yes, once I make a decision based on your feed back I'll check with MarindDepot.com). The fixture would be behind the wall so the cosmetic appearance is not as important to me as the quality of light and the price. I'm also open to other suggestions. Thanks

48'' Metal Halide T5 HO Aquarium Light 2X 150 Moon New - (eBay item 290155749817 end time Sep-05-07 13:56:27 PDT)

48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights (48in Units )

I personally wouldn't buy that particular MH/T5 combo, but one similar too it. Look at the price and the brand, $369 is very cheap for that type of unit so be careful. I also believe that I will go with the 8x54 W T5 light instead of the MH. My tank doesn't require high intensity lightening so I will opt for less heat and more light.

[Tonz of fun]

I would scratch the MH and got purely with T5s if you can...Get Aquatics if you can afford it if not I will go on the record and say I love my Nova...

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The aquactinics have single lamp reflectors and that alone makes it worth the price difference.They make t 5 lights work the way they were intended to.

[wesley6610]

So the Nova Extreme's have a single reflector I take it? And since Aquactinics have individual reflectors they increase the output of each bulb more than the other brands? I have looked at their website and they do look nice, most don't have moonlights and if they do they are pricey. However, would you say that a 5 or 6 bulb system from them puts out a about the same amount of light and PAR value as the 8 bulb system with single reflector of the Nova or similar units? It looks to be about a $200 difference and perhaps the lose of lunar lights, but I want the best lighting for the money under $600.

[Lowej82]

Just Phish Sunlight Supply Tek Light 48" 4x54w T5 Fixture $215 + bulbs - moonlights they have a6 x 54 also

[NATIVEVAMAN]

https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/...631dc00dbd4ab8 here is a fixture you will need sun glasses to work on lol.And its under 600$'s.(no bulbs)I see no reasonable comparison between single lamp reflectors and one reflector for all.

[wesley6610]

If I purchased an Ice Cap 660 ballast, is it really possible to push a 54 Watt bulb to 84 Watts without shortening the life of the bulbs?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

You dont want to push a 54 watt bulb to 84 watts,what you would want to do is buy an 84 watt bulb.An Ice cap ballast will overdrive a standard bulb and shorten its life but that is not at all what I am recomending.Have a look at UVL bulbs.They are built with thicker glass and longer filiments to support the wattage increase.

[wesley6610]

Okay, I understand now.

[holiday]

Since we are discussing lighting - I will chime in for help as well. I bought a tank off of ebay. A 55 gal and I believe the lights are wimpy for what I want to do. He had a FOWLR tank and I want to add mushrooms, zooathiads and some anemones for my two percula clowns in my other tank (that will be moving into the larger tank when the tank is ready for them). My LFS is saying go with the power compacts and my friend is saying t5's. I need a retro kit for my canopy and will have to install fans in the canopy. I was looking at the Nova Extreme 4 x 54 t5's.

2nd ?? What time of anemone should I buy for my percula clowns?

I am on my second tank and have only been doing this for 6 months so I am barely wet in this hobby.

Thanks. I love this site. Noel

[Tonz of fun]

The percs natural anemone is the carpet. Thos are probally on of the hardest anemone to keep though. Some people have some success with there fish hosting the bubble tips. I would never recomend PCs. T5s all the way....

[holiday]

Can I get the T5's to fit in my canopy? I have only seen them on the stand legs.

[Tonz of fun]

I dont see why not. They are the same size fixture as PCs. You dont have to use the legs. I have mine hanging.