Best 24" light fixture

cerolost · 12/25/2006, 08:51 PM

Hey guys I want to set up a 40g hex tank oceanic but I'm trying to find a good light fixture. In the past I've had an orbit 130watt pc on a 29g and a hamilton 250w metal halide on a 40g breeder. It seems my metal halide is causing too much evaporation and so my humidity levels are going through the roof in the house and causing condensation on my windows inside the house. The oceanic hex has a glass top and it also came with a 24" corallife 130 pc. I was thinking of t5's because thats the newest thing in lighting. I don't wanna pay that much for a tek light so the two I found are the finnex 96w t5 and the nova extreme t5. I could always add ice cap reflectors later if there not powerfull enough I figure. Anyways just wanted some opinions.

saltycreefer · 12/25/2006, 08:59 PM

How tall is a 40 hex?

cerolost · 12/27/2006, 07:27 PM

About 21 inches tall.

cerolost · 12/31/2006, 10:55 AM

After learning as much as I could about the different lighting options for a 40g hex I believe I am going to go with the 24" Nova extreme t5ho light. Its 24" with legs which is the first part I want because I do not want anything to hang from the ceiling. At first I didn't understand why this fixture had only 96 watts (4x24). When I started about a year ago it was all about watts per gallon so for my 29 gallon I got an orbit with 130 watts and everything was good. Of course with my next tank, my 40 breeder I did a 250 watt metal halide and even it was nice its not for me. First I hate the stand I made for the light. Second my water evaporates at a huge rate with metal halide. Third cost, my electric has just gotten stupid not just from this but the price hikes and such. The nova fixture from what I've read on nano forums is that people are happy with it for the price. Second you can add ice cap reflectors as you go to increase the power of individual lamps. Third t5's offer a true actinic and I miss that part of going from one bulb type to another on my old pc. I'll update this when I get it in.

GSMguy · 12/31/2006, 11:24 AM

get the teklight at least or the aquatinics if you can afford t5s without individual reflectors are far less efficent than MH or T5 with individual reflector you might as well get a cheap powercompact fixture over the nova
to answer the question at the title of the thread solaris LED lights are the "best"

cerolost · 12/31/2006, 04:27 PM

Maybe I'm not understanding with the nova fixture I couldn't use the icecap reflectors in the unit.

kodyboy · 12/31/2006, 05:18 PM

their is not enough room in the nova fixture for individual reflectors. Try a teklight.

12/25/2006, 08:51 PM	#1
cerolost Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 394	Best 24" light fixture Hey guys I want to set up a 40g hex tank oceanic but I'm trying to find a good light fixture. In the past I've had an orbit 130watt pc on a 29g and a hamilton 250w metal halide on a 40g breeder. It seems my metal halide is causing too much evaporation and so my humidity levels are going through the roof in the house and causing condensation on my windows inside the house. The oceanic hex has a glass top and it also came with a 24" corallife 130 pc. I was thinking of t5's because thats the newest thing in lighting. I don't wanna pay that much for a tek light so the two I found are the finnex 96w t5 and the nova extreme t5. I could always add ice cap reflectors later if there not powerfull enough I figure. Anyways just wanted some opinions.

12/25/2006, 08:59 PM	#2
saltycreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fairfield,CT Posts: 1,696	How tall is a 40 hex? __________________ I love being a turtle!!! Current Tank Info: Got out of tanks for a little while.

12/31/2006, 11:24 AM	#5
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	get the teklight at least or the aquatinics if you can afford t5s without individual reflectors are far less efficent than MH or T5 with individual reflector you might as well get a cheap powercompact fixture over the nova to answer the question at the title of the thread solaris LED lights are the "best" __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

12/27/2006, 07:27 PM	#3
cerolost Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 394	About 21 inches tall.

12/31/2006, 10:55 AM	#4
cerolost Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 394	After learning as much as I could about the different lighting options for a 40g hex I believe I am going to go with the 24" Nova extreme t5ho light. Its 24" with legs which is the first part I want because I do not want anything to hang from the ceiling. At first I didn't understand why this fixture had only 96 watts (4x24). When I started about a year ago it was all about watts per gallon so for my 29 gallon I got an orbit with 130 watts and everything was good. Of course with my next tank, my 40 breeder I did a 250 watt metal halide and even it was nice its not for me. First I hate the stand I made for the light. Second my water evaporates at a huge rate with metal halide. Third cost, my electric has just gotten stupid not just from this but the price hikes and such. The nova fixture from what I've read on nano forums is that people are happy with it for the price. Second you can add ice cap reflectors as you go to increase the power of individual lamps. Third t5's offer a true actinic and I miss that part of going from one bulb type to another on my old pc. I'll update this when I get it in.

12/31/2006, 04:27 PM	#6
cerolost Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 394	Maybe I'm not understanding with the nova fixture I couldn't use the icecap reflectors in the unit.

12/31/2006, 05:18 PM	#7
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	their is not enough room in the nova fixture for individual reflectors. Try a teklight.