T5 fixtures

Surfside74 · 10/18/2008, 03:58 PM

I am looking at the Curent Nova 4 ft 8x54 watt model. Does anyone have this or heard anything about it? I am also looking at the Tek 4 ft 8x54 fixture. Anyhting about this one? It is going over a 150 gallon SPS/reef tank. Thanks for all the help.

Rob

cook · 10/18/2008, 07:39 PM

Don't use the nova for sps. You need individual reflectors. The tek is good but the icecap retro is better. Check aquacave for good prices.

nikon187 · 10/18/2008, 07:43 PM

+1 The tek does have better reflectors then the nova. are you dead set on a fixture or could you retro?

Surfside74 · 10/19/2008, 07:20 AM

Have no canopy. Going to leave the top open for heat dissaption so I would need a fixture. I like the look of the TEK 8x54. Is this good one? It has individual reflectors compared to the Nova. I would like to order a light today so any other advice would be great.
Rob

SleepyJ · 10/19/2008, 07:30 AM

If you can afford it, go with the TEK. If not, I would at least look into the Nova Extreme Pro or Sundial.

Surfside74 · 10/19/2008, 07:37 AM

Thank you. Have you had good success or know people who really like the TEK. I can afford it. Are there any heat issues with it. I am going to get the tank brackets with it. I cannot find anything bad people have said about the TEK. I think that is the fixture I will go with.
Rob

Mark426 · 10/19/2008, 07:40 AM

Good choice. T-5 without individual reflectors are useless and about the same as PC lights

Surfside74 · 10/19/2008, 08:25 AM

Okay,

What combination of bulbs should I use. I will have a total depth of about 26-27",( 4' long tank). I will use the TeK 8x54 unit. Should I use Geisman bublbs or what? Please let me know because I want great looks and optimal growth of SPS and clams. Thanks again guys. Also, I am going to use the Octopus skimmer. Is that good. I hear everyone that has one loves it.
Rob

Kieth71 · 10/19/2008, 08:53 AM

The only problem with tek lights is it has no active cooling.If you run the acrylic shield then it shortens the life of the bulbs and hurts par value.If you dont run the shield it hurts the reflectors which is the real reason to buy this fixture over the nova extreme pro.I can afford the tek or the nova extreme pro and am gonna go with the pro because of this and the fact that it is a bit less money.If the tek had active cooling i would go with the tek.If you can afford to sepnd a little more money look at Aquactinics.

Surfside74 · 10/19/2008, 09:03 AM

But the nova extreme pro does not come in 8x54, only 6 bulb. I did not think that I had to run the shield. I was going to use the tank brackets and place it 6-8 inches off the top of the tank to allow cooling and minimal water damage if any. Would tis not work?

Rob

Kieth71 · 10/19/2008, 09:20 AM

I dont know if running the fixture without a shield over the tank is a good idea.I would not do it.Maybe someone that has one and runs it without the shield can chime in.I know for myself i would eventually get water splashed on the fixture.I am gonna run the 6 bulb unit pro and did not think about the fact that you need the 8 bulb.I would say that i would not use the reg nova extreme as it doesnt have individual reflectors.It is a tough decision but if you can afford a few hundred more dollars Aquactinics has a 7 bulb unit that is in the 800 dollar range.

Surfside74 · 10/19/2008, 09:35 AM

I do not think i can afford the aquactinics. With the bulbs, it will be well over 900 dollars. I can do the tek with bulbs for about 530 dollars. Do you think I will have problems with the TEK lighting with heat issues? I can add the shield to protect it as long as does not affect the growth/color of corals. If anyone things the TEK is not good, please let me know before I order it.

Kieth71 · 10/19/2008, 09:53 AM

Add another 55 or so for the legs on the tek and if you decide to run the shield that is a bit more money.In your situation you dont have alot of options at this price point so you may very well be best served to buy the tek.If the tek had fans i would not even hesitate to buy this fixture myself as it is for the most part a very nice light.

Surfside74 · 10/19/2008, 10:18 AM

Do you think that the aquactinics is definetely worth it. Is the 48" constellation by aquatinics a good unit. It has fans on it. What do you think of this unit. I really appreciate the help.
Rob

Kieth71 · 10/19/2008, 11:10 AM

The other thing you could think about doing is buying 2 6 bulbs nep fixtures if you have the room.You can get the nep for 350 each shipped from petmountain.com.These fixtures include everything including bulbs,shield and feet.If i had the money i would buy a aquactinics fixture or ati power module.I dont have that kind of money at this point so am going with the nep 6 bulb fixture.

Surfside74 · 10/19/2008, 11:14 AM

Okay, ;lets say I do the aquactinics seven bulb fixture. EWill that be enough light and what bulbs/color configuration shold I do for best growth/color for SPS?

Kieth71 · 10/19/2008, 11:35 AM

I asked grimreaper about which bulbs to use on a 6 bulb config he said

ATI Blue plus
uvl super actinic
uvl aquasun
ati blue plus
ge 6500k daylight
ati blue plus

front to back not sure about the 7th bulb if you went with that config

10/18/2008, 03:58 PM	#1
Surfside74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 130	T5 fixtures I am looking at the Curent Nova 4 ft 8x54 watt model. Does anyone have this or heard anything about it? I am also looking at the Tek 4 ft 8x54 fixture. Anyhting about this one? It is going over a 150 gallon SPS/reef tank. Thanks for all the help. Rob

10/18/2008, 07:43 PM	#3
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	+1 The tek does have better reflectors then the nova. are you dead set on a fixture or could you retro? __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

10/19/2008, 07:30 AM	#5
SleepyJ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Niantic, CT Posts: 425	If you can afford it, go with the TEK. If not, I would at least look into the Nova Extreme Pro or Sundial. __________________ Justin

10/18/2008, 07:39 PM	#2
cook Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Harmony,fl Posts: 1,292	Don't use the nova for sps. You need individual reflectors. The tek is good but the icecap retro is better. Check aquacave for good prices.

10/19/2008, 07:20 AM	#4
Surfside74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 130	Have no canopy. Going to leave the top open for heat dissaption so I would need a fixture. I like the look of the TEK 8x54. Is this good one? It has individual reflectors compared to the Nova. I would like to order a light today so any other advice would be great. Rob

10/19/2008, 07:37 AM	#6
Surfside74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 130	Thank you. Have you had good success or know people who really like the TEK. I can afford it. Are there any heat issues with it. I am going to get the tank brackets with it. I cannot find anything bad people have said about the TEK. I think that is the fixture I will go with. Rob

10/19/2008, 07:40 AM	#7
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	Good choice. T-5 without individual reflectors are useless and about the same as PC lights

10/19/2008, 08:25 AM	#8
Surfside74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 130	Okay, What combination of bulbs should I use. I will have a total depth of about 26-27",( 4' long tank). I will use the TeK 8x54 unit. Should I use Geisman bublbs or what? Please let me know because I want great looks and optimal growth of SPS and clams. Thanks again guys. Also, I am going to use the Octopus skimmer. Is that good. I hear everyone that has one loves it. Rob

10/19/2008, 08:53 AM	#9
Kieth71 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: colorado Posts: 1,026	The only problem with tek lights is it has no active cooling.If you run the acrylic shield then it shortens the life of the bulbs and hurts par value.If you dont run the shield it hurts the reflectors which is the real reason to buy this fixture over the nova extreme pro.I can afford the tek or the nova extreme pro and am gonna go with the pro because of this and the fact that it is a bit less money.If the tek had active cooling i would go with the tek.If you can afford to sepnd a little more money look at Aquactinics.

10/19/2008, 09:03 AM	#10
Surfside74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 130	But the nova extreme pro does not come in 8x54, only 6 bulb. I did not think that I had to run the shield. I was going to use the tank brackets and place it 6-8 inches off the top of the tank to allow cooling and minimal water damage if any. Would tis not work? Rob

10/19/2008, 09:20 AM	#11
Kieth71 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: colorado Posts: 1,026	I dont know if running the fixture without a shield over the tank is a good idea.I would not do it.Maybe someone that has one and runs it without the shield can chime in.I know for myself i would eventually get water splashed on the fixture.I am gonna run the 6 bulb unit pro and did not think about the fact that you need the 8 bulb.I would say that i would not use the reg nova extreme as it doesnt have individual reflectors.It is a tough decision but if you can afford a few hundred more dollars Aquactinics has a 7 bulb unit that is in the 800 dollar range.

10/19/2008, 09:35 AM	#12
Surfside74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 130	I do not think i can afford the aquactinics. With the bulbs, it will be well over 900 dollars. I can do the tek with bulbs for about 530 dollars. Do you think I will have problems with the TEK lighting with heat issues? I can add the shield to protect it as long as does not affect the growth/color of corals. If anyone things the TEK is not good, please let me know before I order it.

10/19/2008, 09:53 AM	#13
Kieth71 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: colorado Posts: 1,026	Add another 55 or so for the legs on the tek and if you decide to run the shield that is a bit more money.In your situation you dont have alot of options at this price point so you may very well be best served to buy the tek.If the tek had fans i would not even hesitate to buy this fixture myself as it is for the most part a very nice light.

10/19/2008, 10:18 AM	#14
Surfside74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 130	Do you think that the aquactinics is definetely worth it. Is the 48" constellation by aquatinics a good unit. It has fans on it. What do you think of this unit. I really appreciate the help. Rob

10/19/2008, 11:10 AM	#15
Kieth71 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: colorado Posts: 1,026	The other thing you could think about doing is buying 2 6 bulbs nep fixtures if you have the room.You can get the nep for 350 each shipped from petmountain.com.These fixtures include everything including bulbs,shield and feet.If i had the money i would buy a aquactinics fixture or ati power module.I dont have that kind of money at this point so am going with the nep 6 bulb fixture.

10/19/2008, 11:14 AM	#16
Surfside74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 130	Okay, ;lets say I do the aquactinics seven bulb fixture. EWill that be enough light and what bulbs/color configuration shold I do for best growth/color for SPS?

10/19/2008, 11:35 AM	#17
Kieth71 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: colorado Posts: 1,026	I asked grimreaper about which bulbs to use on a 6 bulb config he said ATI Blue plus uvl super actinic uvl aquasun ati blue plus ge 6500k daylight ati blue plus front to back not sure about the 7th bulb if you went with that config