Good T5 fixture?

dafunkyman · 04/12/2011, 08:30 PM

I plan to upgrade the lighting on my tank to a Current USA Nova Extreme four bulb 24 watt T5 for a total of 96 watts. I plan this for a 20gal. First of all, is this a good fixture? If not what would be better and why? Also I read that the bulbs that you buy can also make a difference. Why is this and which are the good bulbs?

dougers31 · 04/13/2011, 10:09 AM

Ati sunpower. Better reflectors, ballasts, and cooling. I got mine(w/bulbs) from reefgeek and got a really good deal.

dafunkyman · 04/13/2011, 07:20 PM

What makes it better that it is $180 more? How much of a difference exists between a bad reflector and a good one?

The Grim Reefer · 04/13/2011, 09:19 PM

Better ballasts, better reflectors and more efficient cooling. It makes for a huge difference. A nova pro had about 60% the PAR of my ATI sunpower.

SmokedOut · 04/14/2011, 05:10 AM

Tek lights are reasonably priced and make a great light.

Sent from my EVO 4G using Tapatalk

dafunkyman · 04/14/2011, 04:33 PM

I dont know what is better about ballasts. The reflectors and cooling I do understand though. On a 20 what is the difference in what I could keep if i had a Nova Pro or an ATI or could I keep most things just the ATI would give better growth?

Jfannin · 04/14/2011, 04:44 PM

ATI is the very best made T5 fixture you get hands down.

Teck is a great unit as well but alot cheaper but not as good as the ATI

But you ask for the best. If I was you I would list alot of stuff you want in the tank as far as corals and we could may e better advise you on what to get.

dougers31 · 04/14/2011, 07:38 PM

Tek is good but the ati will give you better bulb life. If you want to save a few bucks the Tek should work well for ya.

Gtt1988 · 04/19/2011, 10:51 PM

better bulb life? i dont know ab that one, maybe the old tek lighting.
get the tek elite fixture it is only 57$ more the the novas at aquacave. and gives you much better light. and use only ati, giesemann, or uvl bulbs never use stocked, such as currents.

Gtt1988 · 04/19/2011, 10:51 PM

Oh last thing ATI is the best!

laredo300c · 04/20/2011, 05:36 AM

I also switched from a nova extreme and u must see to believe, ATI bulbs are a world apart. Don't know if u have to hang both tek and ATI fixtures. Look into that. Don't know if they make legs for their fixtures to mount on your aquarium

rtparty · 04/20/2011, 08:26 AM

On a 20 gallon tank I wouldn't even entertain the idea of an ATI and I am a HUGE fan of ATI. You will melt any type of LPS or softie you put in the tank. Heck, most SPS might even hate you.

On a shallow tank like a 20, even a Current fixture will do the job. Just change the bulbs out to some ATI bulbs.

ATI uses better ballasts than Current, Aquatic Life or even Tek. Current USA and Aquatic Life use Sunpak ballasts. They under drive the bulbs quite a bit. Tek uses Workhorse ballasts and they aren't specifically designed to run T5HO. You are at an immediate disadvantage when running inferior ballasts.

Not all ballasts are created equal. Just like not all V8's are created equal. One ballast/engine is just meant to run the fixture/car, while the other actually performs and has some guts behind it.

DustinB · 04/20/2011, 08:29 AM

I don't know why everyone thinks teks are so much cheaper. When you actually look and realize the teks don't come with legs or a hanging kit, they are pretty close in price with the sunpower after you buy a mounting option.

As stated, the sunpower is a fantastic powerful lighting setup. Just as good as the powermodule IMO, with a far better price.

My experience with Currentusa hasn't been very good. I had an NEP and the ballasts and bulbs always went out, this fixture even has internal fans.

rtparty · 04/20/2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustinB

I don't know why everyone thinks teks are so much cheaper. When you actually look and realize the teks don't come with legs or a hanging kit, they are pretty close in price with the sunpower after you buy a mounting option.

As stated, the sunpower is a fantastic powerful lighting setup. Just as good as the powermodule IMO, with a far better price.

My experience with Currentusa hasn't been very good. I had an NEP and the ballasts and bulbs always went out, this fixture even has internal fans.

+1 to all of the above.

I still recommend a Current or AquaticLife fixture to the OP for such a small tank or try and find a used ATI or Tek.

I have owned 3 different Current USA lights (2 T5, 1 PC) and all three had ballasts fail within 12-15 months. Of course, they fail right after warranty has ended.

cham · 04/20/2011, 09:12 AM

I love my power module, but I'll say a prayer for anyone that has to change out the ballasts (especially the one that runs dusk/dawn where the main power cord enters the fixture.

I said every curse word in the book three times over.

Talk about 10 lbs of s**t in a 5 lb bag.

The Grim Reefer · 04/20/2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cham

I love my power module, but I'll say a prayer for anyone that has to change out the ballasts (especially the one that runs dusk/dawn where the main power cord enters the fixture.

I said every curse word in the book three times over.

Talk about 10 lbs of s**t in a 5 lb bag.

What are you crying about? Just because they hung a ballast by a string and built a fixture around it.......

cham · 04/20/2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

What are you crying about? Just because they hung a ballast by a string and built a fixture around it.......

They obviously did!

Those things are packed in there TIGHT and the power cord side of the fixture is a birds nest of wires that fits into an area the diameter of a pencil. They also gave each wire exactly 3mm of slack!!

My fingers were so cut up by packing the wires back in and getting sliced on all the sharp corners. UGH!

Love the fixture though, she is totally worth it

The Grim Reefer · 04/20/2011, 12:47 PM

Light fixtures are like women. The good one's will cost you a fortune, High maintenance, A real PITA when they malfunction but what would we do without them?

d-man · 04/20/2011, 03:56 PM

i would have gotten a better fixture but mine was the best price of all...FREE. Its the nova extreme 6x39 on a 41x29x25" tank. I changed out the bulbs to all ATI, plus i have 2 24wt actinics on each side of the fixture.
I keep all types of sps from the middle on up and have gotten great growth in 5mos. My lps are all at the bottom or middle.

obviously you get what you pay for most of the time but i am happy with my current set up and in a few yrs, will go to LEDS once I feel they really last some lengths of time.
thanks,
derek

04/12/2011, 08:30 PM	#1
dafunkyman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 71	Good T5 fixture? I plan to upgrade the lighting on my tank to a Current USA Nova Extreme four bulb 24 watt T5 for a total of 96 watts. I plan this for a 20gal. First of all, is this a good fixture? If not what would be better and why? Also I read that the bulbs that you buy can also make a difference. Why is this and which are the good bulbs?

04/13/2011, 09:19 PM	#4
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	Better ballasts, better reflectors and more efficient cooling. It makes for a huge difference. A nova pro had about 60% the PAR of my ATI sunpower. __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting

04/20/2011, 08:26 AM	#12
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	On a 20 gallon tank I wouldn't even entertain the idea of an ATI and I am a HUGE fan of ATI. You will melt any type of LPS or softie you put in the tank. Heck, most SPS might even hate you. On a shallow tank like a 20, even a Current fixture will do the job. Just change the bulbs out to some ATI bulbs. ATI uses better ballasts than Current, Aquatic Life or even Tek. Current USA and Aquatic Life use Sunpak ballasts. They under drive the bulbs quite a bit. Tek uses Workhorse ballasts and they aren't specifically designed to run T5HO. You are at an immediate disadvantage when running inferior ballasts. Not all ballasts are created equal. Just like not all V8's are created equal. One ballast/engine is just meant to run the fixture/car, while the other actually performs and has some guts behind it. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

04/20/2011, 09:12 AM	#15
cham Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 3,632	I love my power module, but I'll say a prayer for anyone that has to change out the ballasts (especially the one that runs dusk/dawn where the main power cord enters the fixture. I said every curse word in the book three times over. Talk about 10 lbs of s**t in a 5 lb bag. __________________ The more I learn about reefing the less I know. Current Tank Info: -SPS-120g Rimless Starfire, Garage sump/equip room with rimless frag tank, reefkeeper & Apex Jr, Reeflo Super Dart Gold return, ATI Powermodule, four Vortech MP40's, SRO XP3000 cone w/self cleaning head, two reefbrite LED, AF three part balling

04/20/2011, 12:47 PM	#18
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	Light fixtures are like women. The good one's will cost you a fortune, High maintenance, A real PITA when they malfunction but what would we do without them? __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting

04/13/2011, 10:09 AM	#2
dougers31 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Albert lea, MN Posts: 33	Ati sunpower. Better reflectors, ballasts, and cooling. I got mine(w/bulbs) from reefgeek and got a really good deal.

04/13/2011, 07:20 PM	#3
dafunkyman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 71	What makes it better that it is $180 more? How much of a difference exists between a bad reflector and a good one?

04/14/2011, 05:10 AM	#5
SmokedOut Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Schoharie ,NY Posts: 71	Tek lights are reasonably priced and make a great light. Sent from my EVO 4G using Tapatalk

04/14/2011, 04:33 PM	#6
dafunkyman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 71	I dont know what is better about ballasts. The reflectors and cooling I do understand though. On a 20 what is the difference in what I could keep if i had a Nova Pro or an ATI or could I keep most things just the ATI would give better growth?

04/14/2011, 04:44 PM	#7
Jfannin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 419	ATI is the very best made T5 fixture you get hands down. Teck is a great unit as well but alot cheaper but not as good as the ATI But you ask for the best. If I was you I would list alot of stuff you want in the tank as far as corals and we could may e better advise you on what to get.

04/14/2011, 07:38 PM	#8
dougers31 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Albert lea, MN Posts: 33	Tek is good but the ati will give you better bulb life. If you want to save a few bucks the Tek should work well for ya.

04/19/2011, 10:51 PM	#9
Gtt1988 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 103	better bulb life? i dont know ab that one, maybe the old tek lighting. get the tek elite fixture it is only 57$ more the the novas at aquacave. and gives you much better light. and use only ati, giesemann, or uvl bulbs never use stocked, such as currents.

04/20/2011, 05:36 AM	#11
laredo300c Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: laredo tx Posts: 646	I also switched from a nova extreme and u must see to believe, ATI bulbs are a world apart. Don't know if u have to hang both tek and ATI fixtures. Look into that. Don't know if they make legs for their fixtures to mount on your aquarium

04/20/2011, 08:29 AM	#13
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	I don't know why everyone thinks teks are so much cheaper. When you actually look and realize the teks don't come with legs or a hanging kit, they are pretty close in price with the sunpower after you buy a mounting option. As stated, the sunpower is a fantastic powerful lighting setup. Just as good as the powermodule IMO, with a far better price. My experience with Currentusa hasn't been very good. I had an NEP and the ballasts and bulbs always went out, this fixture even has internal fans.

04/20/2011, 03:56 PM	#19
d-man Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Diego, ca Posts: 2,732	i would have gotten a better fixture but mine was the best price of all...FREE. Its the nova extreme 6x39 on a 41x29x25" tank. I changed out the bulbs to all ATI, plus i have 2 24wt actinics on each side of the fixture. I keep all types of sps from the middle on up and have gotten great growth in 5mos. My lps are all at the bottom or middle. obviously you get what you pay for most of the time but i am happy with my current set up and in a few yrs, will go to LEDS once I feel they really last some lengths of time. thanks, derek

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