Help/Opinions Please.Lighting Experts...

NYDiesel · 04/01/2010, 10:38 PM

Need help please. Currently own a Nova Extreme Pro 6x54 fixture. Im contemplating these decisions for my double 40 breeders which are side by side.One side is Softies/LPS other is SPS.Want to save some money if possible and need max growth.T5s only.
Thanks

A. Keep the 48" Nova(change bulbs) and add a 36" Tek 6 bulb(sps)
B. 60" 6 bulb Tek fixture
C. One 4 bulb(softie) and One 6 bulb tek(sps)

Johnny C · 04/01/2010, 11:31 PM

I'd definatly go with option 'c' but either way I'd get a Tek.

divewsharks · 04/02/2010, 01:12 AM

if for 40 breeder, you can still use just 4 bulbs for SPS, don't need 6.

NYDiesel · 04/02/2010, 05:05 AM

Researching sps and the site I found many people used a 6 bulb config and had good growth. I may be wrong though. Plan on ordering tonight so would still appreciate advice.

KRASHPD · 04/02/2010, 06:35 AM

Tek lights don't have built in fans correct? Did you look at the 60" ATI Sunpower. Built in fans, excellent reflectors, and built by ATI.

NYDiesel · 04/02/2010, 06:46 AM

The tek lights do not come with fans. The tek elites do but come with a price tag. Only reason I'm not looking at ati's is because of price.

rkb · 04/02/2010, 07:20 AM

I like option "C", based on my experience with my SPS dominant 40B I would say your SPS would love the 6 bulbs. My tank runs 2 X 150w 14K Phoenix HQIs and 4 X 39W T5s (three ATI Blue +s and one Fiji Purple) and my corals are happy.

.........yes, yes, yes, I run a chiller.

divewsharks · 04/02/2010, 10:05 AM

if you do a search for kvosstra's tank, its only 4 bulbs. you can use 6 bulb, nothing wrong with it, does give you more color options.

as for the Tek not having fans, very true. the best things to do:
1- don't use the splash guard, keep the fixture high enough above the tank so its out of the splash zone -- the splash guard doesn't allow heat from the bulbs to escape taking away from the efficiency and output
2- get a couple of clip-on fans and point them at the fixture, not the bulbs -- this will boost output.

NYDiesel · 04/02/2010, 10:11 AM

Thanks everyone. I think I will get the 6 bulb and run 4 bulbs to start possibly.Remember max growth is key. If I need more then ill run the additional two bulbs.
divewsharks-thanks for the tips

NYDiesel · 04/02/2010, 10:46 AM

I'm guessing most people hang there Tek's from the ceiling?

divewsharks · 04/02/2010, 11:21 AM

you can hang from the ceiling or you can build a mount to hang from the back the stand or from the wall (which is what i did). you can use the legs so that it sits on top of your tank, makes maintenance a bit more difficult though.

divewsharks · 04/02/2010, 11:29 AM

these aren't mine, but mine is very similar to #1

NYDiesel · 04/02/2010, 01:06 PM

Thanks again. You've been very helpful

04/01/2010, 11:31 PM	#2
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	I'd definatly go with option 'c' but either way I'd get a Tek. __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

04/02/2010, 06:35 AM	#5
KRASHPD Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 1,185	Tek lights don't have built in fans correct? Did you look at the 60" ATI Sunpower. Built in fans, excellent reflectors, and built by ATI. __________________ "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked" - Warren Buffet

04/02/2010, 07:20 AM	#7
rkb Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Western Hemisphere Posts: 578	I like option "C", based on my experience with my SPS dominant 40B I would say your SPS would love the 6 bulbs. My tank runs 2 X 150w 14K Phoenix HQIs and 4 X 39W T5s (three ATI Blue +s and one Fiji Purple) and my corals are happy. .........yes, yes, yes, I run a chiller. __________________ Current tank: Eleventy billion gallon tank with a DSB of rainbow gravel and one tiny blue tang...

04/01/2010, 10:38 PM	#1
NYDiesel Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hopewell Jct, NY Posts: 145	Help/Opinions Please.Lighting Experts... Need help please. Currently own a Nova Extreme Pro 6x54 fixture. Im contemplating these decisions for my double 40 breeders which are side by side.One side is Softies/LPS other is SPS.Want to save some money if possible and need max growth.T5s only. Thanks A. Keep the 48" Nova(change bulbs) and add a 36" Tek 6 bulb(sps) B. 60" 6 bulb Tek fixture C. One 4 bulb(softie) and One 6 bulb tek(sps)

04/02/2010, 01:12 AM	#3
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	if for 40 breeder, you can still use just 4 bulbs for SPS, don't need 6.

04/02/2010, 05:05 AM	#4
NYDiesel Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hopewell Jct, NY Posts: 145	Researching sps and the site I found many people used a 6 bulb config and had good growth. I may be wrong though. Plan on ordering tonight so would still appreciate advice.

04/02/2010, 06:46 AM	#6
NYDiesel Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hopewell Jct, NY Posts: 145	The tek lights do not come with fans. The tek elites do but come with a price tag. Only reason I'm not looking at ati's is because of price.

04/02/2010, 10:05 AM	#8
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	if you do a search for kvosstra's tank, its only 4 bulbs. you can use 6 bulb, nothing wrong with it, does give you more color options. as for the Tek not having fans, very true. the best things to do: 1- don't use the splash guard, keep the fixture high enough above the tank so its out of the splash zone -- the splash guard doesn't allow heat from the bulbs to escape taking away from the efficiency and output 2- get a couple of clip-on fans and point them at the fixture, not the bulbs -- this will boost output.

04/02/2010, 10:11 AM	#9
NYDiesel Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hopewell Jct, NY Posts: 145	Thanks everyone. I think I will get the 6 bulb and run 4 bulbs to start possibly.Remember max growth is key. If I need more then ill run the additional two bulbs. divewsharks-thanks for the tips

04/02/2010, 10:46 AM	#10
NYDiesel Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hopewell Jct, NY Posts: 145	I'm guessing most people hang there Tek's from the ceiling?

04/02/2010, 11:21 AM	#11
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	you can hang from the ceiling or you can build a mount to hang from the back the stand or from the wall (which is what i did). you can use the legs so that it sits on top of your tank, makes maintenance a bit more difficult though.

04/02/2010, 11:29 AM	#12
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	these aren't mine, but mine is very similar to #1

04/02/2010, 01:06 PM	#13
NYDiesel Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hopewell Jct, NY Posts: 145	Thanks again. You've been very helpful