Just got a new Nova Extreme Light

disaznguy817 · 11/24/2009, 11:31 AM

I was just wondering what is the best settings for this light. I have some corals and they are doing fine. Right now I have the Actinic to turn on at 4pm and to turn off at 11pm. And the Daylight part turns on at 5pm and turns off at 10pm. If you have any advice on this let me know. Thanks in advance.

jflick345 · 11/24/2009, 11:47 AM

To Reef Central

What kind of corals do you have? That would help determine the photoperiod since they're photosynthetic

IslandCrow · 11/24/2009, 12:47 PM

That's a fairly short photoperiod for most any coral. Most people will generally run just their actinics for 10-12 hours and actinics + full spectrum for 6-8 hours. This is going to get pretty close to the daylight period in a tropical region.

disaznguy817 · 11/25/2009, 01:35 AM

i have mushrooms and zoos right now. but want a variety of things just don't know what yet. also i just got a koralia 1 powerhead. any advice on where to put it?

wickedfish · 11/25/2009, 01:46 AM

I would set the actinic to turn on at 1:00pm and the daylight to turn on at 2:00pm and then the daylights to turn off at 10:00pm and actinic to turn off at 11:00p. Just from reading what you have. You will notice a big improvement on your corals.

disaznguy817 · 11/25/2009, 01:54 AM

should i get another powerhead or will 1 be fine its a 20g tank

NYC/NJREEFS · 11/25/2009, 02:22 AM

I noticed Islandcrow recommends 10 hours of light, I run an 8 bulb fixture 54w T5/HO but I only run them for 5hrs actinic and 6hrs actinic/10K. I have SPS (3)frags, a couple of Lps, multi heads of frogspawn, a couple of leathers. Should I run my light longer? Sorry to hijack but I was surprised. Thanks PM to prevent overtaking the original post.

Reefer2727 · 11/25/2009, 07:11 AM

Tagging along.

thegrun · 11/25/2009, 08:52 AM

I saw a study that indicated that 7 hours for the main lights seems to be the sweet spot for maximum coral growth. There was a very slight decrease in growth at 8 hours or 6 hours. Actinics were run for 11 hours in the study.

bulbyman · 11/25/2009, 09:15 AM

Tagging along,

teddybear5668 · 11/25/2009, 09:18 AM

How do you like the Nova Extreme Light fixture so for?

sage_commander · 11/25/2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disaznguy817

also i just got a koralia 1 powerhead. any advice on where to put it?

I know this does not relate to the topic, but you probably want more than that for flow. I have two Koralia #1 powerheads, one #3, and a maxijet 1200. Plus a mag 5 return in a 46 gallon tank. The Koralia #1 does not seem like it pushes as much water as advertised.

I have the Nova extreme for my tank. I like it, but will be upgrading some day.

wickedfish · 11/25/2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYC/NJREEFS

I noticed Islandcrow recommends 10 hours of light, I run an 8 bulb fixture 54w T5/HO but I only run them for 5hrs actinic and 6hrs actinic/10K. I have SPS (3)frags, a couple of Lps, multi heads of frogspawn, a couple of leathers. Should I run my light longer? Sorry to hijack but I was surprised. Thanks PM to prevent overtaking the original post.

My opinion yes atleast 10 hours http://www.vividaquariums.com/aquariumLightingR.asp
There are some people that run them for 12. For the simple fact in the ocean day times does not run for 5 hours, keep them as comfortable like normal as if they were in the ocean. Plus, you will notice them looking healthier.

likemike99 · 11/25/2009, 11:15 AM

As stated longer day period . I think the K1 is fione for a 20G. I have 2 nanos in a 29G. I would place the head opposite side of the return- if you have one. if you don't have a return then I would get another head.

IslandCrow · 11/25/2009, 12:27 PM

Just to qualify my comments, I merely stated what's popular as far as lights on periods. First, it's a little tough to equate it to actual daylight periods, since you have a much more gradual change in actual daylight intensities as the sun moves across the sky, plus it's of course not always a perfectly clear day (not that the intensities in our tank necessarily match those on a coral reef anyway). And then, you really can't assume that just because certain conditions exist in nature that those are the most beneficial conditions possible (otherwise we wouldn't have heat and A/C in our homes or fluoride in our drinking water).

And the moral is, don't get too wrapped up over whether you're running your lights 10 or 12 hours. I can almost guarantee the OP's tank will benefit from a longer photo period, but each tank is going to be a little different.

Now, as far as a single K1 in a 20g tank, I'd personally recommend 2. In general, it's usually good to have more than one powerhead pointing a different direction, and that should not be an excessive amount of waterflow in a 20g. It helps prevent purely laminar waterflow over your corals.

disaznguy817 · 11/27/2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teddybear5668

How do you like the Nova Extreme Light fixture so for?

so far i like it

Nj923 · 11/27/2009, 01:23 AM

I was just about to ask the same thing

11/25/2009, 02:22 AM	#7
NYC/NJREEFS Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Big Apple Posts: 212	Light Cycle I noticed Islandcrow recommends 10 hours of light, I run an 8 bulb fixture 54w T5/HO but I only run them for 5hrs actinic and 6hrs actinic/10K. I have SPS (3)frags, a couple of Lps, multi heads of frogspawn, a couple of leathers. Should I run my light longer? Sorry to hijack but I was surprised. Thanks PM to prevent overtaking the original post.

11/25/2009, 12:27 PM	#15
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Just to qualify my comments, I merely stated what's popular as far as lights on periods. First, it's a little tough to equate it to actual daylight periods, since you have a much more gradual change in actual daylight intensities as the sun moves across the sky, plus it's of course not always a perfectly clear day (not that the intensities in our tank necessarily match those on a coral reef anyway). And then, you really can't assume that just because certain conditions exist in nature that those are the most beneficial conditions possible (otherwise we wouldn't have heat and A/C in our homes or fluoride in our drinking water). And the moral is, don't get too wrapped up over whether you're running your lights 10 or 12 hours. I can almost guarantee the OP's tank will benefit from a longer photo period, but each tank is going to be a little different. Now, as far as a single K1 in a 20g tank, I'd personally recommend 2. In general, it's usually good to have more than one powerhead pointing a different direction, and that should not be an excessive amount of waterflow in a 20g. It helps prevent purely laminar waterflow over your corals. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

11/24/2009, 11:31 AM	#1
disaznguy817 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 9	Just got a new Nova Extreme Light I was just wondering what is the best settings for this light. I have some corals and they are doing fine. Right now I have the Actinic to turn on at 4pm and to turn off at 11pm. And the Daylight part turns on at 5pm and turns off at 10pm. If you have any advice on this let me know. Thanks in advance.

11/24/2009, 11:47 AM	#2
jflick345 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 884	*To Reef Central* What kind of corals do you have? That would help determine the photoperiod since they're photosynthetic

11/24/2009, 12:47 PM	#3
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	That's a fairly short photoperiod for most any coral. Most people will generally run just their actinics for 10-12 hours and actinics + full spectrum for 6-8 hours. This is going to get pretty close to the daylight period in a tropical region. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

11/25/2009, 01:35 AM	#4
disaznguy817 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 9	i have mushrooms and zoos right now. but want a variety of things just don't know what yet. also i just got a koralia 1 powerhead. any advice on where to put it?

11/25/2009, 01:46 AM	#5
wickedfish Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southbay Posts: 2,167	I would set the actinic to turn on at 1:00pm and the daylight to turn on at 2:00pm and then the daylights to turn off at 10:00pm and actinic to turn off at 11:00p. Just from reading what you have. You will notice a big improvement on your corals.

11/25/2009, 01:54 AM	#6
disaznguy817 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 9	should i get another powerhead or will 1 be fine its a 20g tank

11/25/2009, 07:11 AM	#8
Reefer2727 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 995	Tagging along.

11/25/2009, 08:52 AM	#9
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I saw a study that indicated that 7 hours for the main lights seems to be the sweet spot for maximum coral growth. There was a very slight decrease in growth at 8 hours or 6 hours. Actinics were run for 11 hours in the study.

11/25/2009, 09:15 AM	#10
bulbyman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville NC Posts: 55	Tagging along,

11/25/2009, 09:18 AM	#11
teddybear5668 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 13	How do you like the Nova Extreme Light fixture so for?

11/25/2009, 11:15 AM	#14
likemike99 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 117	As stated longer day period . I think the K1 is fione for a 20G. I have 2 nanos in a 29G. I would place the head opposite side of the return- if you have one. if you don't have a return then I would get another head.

11/27/2009, 01:23 AM	#17
Nj923 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4	I was just about to ask the same thing