Another T5 lighting question - Nova bulbs

moose8721 · 03/14/2006, 11:21 PM

I've read all the posts about the Nova fixture that I could find....here's my question. I ordered the Nova 4x39 T5 which comes with two 10k bulbs and 2 460nm bulbs. Would it make sense to replace two of those bulbs with a 6500k bulb and a 420nm bulb?

Anyone have this fixture and can comment on how the color looks with the bulbs it comes with? Thanks!!

moose8721 · 03/15/2006, 09:53 AM

bump

moose8721 · 03/15/2006, 01:42 PM

No bites? Thanks anyways....

wahshk · 03/15/2006, 01:48 PM

I've got the 8 bulb unit that gives great cool color. I guess 6500K are too yellow and will cause more algae. IMHO.

Horace · 03/15/2006, 02:44 PM

Algae is caused by nutrients, not the light you use. No nutrients = No algae, its that simple.

Also I really hope your not expecting the performance out of that Nova as people are reporting about T5s....The Nova is little better than a typical PC fixture.

moose8721 · 03/15/2006, 03:54 PM

Not really Horace. I'm probably more interested in the longer bulb life combined with relatively cheaper bulbs. I expect a little bump in light, but don't want to shock the tank inhabitants and don't really want to have to deal with rearranging everything in the tank.

Nor do I plan on trying to grow all kinds of high light coral right now. Sounds like if I want that in the future, I could get some of that by changing to single reflectors. But I'd probably go to a larger tank before making that kind of change.

03/14/2006, 11:21 PM	#1
moose8721 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 268	Another T5 lighting question - Nova bulbs I've read all the posts about the Nova fixture that I could find....here's my question. I ordered the Nova 4x39 T5 which comes with two 10k bulbs and 2 460nm bulbs. Would it make sense to replace two of those bulbs with a 6500k bulb and a 420nm bulb? Anyone have this fixture and can comment on how the color looks with the bulbs it comes with? Thanks!!

03/15/2006, 01:48 PM	#4
wahshk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Milwaukee,WI Posts: 969	I've got the 8 bulb unit that gives great cool color. I guess 6500K are too yellow and will cause more algae. IMHO. __________________ Seeing is believing... Current Tank Info: 125G Reef. Lifereef 300 Sump. Lifereef Overflow. Lifereef skimmer SVS36. Seio & Maxijet PH. TurboFloater 1000. Mag 5, 9.5, 12 for return, closed loop and filter.

03/15/2006, 02:44 PM	#5
Horace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 5,009	Algae is caused by nutrients, not the light you use. No nutrients = No algae, its that simple. Also I really hope your not expecting the performance out of that Nova as people are reporting about T5s....The Nova is little better than a typical PC fixture. __________________ -Horace Pinker Current Tank Info: New 180g Mixed SPS Build in progress

03/15/2006, 09:53 AM	#2
moose8721 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 268	bump

03/15/2006, 01:42 PM	#3
moose8721 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 268	No bites? Thanks anyways....

03/15/2006, 03:54 PM	#6
moose8721 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 268	Not really Horace. I'm probably more interested in the longer bulb life combined with relatively cheaper bulbs. I expect a little bump in light, but don't want to shock the tank inhabitants and don't really want to have to deal with rearranging everything in the tank. Nor do I plan on trying to grow all kinds of high light coral right now. Sounds like if I want that in the future, I could get some of that by changing to single reflectors. But I'd probably go to a larger tank before making that kind of change.