Is this any good? Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights.

gavij012379 · 03/23/2007, 01:13 PM

Hi

I am thinking of getting Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights for my new aquarium. Does any one have any experience with this? they are real cheap compared to other brands for only $160 for a 4 x 24 watt fixture. Thanks for all the help.

PrangeWay · 03/23/2007, 01:52 PM

For softie and LPS it's great. I don't think it'd be adequte for SPS though.

PW

WallyBackm · 03/23/2007, 01:55 PM

T5s work best with individual reflectors for each bulb. Don't waste your money on units that don't have individual reflectors.

gavij012379 · 03/23/2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WallyBackm
T5s work best with individual reflectors for each bulb. Don't waste your money on units that don't have individual reflectors.

Any idea how different it is without individual reflector. I am in a budget now so I want to use this and later tear it apart and install it with halides in a canopy. i can buy reflectors for it then. Thanks

aztbs · 03/23/2007, 02:04 PM

I have that Nova fixture over a 20 gallon tank. That tank is next to a 180 gallon tank that is also lit by T5's. (6 x 80W bulbs with individual reflectors on icecap 660s) The 20 gal is mostly a refugium that grows macro and that does really well. I often use it as a QT or staging area for corals or frags.

Over time, the SPS frags from the big tank will brown out under that Nova light. Zoanthids and LPS seem to do really well though, grow and have great color. Other softies would be awesome.

I am happy with the fixture overall. The legs are terrible and I am going to make a hanger to suspend the light instead. It is a great budget light for the right purpose.

HowardW · 03/23/2007, 02:08 PM

<<< I am happy with the fixture overall. The legs are terrible and I am going to make a hanger to suspend the light instead. It is a great budget light for the right purpose. >>>

I agree 100% those small flimsy plastic legs are awful. Current should come out with new redesigned legs that offer better support and stability.

WallyBackm · 03/23/2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gavij012379
Any idea how different it is without individual reflector. I am in a budget now so I want to use this and later tear it apart and install it with halides in a canopy. i can buy reflectors for it then. Thanks

I have heard that the output is 3-4 times greater with the individual reflectors.

Check with the grim reefer--his word on t5s is gospel. There is a huge T5 Q&A thread on this and he usually responds within an hour to questions.

USC-fan · 03/23/2007, 02:29 PM

i have it and its are great for my zoas. That is about all i have in my 30 gal. Not sure if this light would be good enough for SPS or clams.

The only bad thing is the fan is a little loud. Its a little louder than my xbox 360.

sneeyatch · 03/23/2007, 03:33 PM

i've kept sps, lps, and a teardrop on the bottom of my 75 with the 4 bulb fixture. i've bleached out the majority of my shrooms on the bottom.

i agree - there's probably better fixtures out there and the individual reflectors are great, but this fixture is good overall. no problems and great growth on my end here.

lighting isn't everything. water quality is equally if not more important

Scoobydude825 · 03/23/2007, 07:29 PM

I JUST got mine yesterday. All but 1 of the actinics were broken so I just have that one bulb in now. WOW its bright as crap. I can't wait to see how it looks with all the bulbs in it. I hope that the whites are strong enough to cut through all the deep blue. Its too blue for me now. The legs are pretty unstable but it should be ok for now. The moonlights look really good at night. My old ones were too bright and not evenly spaced out.
I like it so far but I haven't tried to grow anything yet. I'm hoping to get some corraline algea soon.

db_triggerfish · 03/23/2007, 07:43 PM

I am not going to buy a Nova but if you are on budget it is not bad. That gospel on RC that it has (300%=3 times) brighter is not true from what i have seen in lfs. WHO has done par readings on a 8 x 54 Nova?

Please 300% is not accurate. ok sure ati powermodule or solar flare but not the fan less Tek.

gavij012379 · 03/23/2007, 11:29 PM

Ya I feel the same about it being 300 times brighter or things like that. No offense to anyone. I used PC with no reflectors before besides good old white paint and still grew corals pretty good. (not sps) And that is in a 10 gallon with no sump and skimmer.

I am currently losing sleep because I am in a budget and trying to figure out a way to get the tank. So I think if I get the tank I will surely buy that fixture. It is less than half the price of other fixtures. I think everything in this hobby is so expensive because ppl are so willing to buy expensive things without question.

Anyway thanks to everyone for their response and helping me chose. I heard a lot of complain about fan noise, I wish I could hear it...........

rkaires · 03/24/2007, 05:08 AM

For the $ the nova fixtures are fine. I've been using the 36" fixture for 6 months now and all my sps look great and are growing nice. Water quality and flow are more important than lighting IMO.

03/23/2007, 01:13 PM	#1
gavij012379 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 173	Is this any good? Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights. Hi I am thinking of getting Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights for my new aquarium. Does any one have any experience with this? they are real cheap compared to other brands for only $160 for a 4 x 24 watt fixture. Thanks for all the help.

03/23/2007, 01:52 PM	#2
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	For softie and LPS it's great. I don't think it'd be adequte for SPS though. PW __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"

03/23/2007, 02:08 PM	#6
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	<<< I am happy with the fixture overall. The legs are terrible and I am going to make a hanger to suspend the light instead. It is a great budget light for the right purpose. >>> I agree 100% those small flimsy plastic legs are awful. Current should come out with new redesigned legs that offer better support and stability. __________________ Florida live rock addict

03/23/2007, 03:33 PM	#9
sneeyatch Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 1,312	i've kept sps, lps, and a teardrop on the bottom of my 75 with the 4 bulb fixture. i've bleached out the majority of my shrooms on the bottom. i agree - there's probably better fixtures out there and the individual reflectors are great, but this fixture is good overall. no problems and great growth on my end here. lighting isn't everything. water quality is equally if not more important __________________ - Todd It's often the saddest of us working our hardest to make everyone laugh Current Tank Info: Tankless

03/23/2007, 07:43 PM	#11
db_triggerfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,127	I am not going to buy a Nova but if you are on budget it is not bad. That gospel on RC that it has (300%=3 times) brighter is not true from what i have seen in lfs. WHO has done par readings on a 8 x 54 Nova? Please 300% is not accurate. ok sure ati powermodule or solar flare but not the fan less Tek. __________________ FMAS - Florida Marine Aquarium Society Member . Current Tank Info: AGA 75g RR 6 x 54w T5 overdriven (510w) with 2 x Icecap 660, DAS EX-1 Skimmer, OR 2500, Reefkeeper II

03/23/2007, 01:55 PM	#3
WallyBackm Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 206	T5s work best with individual reflectors for each bulb. Don't waste your money on units that don't have individual reflectors.

03/23/2007, 02:04 PM	#5
aztbs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 4,492	I have that Nova fixture over a 20 gallon tank. That tank is next to a 180 gallon tank that is also lit by T5's. (6 x 80W bulbs with individual reflectors on icecap 660s) The 20 gal is mostly a refugium that grows macro and that does really well. I often use it as a QT or staging area for corals or frags. Over time, the SPS frags from the big tank will brown out under that Nova light. Zoanthids and LPS seem to do really well though, grow and have great color. Other softies would be awesome. I am happy with the fixture overall. The legs are terrible and I am going to make a hanger to suspend the light instead. It is a great budget light for the right purpose.

03/23/2007, 02:29 PM	#8
USC-fan Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,626	i have it and its are great for my zoas. That is about all i have in my 30 gal. Not sure if this light would be good enough for SPS or clams. The only bad thing is the fan is a little loud. Its a little louder than my xbox 360.

03/23/2007, 07:29 PM	#10
Scoobydude825 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tallahassee, Fl Posts: 88	I JUST got mine yesterday. All but 1 of the actinics were broken so I just have that one bulb in now. WOW its bright as crap. I can't wait to see how it looks with all the bulbs in it. I hope that the whites are strong enough to cut through all the deep blue. Its too blue for me now. The legs are pretty unstable but it should be ok for now. The moonlights look really good at night. My old ones were too bright and not evenly spaced out. I like it so far but I haven't tried to grow anything yet. I'm hoping to get some corraline algea soon.

03/23/2007, 11:29 PM	#12
gavij012379 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 173	Ya I feel the same about it being 300 times brighter or things like that. No offense to anyone. I used PC with no reflectors before besides good old white paint and still grew corals pretty good. (not sps) And that is in a 10 gallon with no sump and skimmer. I am currently losing sleep because I am in a budget and trying to figure out a way to get the tank. So I think if I get the tank I will surely buy that fixture. It is less than half the price of other fixtures. I think everything in this hobby is so expensive because ppl are so willing to buy expensive things without question. Anyway thanks to everyone for their response and helping me chose. I heard a lot of complain about fan noise, I wish I could hear it...........

03/24/2007, 05:08 AM	#13
rkaires Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dingmans Ferry, PA Posts: 1,083	For the $ the nova fixtures are fine. I've been using the 36" fixture for 6 months now and all my sps look great and are growing nice. Water quality and flow are more important than lighting IMO. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 200gal system, 150gal & 58gal reef, ATI Powermodule & Sunpower , ATB Deluxe skimmer, KZ zeo reactor, Geo 618, FX1500 return, Tunze 7095, Tunze Streams.