Im ready to make my purchase on lighting today , Help me between these choices

[marinerules]

Im ready to make my purchase on lighting today , Help me between these choices



My aquariums is a 29 gallon 30 inch long tank

there is either this choice

http://www.petmountain.com/product/...watt-1151-.html


or

http://www.amazon.com/Nova-Extreme-H.../dp/B0009YD8XI


now I realize that the SUndial I will get lunar lights with it , but I dont like how you cant control the lights when you want them to , you have to rely on timers


I also realize that on the nova, that it is 36 inches long instead of 30 , IM not really that worried about my light hanging off the ends of my tank 3 inches on each side, considering that I will be able to control the lights when I want to , I can get a lunar light , since it dont have one , and since its 36 inches longer look at how much more wattage I am getting for a lower price



please help mee make a decision one way or the other, i have money burning in my pocket here, I need to get one of thse lights in asap

[marinerules]

also ,
wuld something like this work for a 20 gallon tank that Imw anting for a freshwater planted tank


http://www.specialty-lights.com/960295.html

if i could just buy the fish bulbs to put in it , or will this not work

[IslandCrow]

FYI, your first link just takes us to the Pet Mountain homepage.

What types of corals are you planning on keeping?

The Nova Extreme is an OK T-5 unit. You could keep soft corals, most LPS and some of the lower light SPS. I'm not familiar with the Sun Blaze, but the manufacturer does make aquarium fixtures as well (the Tek series), and they're good quality lights. The Sun Blaze is definitely lower end than the Tek, though, and I'm guessing it's pretty much on PAR with the Nova.

Anyone get my PAR joke? No? OK, nevermind. . .

As you've probably realized, 30" is a weird length for bulbs. You may be better off getting a good quality 24" fixture, like a Tek or even better, an Aquactinics or ATI. Just hang the light a little higher, and you'd still get good coverage at either end of your tank.

[marinerules]

yea , id rather have the 36 though cause if i ever took down the 29 i could use the 36 on a larger tank


sorry is the correct link to the sundial

http://www.petmountain.com/product/a...att-1151-.html


as far as the sun blaze i was just wanting to get one of those for a freshwater tank

i know the tek lights are made for saltwater ect but im just wanting so mething bright and cheap for my freshwater tank

[marinerules]

yea , id rather have the 36 though cause if i ever took down the 29 i could use the 36 on a larger tank


sorry is the correct link to the sundial

http://www.petmountain.com/product/a...att-1151-.html


as far as the sun blaze i was just wanting to get one of those for a freshwater tank

i know the tek lights are made for saltwater ect but im just wanting so mething bright and cheap for my freshwater



and I will be keeping xenia, and star polyps only , mabye some zoos

[GSMguy]

The nova extreme pro Is better than the tek it has cooling and moonlights.

[IslandCrow]

Actually, the Tek has better PAR, and is a more reliable fixture overall. If we're just talking about something bright for a freshwater tank, though, any of those fixtures should work. The Sun Blaze is of course a bit of an unknown. If I remember correctly, the Sundial is brighter than the Nova Extreme. The individual reflectors, although not the best quality, will do a lot to increase the overall luminosity.

[marinerules]

thanks island crow

[marinerules]

I just purchased the 30 in sundial fixture,

I hope I am happy with the result , well see in a few days


thanks guys for all the posts

[runyonh]

I have the Nova extreme 24 inch on my aquapod. I have no problem keeping sps,lps,or softies. I like my Nova because it gives me great color on my corals as well. I will buy Nova again.
Corals
many Zoas, and shrooms
Frogspawn lps
monti Cap sps
Purple Digi
Green Digi
German Blue Digi
Green Acropora

[marinerules]

kew do you have any pics

[runyonh]

Here is a pic of my Frogspawn and monti cap, and sevral zoas. I have not taken any new pics in awhile. So I do not have any pics of the digi or acro but I can take some in a few days if I do not get to busy.
http://s332.photobucket.com/albums/m...ish2-081_1.jpg

[marinerules]

I got my sundial fixture in today , I LOVE it

tons of light lol
compared to that crappy 15 watt freshwater light

I need something though either a piece of glass cut or a acrlic piece to fit over the top of my aquarium to keep moisture from getting to the light


can you guys give any advice

I dotn want to block any light gettting through

dO i need to buy a hinged glass top or just go get a piece of glass cut or what ???

[IslandCrow]

I'd suggest using a piece of acrylic. You really don't want to cover your tank with it, though. It's going to trap heat and limit gas exchange. If possible, attach it to the fixture itself between the bulbs and tank. If you have a circular saw, just use a laminate cutting blade, or get the hardware store to cut it to size.

[marinerules]

well i just need it to be where the air bubbles my milleniums filter shoots out to keep it from splattering on the light



I have spacers that came with the light unid to raide it almost an inch off of a surface

how much would a piece of acrylic cost

Would lowes have acrylic?

Id like to do somethign quick as I got my light , I have it over my tank right now , but i have my filter turned down way low , so i can look at the tank for awhile

[marinerules]

I love this light so much


Im wanting brighter lights on my 240 gallon fowlr tank at my parents house


it doesnt have corals , I was th inking something like this


http://www.specialty-lights.com/960305.html

its not for aquarium use, but I could get the corrects bulbs for it , it has to be brigher than the regular t -12 40 watt 10,000k lights i have on it now

[IslandCrow]

Just about any hardware store should sell acrylic. The thinner acrylic, which should be all you need, isn't very expensive at all.

[marinerules]

ok great , Thanks Island Crow


I always though it was ridiculous to pay lots of $ for lighting , but even if you dont have corals , it improves the tanks look


I remember back when I frist got into lighting that I loved metal haldies cause of the shimmering effect, but after I got them I just didnt feel comfortable leaving them on if I wasnt home

I feel more comfortable with these t 5s