My Nova Extreme Pro T5 fixture -which bulbs to get

davidank · 02/12/2010, 08:54 AM

Quick question if somebody would be kind enough to help me out.

I have a Nova Extreme Pro T5 High Output Lighting fixture (6x54) for my 55 gal, and I am looking to get different bulbs for my tank.

The stock bulbs make the tank VERY bright white and I like that blue look.

I have zoanthids, a few sps, frogspawn and torch corals, mushrooms, and a few leathers, and all are doing very good.

My question is: Can I get any T5 54 watt bulb and I can put it into that fixture and it should work fine, right? I assume the bulb has to be high output as well?

I don't have to go with 'Nova' bulbs for things to work ok?

I just want to make sure so I dont mess my expensive lighting fixture up.

Any good T5 bulbs recommended for great coral health? Any websites where I can order them?

Advice is appreciated. Thanks!

corbett_n · 02/12/2010, 09:11 AM

go to reefgeek.com and get:
4-blue+
1-fiji purple
1- Aquablue special
That is the best color combo I have seen in my tank and other peoples.

davidank · 02/12/2010, 09:20 AM

What about the stock blue actinic bulbs that come with the nova fixture, are they garbage? Or can I use them in combination with a few of the bulbs you suggested? Are the stock 10k bulbs garbage as well?

reggiepe · 02/12/2010, 09:48 AM

A week and a half ago I changed out my stock Current bulbs in my NEP and it was one of the best investment that I have ever made. You will be absolutely shocked when you replace them with the bulbs suggested. I have a GE 6500k to bulb in mine as well to replace one of the Blue+ bulbs. No matter what. If you get those Current bulbs out and a good set in, you will be very happy.

I have:

(3) ATI Blue+
(1) Ge 6500K
(1) ATI AquaBlue Special
(1) KZ Fiji Purple

Looks great!

davidank · 02/12/2010, 10:06 AM

do those color/bulb combinations also promote good coral groth in addition to looking great? If I read correctly the 10K spectrums produce the good coral growth but I just think the 4 10k's that come with the fixture are TOO much white.

spw4949 · 02/12/2010, 11:03 AM

I had a 36" NEP 6x39W & I ran the same combo that reggiepe has & thought it looked awesome & I got good growth & color, HTH.......

davidank · 02/12/2010, 11:26 AM

ok, thanks for all the advice everybody!

To try and not spend too much I orderd 4 bulbs instead of 6, I just ordered from reef geek a fiji purple bulb, 2 blue plus, & one aquablue special, and am keeping for now the 2 stock actinic bulbs that came with the fixture.

I hope that gives me that blue look, I think it should, and I guess I will see when I get the bulbs. At least I will have those 10k stock bulbs out of the fixture, those bulbs do not make the tank nice.

Adam76 · 02/12/2010, 06:04 PM

Does anyone have any pics of those combos

z3r0ko0l · 02/12/2010, 08:01 PM

Take a look at this: HERE. Go take a look at the T5 Q&A thread. Hope that helps.

Quote from that site:

Quote:

6 lamp Tek or Nova Pro

Blue
Actinic White
Blue
GE 6500K
Blue
Blue
You could make the color slightly bluer by moving the Actinic White and GE lamps back one slot so 2 blues are in front. For a more blue look replace the GE lamp with an Aquablue, less blue replace a blue with an Aquablue.

Site and info from: The Grim Reefer

maynardjames · 02/13/2010, 01:26 AM

go with uvl,ati or geisman bulbs. you will not be dissapointed. also as above check out t5 q&a thread. great read for any t5 setup. it`s very large but great ideas & suggestions from the grim reefer t5 guru

TNTFISHY · 02/13/2010, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reggiepe

A week and a half ago I changed out my stock Current bulbs in my NEP and it was one of the best investment that I have ever made. You will be absolutely shocked when you replace them with the bulbs suggested. I have a GE 6500k to bulb in mine as well to replace one of the Blue+ bulbs. No matter what. If you get those Current bulbs out and a good set in, you will be very happy.

I have:

(3) ATI Blue+
(1) Ge 6500K
(1) ATI AquaBlue Special
(1) KZ Fiji Purple

Looks great!

Any pics? I'm gonna use the same config!

davidank · 02/13/2010, 09:49 AM

I am working on reading the T5 Q&A thread and its a LONG read though.

My main concern was which bulbs I could use in my fixture, and as long as they were T5HO 54 watt would I be ok, and I didnt find that in the T5QA thread.

I talked to a greg at reefgeek, and wanted to not spend a fortune, and wanted to use a few of the stock bulbs in my nova, and I ordered 2 blue plus and one fiji purple. I wanted a blue look and that is what he suggested.

In all that I read and from talking to people I was under the impression that a 10k bulb makes corals grow the best/fastest. Greg told me this isn't true and the blue plus would definitely stimulate coral growth.

So with those 3 bulbs, and with 3 of my stock bulbs, I will have to do some experimenting to see what gives me the best color for my tank and which stock bulbs I will leave in the fixture.

My corals are definitely growing nice with my stock lights it's just the color of the tank with all 6 stock bulbs on is a blazing white and doesn't make the corals 'pop', so if these bulbs are better than the stock ones I should be seeing some good coral growth I assume.

02/12/2010, 08:54 AM	#1
davidank Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 56	My Nova Extreme Pro T5 fixture -which bulbs to get Quick question if somebody would be kind enough to help me out. I have a Nova Extreme Pro T5 High Output Lighting fixture (6x54) for my 55 gal, and I am looking to get different bulbs for my tank. The stock bulbs make the tank VERY bright white and I like that blue look. I have zoanthids, a few sps, frogspawn and torch corals, mushrooms, and a few leathers, and all are doing very good. My question is: Can I get any T5 54 watt bulb and I can put it into that fixture and it should work fine, right? I assume the bulb has to be high output as well? I don't have to go with 'Nova' bulbs for things to work ok? I just want to make sure so I dont mess my expensive lighting fixture up. Any good T5 bulbs recommended for great coral health? Any websites where I can order them? Advice is appreciated. Thanks!

02/12/2010, 11:03 AM	#6
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	I had a 36" NEP 6x39W & I ran the same combo that reggiepe has & thought it looked awesome & I got good growth & color, HTH....... __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

02/13/2010, 01:26 AM	#10
maynardjames Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: west tennessee Posts: 1,600	go with uvl,ati or geisman bulbs. you will not be dissapointed. also as above check out t5 q&a thread. great read for any t5 setup. it`s very large but great ideas & suggestions from the grim reefer t5 guru __________________ if your 555 Current Tank Info: 120 rr dual overflows, solarflare t5 fixture,octo extreme 200,vortech mp40w esx2. brs reactor for carbon, brs reactor for gfo, 40 gal breeder sump

02/12/2010, 09:11 AM	#2
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	go to reefgeek.com and get: 4-blue+ 1-fiji purple 1- Aquablue special That is the best color combo I have seen in my tank and other peoples.

02/12/2010, 09:20 AM	#3
davidank Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 56	What about the stock blue actinic bulbs that come with the nova fixture, are they garbage? Or can I use them in combination with a few of the bulbs you suggested? Are the stock 10k bulbs garbage as well?

02/12/2010, 09:48 AM	#4
reggiepe Seriously? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Newburg, Pennsylvania Posts: 332	A week and a half ago I changed out my stock Current bulbs in my NEP and it was one of the best investment that I have ever made. You will be absolutely shocked when you replace them with the bulbs suggested. I have a GE 6500k to bulb in mine as well to replace one of the Blue+ bulbs. No matter what. If you get those Current bulbs out and a good set in, you will be very happy. I have: (3) ATI Blue+ (1) Ge 6500K (1) ATI AquaBlue Special (1) KZ Fiji Purple Looks great!

02/12/2010, 10:06 AM	#5
davidank Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 56	do those color/bulb combinations also promote good coral groth in addition to looking great? If I read correctly the 10K spectrums produce the good coral growth but I just think the 4 10k's that come with the fixture are TOO much white.

02/12/2010, 11:26 AM	#7
davidank Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 56	ok, thanks for all the advice everybody! To try and not spend too much I orderd 4 bulbs instead of 6, I just ordered from reef geek a fiji purple bulb, 2 blue plus, & one aquablue special, and am keeping for now the 2 stock actinic bulbs that came with the fixture. I hope that gives me that blue look, I think it should, and I guess I will see when I get the bulbs. At least I will have those 10k stock bulbs out of the fixture, those bulbs do not make the tank nice.

02/12/2010, 06:04 PM	#8
Adam76 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 146	Does anyone have any pics of those combos

02/13/2010, 09:49 AM	#12
davidank Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 56	I am working on reading the T5 Q&A thread and its a LONG read though. My main concern was which bulbs I could use in my fixture, and as long as they were T5HO 54 watt would I be ok, and I didnt find that in the T5QA thread. I talked to a greg at reefgeek, and wanted to not spend a fortune, and wanted to use a few of the stock bulbs in my nova, and I ordered 2 blue plus and one fiji purple. I wanted a blue look and that is what he suggested. In all that I read and from talking to people I was under the impression that a 10k bulb makes corals grow the best/fastest. Greg told me this isn't true and the blue plus would definitely stimulate coral growth. So with those 3 bulbs, and with 3 of my stock bulbs, I will have to do some experimenting to see what gives me the best color for my tank and which stock bulbs I will leave in the fixture. My corals are definitely growing nice with my stock lights it's just the color of the tank with all 6 stock bulbs on is a blazing white and doesn't make the corals 'pop', so if these bulbs are better than the stock ones I should be seeing some good coral growth I assume.