Nova Extreme

AGM1 · 03/23/2010, 12:33 AM

I have a 60Lx18Wx24T tank that Im looking to add lighting to. I was thinking about the Nova Extreme 48'' 8x54. The tanks only 18 inches wide, so I like that the fixture is 14inch, because a tek wont fit (19inches).

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...2&pcatid=12772

I was also thinking about the Nova Extreme Pro 6x54. Its also only 12 inches wide and so will fit my narrow tank.

Which light is better, or can anyone suggest a good light fixture at the 300-400 dollar range that is narrow?

Thanks

AGM1 · 03/23/2010, 11:31 AM

bump

Lyfey · 03/23/2010, 02:55 PM

Im running the 8x54 on my 75 right now and I just bought an ATI powermodule 8x54w. Do yourself the favor, skip the Nova and buy quality the first time, I wish I did. I have no problems keeping colors with SPS in my tank, I just have zero growth!

cubsFAN · 03/23/2010, 03:07 PM

You will be better off getting fewer bulbs and a better fixture. The nova extreme 8 bulb does not have individual reflectors so you wont get great light penetration. I'd go with the Nova Extreme Pro 6 bulb or even an ati 4 bulb over that fixture. replacing the bulbs in an 8 bulb fixture will be quite expensive too. A tek 6 bulb would work as well, 8 bulbs to cover 18 inches is way overkill imo. unless youre going all sps, you will have trouble finding places to put lower light corals, although if you do a 48in fixture you may have space on the sides.

Lyfey · 03/24/2010, 09:08 AM

+1 on cubsfan suggestions. The only reason I went with the 8 bulb is because I plan on upgrading to a 150 gallon 60"x24"x24" in the near future and I wanted to buy one fixture that could accomodate the current tank along with my future plans.

Another good recomendation is to look into the Aquatinics T5x which has only 5 bulbs, but perfect IMO for a 18" wide tank. ATI/Aquatinics and the new tech elite are good fixtures. Just make sure the fixture has SLR's (single light reflectors) and active cooling.

Lyfey · 03/24/2010, 09:10 AM

And by the way, I am running the Old Nova Extreme 8x54w with only six bulbs running currently on my 75 mixed reef and I have little to no growth.

NYCBOB · 03/24/2010, 01:24 PM

do the right thing and purchase a better fixture to begin with. i hv been running the nova pro the past 3 years. i am getting good growth, but feel i can do better. i just picked up an ati 6x54w sunpower.

AGM1 · 03/24/2010, 01:34 PM

How about the Tek 6x54 ? Its pretty much the same price as the Nova, and also the dimensions fit my tank. As I said before, it is 18 tall. Can the Tek 6x54 grow sps ( I only want a few) if I put them near the top.

Also, since the tank is 60'' long, and I was getting a 48'' fixture, is it possible to add a 12'' MH pendant on the end? I was thinking like a 150/175 Watt. Would the overlap actinic light from the T5 be enough so that the MH doesnt need its own actnics? Would the T5, MH combo look wierd? I was thinking that if the T5 wasnt strong enough, that I could put the sps on the MH side of the tank, and possibly avoid all the heat from having the whole tank as MH.

NYCBOB · 03/24/2010, 04:10 PM

having mh on one end would look weird. tek is nice. they r coming out with a newer fixture called tek elite thenext few weeks. its supposed to hv better reflectors.

Lyfey · 03/25/2010, 08:14 AM

a 48" fixture is fine for a 60" tank, just center the fixture over the tank and you only have to worry about 6 inches each side. Softies / LPS would still grow fine there. And any T5 fixture will grow SPS at the top of the tank, how well they grow is another story. I am growing SPS under my Regular Nova Extreme with only 6 working bulbs and no individual reflectors, they just grow slow as dirt but colors are nice. In your budget I would go with the ATI sunpower 6x54w at either (your choice) 48" or 60" lengths. its 510$ I believe for the 6x54w.

Lyfey · 03/25/2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCBOB

having mh on one end would look weird. tek is nice. they r coming out with a newer fixture called tek elite thenext few weeks. its supposed to hv better reflectors.

The tech elite still uses the same old reflectors as the tech, the new feature is the addition of "active cooling" with actual fans. The regular techs downfall was no cooling, just adding a simple fan on the back of the tank with the old tech increased par by 30%

03/23/2010, 12:33 AM	#1
AGM1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 141	Nova Extreme I have a 60Lx18Wx24T tank that Im looking to add lighting to. I was thinking about the Nova Extreme 48'' 8x54. The tanks only 18 inches wide, so I like that the fixture is 14inch, because a tek wont fit (19inches). http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...2&pcatid=12772 I was also thinking about the Nova Extreme Pro 6x54. Its also only 12 inches wide and so will fit my narrow tank. Which light is better, or can anyone suggest a good light fixture at the 300-400 dollar range that is narrow? Thanks

03/23/2010, 11:31 AM	#2
AGM1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 141	bump

03/23/2010, 02:55 PM	#3
Lyfey Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 842	Im running the 8x54 on my 75 right now and I just bought an ATI powermodule 8x54w. Do yourself the favor, skip the Nova and buy quality the first time, I wish I did. I have no problems keeping colors with SPS in my tank, I just have zero growth!

03/23/2010, 03:07 PM	#4
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	You will be better off getting fewer bulbs and a better fixture. The nova extreme 8 bulb does not have individual reflectors so you wont get great light penetration. I'd go with the Nova Extreme Pro 6 bulb or even an ati 4 bulb over that fixture. replacing the bulbs in an 8 bulb fixture will be quite expensive too. A tek 6 bulb would work as well, 8 bulbs to cover 18 inches is way overkill imo. unless youre going all sps, you will have trouble finding places to put lower light corals, although if you do a 48in fixture you may have space on the sides.

03/24/2010, 09:08 AM	#5
Lyfey Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 842	+1 on cubsfan suggestions. The only reason I went with the 8 bulb is because I plan on upgrading to a 150 gallon 60"x24"x24" in the near future and I wanted to buy one fixture that could accomodate the current tank along with my future plans. Another good recomendation is to look into the Aquatinics T5x which has only 5 bulbs, but perfect IMO for a 18" wide tank. ATI/Aquatinics and the new tech elite are good fixtures. Just make sure the fixture has SLR's (single light reflectors) and active cooling.

03/24/2010, 09:10 AM	#6
Lyfey Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 842	And by the way, I am running the Old Nova Extreme 8x54w with only six bulbs running currently on my 75 mixed reef and I have little to no growth.

03/24/2010, 01:24 PM	#7
NYCBOB Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 1,768	do the right thing and purchase a better fixture to begin with. i hv been running the nova pro the past 3 years. i am getting good growth, but feel i can do better. i just picked up an ati 6x54w sunpower.

03/24/2010, 01:34 PM	#8
AGM1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 141	How about the Tek 6x54 ? Its pretty much the same price as the Nova, and also the dimensions fit my tank. As I said before, it is 18 tall. Can the Tek 6x54 grow sps ( I only want a few) if I put them near the top. Also, since the tank is 60'' long, and I was getting a 48'' fixture, is it possible to add a 12'' MH pendant on the end? I was thinking like a 150/175 Watt. Would the overlap actinic light from the T5 be enough so that the MH doesnt need its own actnics? Would the T5, MH combo look wierd? I was thinking that if the T5 wasnt strong enough, that I could put the sps on the MH side of the tank, and possibly avoid all the heat from having the whole tank as MH.

03/24/2010, 04:10 PM	#9
NYCBOB Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 1,768	having mh on one end would look weird. tek is nice. they r coming out with a newer fixture called tek elite thenext few weeks. its supposed to hv better reflectors.

03/25/2010, 08:14 AM	#10
Lyfey Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 842	a 48" fixture is fine for a 60" tank, just center the fixture over the tank and you only have to worry about 6 inches each side. Softies / LPS would still grow fine there. And any T5 fixture will grow SPS at the top of the tank, how well they grow is another story. I am growing SPS under my Regular Nova Extreme with only 6 working bulbs and no individual reflectors, they just grow slow as dirt but colors are nice. In your budget I would go with the ATI sunpower 6x54w at either (your choice) 48" or 60" lengths. its 510$ I believe for the 6x54w.