anyone using a current usa T5 extreme fixture?

[ReeferMonkey]

As far as needing to be hidden, that's a matter of personal preference. I'm quite fond of the industrial look and don't think it's an eyesore. Hanging a pendant isn't exactly rocket science - all you need is a ladder, some chain and the appropriate hanging hardware, usually available at any home improvement superstore for $10 total (ladder excluded).

I've bought enough junk in this hobby to no longer mess around buying shoddy equipment - you only end up replacing it down the road. As for the New Wave fixture "not being intended for what you need" - it's just not given a sleek body and accompanying cost increase to the luxury aquarium market. T5s are T5s are T5s.

The primary advantage of T5 lamps is that the decreased bulb size allows for a more focused reflector. Yes, they draw less watts and put out more lumens than comparable T12 or PC setups. But you really aren't getting the most out of the technology by using a single flat pan reflector.

To each his own.

 

[ReeferMonkey]

As for having "too much light" - trust me, these things are nowhere near as bright as the sun. I'm pretty sure most people had problems when they upgraded to T5s and didn't bother to acclimate their corals to the light, like you would when stepping up to any other high-intensity ligthing (ie halides) by using reduced photoperiod, windowscreen, etc.

 

[sneeyatch]

i use the 4 foot 4 bulb fixture over my 75 mixed reef. personally, i like it, but it does have a loud a$$ fan, and i don't care for all of the plugs that come out of it. i like simple things.

i keep acros, monti's millies, caps, and lps and all kinds of softies too. it works well, but it's not the best.

if you're going to use it over a mixed reef, then like others said, you'll more than likely be fine. if your going sps and clam dominated, then go with the tek or aquactincs fixtures with individual reflectors.

i was using coralife pc fixtures, and although the novas only have the 1 parabolic reflector, imo, it beats the crap out of any pc fixture out there.

 

[mermin]

that light is perfect for me. i have a 15 gal sps tank which is only 12 in deep so i cant get much more light than that. if i had the tek light i would fry everything. i think it is well worth the money. considering how inexpensive it is. if you want acros keep em high like you said. and the fan isnt anylouder than the venturi on my css 65

 

[Brooks_McClary]

Go for the NOVA. I have a mixed tank... Everything likes the light. As I am finding out, you can run them without the fan. It is seriously loud and I agree with sneeyatch, Did it need sooo many wires?!?

It runs cooler than my old PCs without the fan on. It is brighter than the PCs and it seems like it covers more of my tank than the PCs did. The corals in the back of the tank get light now and they didn't before. have softies, LPS and SPS under the light and they are all OK. Just go for it...

You know you want to.

 

[scottfarcuz]

It needs so many wires so you can run everything on timers, and still have a dusk/dawn effect.

Like I said above this fixture does have it's place in the market. It isn't on a SPS tank.

Also I wouldn't run the fixture without the fans. The heat may not cause a fire, but I doubt it is going to help the bulb/ballast life.