Current Nova Extreme pro vs Tek t-5

T

TreyK

New member
Okay so I am looking at two similarly priced units.

TEK LIGHT T-5, 24" Light
Fixture 4 x 24W lamps

and


Current USA Nova Extreme Pro T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 6X39 Watt, 36 inch

I have a 29 gallon aga tank. Which is currently lit by 130 watts of PC. The Tek light only amounts to 96 watts of light, and the Current amounts to 234 watts.

So my question is, is the quality of the Tek fixture so much better than anything else that its 96 watts of light will outproduce the 234 watts from the Nova extreme pro?

I dont understand how 96 watts of tek light would be better than the 130 watts of pc i have now. can someone please help me and clarify some of this info. I want to upgrade my lighting asap.

Thanks
 
I have a TEK light and I love mine. I have no idea about the Current usa light, I know the TEK has individual reflectors and I dont think the Current light offers that. Either way you go I think you will like the difference in color of your tank. I went from a 36 inch Odyssea p/c light to my t-5 set up and my corals look so much better..
 
Something isn't right here...

6 x 39w is 6 x 36" T5 lamps and the Tek Light is 4 x 24" 24w lamps. There is no comparison. Where did you see that the 4 x 24" fixture would out perform a Current 6 x 36"? Coverage alone is a huge disadvantage.

But, the PC lamps just don't compare either. my 2 x 96w PC lamp is pale in comparison to a crappy Glo Retro 2 x 39w T5. The SLR makes a big difference, too.

I have seen the two fixtures side by side, the Current and the Tek. The Tek had stock bulbs, and the Current had ATI bulbs. The Current was noticably brighter. Both have SLR, so they should perform exactly the same with the same lamps. In my opinon, the lamps are as important as the SLRs... but BOTH together make a WHOPPIN differnce. Price does not indicate comparable products, if that is what you are basing it on. The Tek light is a better built fixture, I think. It seems more... meaty. And I think the Tek includes the mounting legs and hang hardware, where the Current does not. I could be wrong, but I think that is why the price is so much different.
 
Yes I was just basing the two off of price.. i have a budget lol. so would the tek outperform the PC lighting I have right now even tho it puts out less watts?

I guess im leaning toward the Current nova extreme pro anyways now..
 
Tek would WAY out perform the PC lighting... WAY WAY! lol

But yea, if you are budget, Current is the way to go. Even if you don't upgrade the stock bulbs right away, the 36" fixture would be way more coverage, and you can upgrade the bulbs as $$ permits. I don't think you will disappointed in chosing the Current. I mean, a 6 x 36" Tek is a better fixture, arguably, but for the money, not worth the difference.

In my opinion only...
 
I have a tank full of sps that are growing well and i have a 36 " Current USA Nova extreme pro. I even used the stock lamps for 6 months and my sps where doing fine. You could always change the bulbs later on.
 
It is my belief that the upgrade of the bulb will be as important as the upgrade to the T5 from PC for your growth and appearance.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15645191#post15645191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chipie
I have a tank full of sps that are growing well and i have a 36 " Current USA Nova extreme pro. I even used the stock lamps for 6 months and my sps where doing fine. You could always change the bulbs later on.
Click to expand...
Did you notice a change when you upgrade the lamps, Chipie?
 
Yes but not that much. Of course if a person has the $$ to change them earlier it would be best but these stock bulbs gives you time to gather more $ for an upgrade later :) I wouldn't recommend using them more than 6 months.
 
If your only choices, due to budget, is the 24" Tek or the 36" Nova, get the Nova. Definitely more output and better light spread over the tank (since it's a foot longer!).


That being said, if you have a canopy, just get a 6X36 Retro kit. You'll get MUCH better reflectors than the Nova Pro does.

www.reefgeek.com is a good place to start.


I think they have Aquatictinic retro kits, which are probably the best reflector you can buy right now.
 
36in fixture over a 30in tank? I'd consider the current 4 bulb t5 with built in timers. it comes in 30in. the current comes with legs, but the hanging kit comes seperate. i think you buy them seperate from the fixture with tek. jmo.
 
Thanks for all odf the advice guys! So far this is the most advice ive gotten on this forum.. just when I was starrting to lose hope in you guys lol.

redfishsc- wish I had a canopy cuz thats the way to go

cubsFAN- the only issue I have with the current 4 bulb setup is the reflectors are not individual. So I dont see the benefit there. I was just going to DIY a hanging kit for the 36 inch fixture, its only another 3 inches on either side and IMO would just improve my light coverage.
 
Yes they are, but the 30" only comes in a two ulb version which is a measly 48 watts, thus defeating the purpose.
 
The 30" version just has 24" bulbs in it.

The down side to the 4X24 is that it does not have any cooling fans (incredibly, inexcusably stupid on this model). The 4X36" does though.
 
the fixture im talking about is the sundial t5 ho with timers and led's from current. it has 4 24in bulbs and individually contoured reflectors. my friend has it and likes it. i cant remember if it has fans. its about 240 bucks.
 
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