Lighting question

P

PirateFish52

New member
The post the other day about lighting got me to thinking about my lighting decision I am making for my new 75 tank. I am setting up my 75 in a few months.

I am purchasing a Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5 HO with 4 Lunar Lights.

It includes: 4x54W-10,000K Daylight / 4x54W-460nm Actinic and the lunar lights.

Few questions:

1) What kind of corals can I keep in my 75 with this light.

I am thinking I can keep most corals.

2. Is there a better combination I can upgrade for bulbs to increase my intensity. It comes with 4x54W-10000K Daylight / 4x54W-460nm Blue, so 8 bulbs total.

3) Can I put VHO bulbs in this light without frying my corals and burning down my house.

This is the light I can afford; Can't afford anything more expensive than and I don't want to wait a year to save the extra money for some metal halides, Teks, or some retrokit I won't be able to set up because it is too hard.

Thanks for all your help.

When I upgrade to my 75, I will also be selling my 4x54w T5 light as well, so if anyone is interested let me know.
 
if you can fit in 2 4 foot VHOS / ice cap 430 under there somewhere it would help out . or you could contact ITZME and figure out how he pumps up his t-5s with a Ice Cap 660 ,, hes got like 2000 t-5s running crazy watts , and you can grow anything you want with t-5 bulbs
they will work just fine for you ,,,,
 
I have that fixture and am glad I bought it. Doesn't get too hot, looks nice and is plug and play. The only thing I would like is for the led lights to be blue instead of white. I am interested in hearing advice on bulb upgrades for when these bulbs are due for a change.
 
Before you make the decision to get the Nova Extreme, you should take a look at this website, I have been directed to them by some other reefers, you're actually going to get more bang for your buck from them and they will also customize any light to suite your needs...

http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/

The Nova Extreme Pro 6 bulb unit doesn't even have moonlights on it and it costs almost 450$... Catalina has an 8 bulb fixture, with moonlights, cooling fans and all that for $425.

You are able to keep anything you want to under these lights. Clams and all...

I've been told by many many people that there is almost nothing that you can't keep under these lights...

I'm going to order the 8x54 setup myself for my 55g and then it'll still be usable when I setup my 90g in place of the 55!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13914381#post13914381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MurphSalty
if you can fit in 2 4 foot VHOS / ice cap 430 under there somewhere it would help out . or you could contact ITZME and figure out how he pumps up his t-5s with a Ice Cap 660 ,, hes got like 2000 t-5s running crazy watts , and you can grow anything you want with t-5 bulbs
they will work just fine for you ,,,,
Click to expand...

That's all fine and good Murph, but like I said this is the light (or amount range) I can afford. I simply cannot go higher than 450.00 for a light.

For me to do so, I would have to wait almost a year (which would be me being out of reefing altogether) before I could afford some halides or another $300-400 in lights from what I am already planning on spending.
 
Bedding.com has this light for around $420 and I think if you do a google search you can get a 5-10% off coupon. I bought mine from drsfostersmith.com and they have a $15 coupon code that I posted a few days ago.
 
this light is on marine depot and is actually cheaper than on dr f&s, even with the coupon... by about 10 bucks after shipping and handling.
 
I just bought a "B" level refurb 48" Nove Extreme Pro off Currents Ebay store for under $300 shipped. Other that a few minor dings in the reflector it looks brand new.
 
Talking about Catalina bud, they're cheaper and more customizable for your own needs... Here's a direct link to the Solar T5 units that they have...
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/index.php?cPath=71_136

You could save some money and actually get better lights than the Current USA Nova Extreme... Check them out and do some research... I have been pointed this direction by countless people... Cause I too was planning on getting a nova extreme, the 6x54 watt that nova extreme has, is more money than the 8x54 that Catalina has.
You also have another PM.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13914654#post13914654 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PirateFish52
Benny,

Are you talking about the Current USA light or the Catalina package?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
a retro kit would probably be cheaper, and im sure there are more than enough people who can help you get it up and going.
Have you looked at the used forum
 
I didn't know there is a used forum. I will have to find it.

I don't want to burden anybody, although it is obvious I need help.

The light I found on catalina looks good. 8 T5's, individual reflectors, 8 moonlights, no fan.

That's way better than what I would have got with the one from Current USA, although it has a fan, it has 4 less moonlights.
 
Not sure why nobody with a 4ft tank has snatched the really nice dual 250watt metalhalide fixture with two power compact actinic supplements that is $375 in my for sale thread. It has new Ushio bulbs
 
Pirate,

I would take your time and look in the for sale forums. I found an AquaMedic fixture that is 48" with 2-250w MHs and 2-54 t5s for $475 shipped from CA. Take your time and buy once.
 
And those catalina fixtures are not bad for the money but they run hotter than my Metal halide fixture and youll have to change out there garbage bulbs they are junk ....so 8 bulbs times 20 bucks well you get my point it isnt cheaper ...all the time !!!

just my two cents get a quality light so you can feel safe about it and know that you r money was well spent not wasted !!
 
Wow, that couldn't have been a more harsh response... I have been pointed to these lights by people that have been in the hobby for 20+ years and swear by them, most have even said that they've ordered all of their fixtures without the fans and the fixtures don't even need the fans...

The light bulb thing is correct though, they aren't the best of bulbs, but they work until you can get better ones... I've read/heard nothing bad what-so-ever about these fixtures. I plan on getting one as soon as christmas is here... Unless of course, I can find something just as good if not better used for sale somewhere, I doubt that'll happen but until then... I've got my eyes set on these guys...

And I'm not sure where you guys buy your light bulbs but I go to a local store that is nothing but electrical stuff and they can order me any bulb for any application... I went and got replacement bulbs for my current Coralife fixture that JBMynes is letting me use and they were only 6$ a piece and are actually BETTER than what the LFS has for triple the money...
 
Just curious, how are you judging the quality of the bulbs, par meter? Lux meter? Light temp meter? As important as the amount of light and the quality of light is, nobody seemed interested in going in on purchasing one for the group that we all can share, since there not cheap and you only need to use occasionally.
 
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