OK- Suggestions wanted

[Reggae Fish]

I'm looking for new lights. 48" fixture

I'm keeping only LPS, Softies, and rics.

I don't care for my power compacts that much but that could be the brand as well and I don't even think that good bulbs would make it that much better.

I like the "white" look and I can deal with a bit of blue but I like the white.

NOTHING yellow at all.

What does everyone have and recommend? Type and temp.

VHO
T-5's
PC's
MH
etc...

 

[trottman]

if that is all you want to keep, i wouldnt spend a lot of money on a MH fixture... have you looked at the finnex T5 fixtures?

i think that premium aquatics has them. i think that a http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Finnex-T5


i would do the Finnex 47" HO T5 Fixture - 6 Bulb x 54w Complete
Code:FI-TL-T4854
Price: $334.95
Rating: none
Quantity in Basket: none

that is 324 watts. i would use bulbs from reefgeek.com

i would probably use 2 aquablues, 2 blue plus, and 2 GE 6500k. that should give a a very crisp white, (not blue or yellow)

this fixture does not have individual reflectors, and trust me YOU DO NOT WANT THEM UNLESS YOU ARE DOING ALL SPS. this light is as bright as you will ever need and more for lps/softies.

great price and very good quality. i had the 24 inch fixture and loved it!!!! extremely compact (you can use it under you ocianic hood!) and extremely low heat!!!

 

[Reggae Fish]

wouldn't the 6,500 give it more of a yellow than the 10k

 

[trottman]

edit: the more i look at my fixture, unless you use the 6500K's it will have some degree of blue.

hell, it would be enough light that you could just keep using the bulbs that they send you with the fixture. yes they are cheap, but they would be plenty of luight for what ou want and are white

this fixture will fit under your ocianic hood, (thats what you have right?... )

or you could just do all aquable bulbs for a crisp white with hints of blue

 

[Reggae Fish]

I would use the bulbs and replace as needed.

Yeah, the oceanic

What is the main difference from the t-5s and the VHO
Advantages/disadvantages?

 

[trottman]

skip the VHO... they are a bulb of the past

if you are gonna go flourecent go T5 (t5 are VHO just much smaller, compact, more output, less electricity consumption, and less heat)

and the finnex fixture will fit under your ocianic hoob

 

[HouseDJSTL]

Dont go w/ Finnex. I was told the fixture doesnt come w/ individual reflectors, so you will lose alot of light. I went w/ a Tek light fixture. It was a little more expensive, but totally worth it.

Good Luck!!

-Jeremy

 

[Reggae Fish]

The problem with the Tek fixture is that it looks as though the only way to use it is by hanging which I can't do because of the way my canopy is.

 

[Reggae Fish]

OK- Please let me know of other choices.

Current Nova Extreme
Sunlight Tek
Ice Cap
Finnex
Aquastarlight

Please let me know if I missed some. Also, if you have experience with any, I would love your input. In addition, is the current and finnex the only ones that have legs?

 

[trottman]

i would go finnex... you dont need the ammount of light that the tek puts out. and the finnex can be easily modded with individual reflectors if you do want it.

i did it to my own finnex light. it owuld be like 30 a reflector for the 47 inch one

i would just go finnex with 6 bulbs.. trust me, it will be enough light...it might even be too much.

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7320958#post7320958 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trottman
i would go finnex... you dont need the ammount of light that the tek puts out. and the finnex can be easily modded with individual reflectors if you do want it.

i did it to my own finnex light. it owuld be like 30 a reflector for the 47 inch one

Ummm...You're speaking a foriegn language...If I was going to get it and mod the reflectors, why wouldn't I just spend the money and not mess with it? The Tek I can only hang.

What about the Current?

 

[trottman]

do what you want, i am just telling you that 6 x 54 watt (one big reflector) finnex fixture would be enough for your tank. you could even grow most monti's under it.

plus it is cheap, fits under your hood, and quality bulbs are not horridly expensive.

someone else better get in on this.. i am tired of typing FINNEX :lol:

 

[Reggae Fish]

I'm just trying to understand some of the other features of the others. Didn't understand exactly what you meant by the reflectors.

BTW- do you think the Finnex would be a good buy? :lol:

 

[fkdenton]

I would go with the tek. You can hang it or buy legs for it. I have mine hanging and I think it looks pretty good. I have posted pics of the way I have it hanging look them up. It was a week or two ago.