Best lighting for my buck

coralrocksny

coralrocksny

Member
Wango Tango had gived me some good advice about going with T5s in my 55 gal.
I am looking to get the best bang for my buck ! I dont want to skimp in imporant areas so I was wondering if anyone out there can tell me what they think of Current Usa Nova Extreme T5 with 216 watts. Is that gonna be enough for some hardly types of corals or am in the wrong ball park here???
Thanks guys
 
isistius

isistius

Active Member
if you decide to go the t5 route and want inexpensive, go with the nova extreme pro. if you have the extra $, go with aquactinics or tek, and if you have a lot to blow, go with ati. least of all, make sure it has individual refloectors
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
Originally Posted by coralrocksNY
Is that gonna be enough for some hardly types of corals or am in the wrong ball park here???
Thanks guys
With individual reflectors your lighting should be adequate for just about anything. You may have to move clams/sps corals higher up on the rocks
and if any anenomes they may move themselves up closer to the light.
 
saltspirt

saltspirt

Member
i had a 20 with the current usa 4 bulb set up it is nice but there is alot nicer i ended up taking mine apart and making a new case for the individual reflectors and replaced the bulbs early no glo to the actanic and the Giesemann are alot brighter any way retros are realy easy with t5s and alot brighter you could probly keep most things with the current usa set up may be have to move the clams up still.
 
moprint

moprint

Member
The Nova Extreme Pro is the best bang for the buck. I own the 48" version on a 55 it is as wide as the tank.
 
coralrocksny

coralrocksny

Member
Originally Posted by moprint
The Nova Extreme Pro is the best bang for the buck. I own the 48" version on a 55 it is as wide as the tank.
What is the diffrence between the one I listed: Nova Extreme t5 216 watt and the one you list aas Nova Extreme Pro?
 
travis89

travis89

Active Member
Originally Posted by coralrocksNY
What is the diffrence between the one I listed: Nova Extreme t5 216 watt and the one you list aas Nova Extreme Pro?
The pro has individual reflectors which is what you need with T5 for them to really be effective.
 
coralrocksny

coralrocksny

Member
ah ha! Ok I will go do a search on the pro. I am wondering how much more it will cost. I guess it doesn't matter if you say this is a must!
Thanks
 
coralrocksny

coralrocksny

Member
ok so i did some looking up and there is aBIG price diffrence between the extreme and extreme pro. I need to know... do I go with the pro which is about $355.00 or can I go with nova extreme 4x54w T5 HO for $278.00??? Is the diffrence not only in the reflectors but also because one has 2 more blubs than the other one? Is it really that big of a diffrence? Ill take your word for you guys out there if it is.
 
moprint

moprint

Member
The Tek is $329 with bulbs, legs $58, acrylic sheild $26 and this is for the four bulb fixture. The Nova Pro is still a better buy.
 
travis89

travis89

Active Member
Originally Posted by moprint
The Tek is $329 with bulbs, legs $58, acrylic sheild $26 and this is for the four bulb fixture. The Nova Pro is still a better buy.
forgot they don't come with that stuff
 
coralrocksny

coralrocksny

Member
wow the $280 pice is without the bulbs! YIKES ..well then guys looks like I will be purchaseing the Nova extreme pro! This will take most of my money set aside for beginning start up. What is a fish lover to do! haha
Back to the piggy bank!
Do you know my local dealer told me I would be ok with corallife lights. I haven't seen anyone even mention these. Not to mention the pice was dirt cheep... probaby work like junk!
 
big

big

Active Member
The Nova Extreme Pro is on sale now at the Dr's place! I just picked up the 48 6 bulb one for just over 300 bucks
 
coralrocksny

coralrocksny

Member
Hey.. thanks for the help! I appreciate that! Hope you dont get in trouble for saying that on here tho!
I will go check it out right now!
 
coralrocksny

coralrocksny

Member
WOW!!!
That is awsome! Your tank rocks! I am sold!!! What are some of the kinds of corals you have in there? What do the bulbs cost?
 
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