Lighting Question

[obsessivelady]

I have a 55 gal tank that I'm looking at buying the Nova Extreme SLR T-5 Fixture for. Total wattage is 216. It comes with 2 10000 K and 2 460nm actinic. The set up is on sale and the best I've found for my set up that I can afford. What does anyone think? I will have a reef set up, but probably not much in the line of corals. Maybe someday, but I'm looking more at live rock, fish including a couple of clowns and anenome's. Can only afford to buy one big purchase at a time, so I thought it would be nice to buy the lighting and than the next big expense will be the filter, which I'm leaning towards the Eheim.
Thanks for your input.

 

[seawitch]

I have the nova extreme216 watt over a 55. Mine does not have the individual reflectors. I've had it for 2 years. I have no complaints other than the fan is a little louder than I would like it to be. I have a mixed reef. I keep the sps near the top. I also have a bubble tip anemone who seems to do well, aside from not being very "bubbly".

 

[obsessivelady]

Thanks for your help. I'm going to go with this set up. I was reading some posts about another cheaper brand, but....I don't want to have to make this purchase again in the near future. For me, I'm going to spend the extra money and get the Nova Extreme. I think you do get what you pay for. I want everything as perfect as I can get it.

 

[jstdv8]

I have the nova extreme pro over my 90 gallon (6 light individual reflectors)
So far everything has really taken off compared to my old PC's
you are getting about 4 WPG out of that which should be good for quite a few different corals. you can have a nice dispaly with those lights

 

[jstdv8]

one thing to note is that the current USA bulbs that come in that fixtrue arent the best. so you might want to change them out at your frist oppertunity

 

[obsessivelady]

Thanks for all your input. Would you recommend going higher than the 10000 K? I've read some people go with the 12000 K when they swap them out? I'm just a newbie when it comes to that stuff!

 

[wangotango]

Originally Posted by obsessivelady
http:///forum/post/3196940
Thanks for all your input. Would you recommend going higher than the 10000 K? I've read some people go with the 12000 K when they swap them out? I'm just a newbie when it comes to that stuff!
For a four-bulb fixture I'd go with:
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
Should be a pale blue overall.
-Justin

 

[obsessivelady]

When you say ATI, do you mean actinic? I'm assuming that's what you mean, but thought I would ask to be sure.

 

[ibew41]

ati is a brand name

 

[jstdv8]

im not an expert on ATI bulbs but I think of the ones he listed none of them are actinic. but ATI has some really cool daylight bulbs that give off the blue light like an actinic so it replaces the actinic and gives you superior growing power for corals

 

[obsessivelady]

Thanks. I will look into the ATI bulbs. I won't need to worry about changing them for awhile anyhow, since it will be a long time before I will be able to add any corals. Thanks for all your help everyone.