Nova Extreme Pro

[juice_1080]

I have done alot of searching to try to figure this out but most of it applies to the 55gallon tanks.
I have a 75g 4' tank that I am going to be setting up in the near future and I am thinking of going with t5's over MH
What are the differences between t-5s and MH?
I tried to buy a 2x250w w/ 2 54w MH fixture off the auc tion site and got ripped off. Luckily it was w/ paypal and I will hopefully get my money back. I ordered them 3 weeks ago and haven't recieved them or a reply to my emails. The seller is MarineMadness2 if anybody cares to stay away from them. I also ordered my skimmer from them at the same time and have the same problem w/ that as well. (they have about $7-800 of my money

)
Anyways I have been hearing from people that T-5s will do just as good as long as I get Individual Reflectors. I am just wondering how many bulbs I will need on a 75g (I think 21" deep) to be able to keep anything I want (LPS, SPS, Clams)
I see the Nova Pros but they are 6 bulbs and I am trying to find one at a comparable cost w/ 8 bulbs and can't seem to find them.
Will the Extreme Pro w/6 bulbs be enough or can you point me in the direction of a 8bulb one that is < $500
BTW this will be going into a canopy so retros will work as well and I would prefer for the kit to include moonlights but it is not a necessity.
Thank you.

 

[moprint]

Reefgeek has a 6 bulb retro kit with bulbs for $449. 6 is the most you could put on 75 that kit is 18" wide. Since you have canopy a retro kit is the way to go. Moonlights are not included, but are easily added. They have great customer service and are well respected.

 

[nycbob]

if u do a search undr nova extreme pro under this site, u will see lots of pics and good comments on it. i hv one also, and like it alot.

 

[m0nk]

If this is going into a canopy, get all the pieces for your MH setup individually and add a T-5 retro-fit for Actinics. With a 75, I'd personally get 2x 250w MH (get the reflectors for like $15 a piece, IceCap ballasts for around $150 a piece, and a mogul end bulb for about $50 a piece) then a Nova T-5 retrofit kit with 2 52w bulbs for $160. Total for that setup, plus some wiring odds and ends, around $600+.

 

[wangotango]

Personally I'd go T5, they're cheaper to run, last longer, you have many bulb combination possibilities, and the color of coral is better (IMO).
A six-bulb Icecap retrofit with Icecap balllasts (which will overdrive the bulbs) will allow you to keep anything you want. The Nova Pro would also be a good choice.
-Justin

 

[juice_1080]

Originally Posted by WangoTango
http:///forum/post/2471852
Personally I'd go T5, they're cheaper to run, last longer, you have many bulb combination possibilities, and the color of coral is better (IMO).
A six-bulb Icecap retrofit with Icecap balllasts (which will overdrive the bulbs) will allow you to keep anything you want. The Nova Pro would also be a good choice.
-Justin
Do you think the Nova Pro 6 bulb will be enough light to keep anything I want though. I have seen alot of people recommend it for shallower tanks but I am curious if it is enough for a 21" tall tank...

 

[derekc]

i have a link i could give you....its a catalina 8 bulb t5 fixture with ind.reflectors only down fall is no fans or splashguard but its only 425...

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by juice_1080
http:///forum/post/2472581
Do you think the Nova Pro 6 bulb will be enough light to keep anything I want though. I have seen alot of people recommend it for shallower tanks but I am curious if it is enough for a 21" tall tank...
Yes it will... their intensity IMO depending on manufacturer can rival that of Metal Halide.

 

[derekc]

mine is on a 55G which is 18"deep and 13" wide

 

[juice_1080]

I found one that is 8x54W T5-HO w/individual reflectors for $335 shipped. I think I will go with that one. It has 4x1W Lunar LED's and Cooling fans. It is not a retrofit though.
With an 8 bulb configuration what should I be running for lights?
10K inside and actinic outside
every other bulb
or should I have more 10k and less actinic.
Does it even matter or is it more just my preference?
I would like to get more of a blue spectrum so the colors are a little more vibrant on the corals but I also want to make sure that they have enough of each spectrum to not struggle.
Do they make 12 or 14K T5 HO bulbs? or just 10K?

 

[iamjoefox]

i just ordered that 8 bulb set up your talking about i should have it some time next week. i was bouncing between the nova extreme pro and this one and i decided to give this off brand a shot.
i'll post with pictures when i get it.

 

[wangotango]

Originally Posted by juice_1080
http:///forum/post/2472942
I found one that is 8x54W T5-HO w/individual reflectors for $335 shipped. I think I will go with that one. It has 4x1W Lunar LED's and Cooling fans. It is not a retrofit though.
With an 8 bulb configuration what should I be running for lights?
10K inside and actinic outside
every other bulb
or should I have more 10k and less actinic.
Does it even matter or is it more just my preference?
I would like to get more of a blue spectrum so the colors are a little more vibrant on the corals but I also want to make sure that they have enough of each spectrum to not struggle.
Do they make 12 or 14K T5 HO bulbs? or just 10K?
What brand is this unit?
They make just about every K bulb you could want; 3,000k to pure actinic.
I wouldn't go with an even split. The ATI blue plus bulbs have good coloration and a lot of PAR. Maybe two UVL aquasuns, one UVL 75/25, two ATI blue plus, two ATI pure actinic, and an ATI aquablue special (12,000k I think).
GrimReefer on -- could probably give you a better combo.
-Justin

 

[reefraff]

Don't mess with that cheap stuff. Nova's arent great but at least Current USA is a reputable company that will stand behind their product. A nova Extreme Pro will be plenty on a 75 if you are careful about where you place the critters and Lose the Blue Lamps that come with the fixture.
If you are using the canopy look for the Coral Vue retrofits. The lamps aren't very good but for about 110 bux for 2 lamp kits the price is right and they look to have pretty decent reflectors and moisture proof endcaps.

 

[ikemeyer]

Bad news for you if you are buying the Nova Extreme or Nova E Pro. They are not for use in canopies. For canopy use you will want the Current Sundial model.

 

[juice_1080]

Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/2473274
Don't mess with that cheap stuff. Nova's arent great but at least Current USA is a reputable company that will stand behind their product. A nova Extreme Pro will be plenty on a 75 if you are careful about where you place the critters and Lose the Blue Lamps that come with the fixture.
If you are using the canopy look for the Coral Vue retrofits. The lamps aren't very good but for about 110 bux for 2 lamp kits the price is right and they look to have pretty decent reflectors and moisture proof endcaps.
The Coralvue retrofit kit is the one that I got ripped off. I don't know of anywhere else to purchase it other than from the seller on e bay that ripped me off. I even google searched them and wasn't able to find them.

 

[moprint]

aquacave has them for $139. also petmountain has the Nova Extreme retrofit for $126.

 

[juice_1080]

Originally Posted by derekc
http:///forum/post/2472895
i have a link i could give you....its a catalina 8 bulb t5 fixture with ind.reflectors only down fall is no fans or splashguard but its only 425...
I just checked into the Catalina website.....is this a decent brand or not? I notice they have one where they are digitally controlled by a remote where you can set 3 different cycles by time or manually use that option. This would be sweet.

I would be definitely willing to spend the extra $100 ($595) to get something I can control like that.
Originally Posted by moprint
http:///forum/post/2474044
aquacave has them for $139. also petmountain has the Nova Extreme retrofit for $126.
What exactly are you talking about? They are definitely more than that for a 6-8bulb retrofit. The one you are talking about is a 2 bulb kit. 4x126=$504+ Shipping this probably won't fit in my canopy anyways
Originally Posted by ikemeyer
http:///forum/post/2473282
Bad news for you if you are buying the Nova Extreme or Nova E Pro. They are not for use in canopies. For canopy use you will want the Current Sundial model.
What makes these not usable in canopies? The size or the heat? I ask because my canopy is being built to 49.5" x 20" inside.
Thanks for all the help guys and maybe someone can shed some light on the Catalina setup.

 

[wangotango]

I'd stay away from Catalina.
As far as fixtures not being able to go inside canopies, I think it has mostly to do with ventilation. IMO as long as you don't block any of the vents and allow for good airflow it shouldn't be a problem. I'm running a TX5 in a wooden canopy.
-Justin

 

[juice_1080]

Originally Posted by WangoTango
http:///forum/post/2477245
I'd stay away from Catalina.
As far as fixtures not being able to go inside canopies, I think it has mostly to do with ventilation. IMO as long as you don't block any of the vents and allow for good airflow it shouldn't be a problem. I'm running a TX5 in a wooden canopy.
-Justin

What makes you say I should stay away from Catalina?
As far as my canopy goes it is 49.5x20x12 measured from the inside. I built it this way so that I could keep my options open to what lighting will go in it. The top is going to be open with the exception of cross bracing to hold the fixture up. I can add fans the blow either up, down, or both to the top of the canopy by the fixture pretty easy if need be.

 

[wangotango]

What make T5 so powerful are quality individual reflectors, and that is something Catalina does not have. You're better off sticking to well-known brands like ATI, Aquactinics, Icecap, TEK, and even Current (Nova Pro).
-Justin