snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Reviewer name: SnakeBlitz33 (Seth)
Date Reviewed: 02/12/2009
Product Name: 48” Nova Extreme T5HO 8x54watt with Moonlights
Date Purchased: 01/01/2006
Approximate Cost: $426
Features: This product features a splash guard acrylic sheet, two built in fans that are pretty quiet, and White LED Moonlights. Also features four, 420nm original actinic lights and four 10,000k daylight bulbs. The whole unit only has one reflector for all eight bulbs.
Benefits: Provides enough light to grow SPS corals at approximately 15” from the light very well. It also provides enough light to keep most clams and LPS corals on the substrate in a 31” tall 90g show tank. It’s extremely easy to change out the bulbs when needed. Just take off the splash guard and replace the bulbs. It can keep just about any sort of coral that you want.
Pros: It’s extremely cost effective for a low budget for lighting. If you do not like the heat that metal halides produce, a T5 system might be the best alternative choice. It easily mounts on a 55g aquarium, or any aquarium that is 4ft (48” long) I’m not going to get into the T5 vs. MH argument in this review.
Cons: Some say that the fans are very noisy when the lights come on. Also, you should keep your fans cleaned of all dust and debris that might accumulate. Because there is a splash guard, you may also need to wipe the guard of all salt creep. The middle metal holder for the acrylic splash guard will rust over time.
Tips and Tricks: Make sure you take off ALL of the plastic out of the unit before turning the fixture on. Also, the T5 bulbs may last up to 15 months of use, however you should replace the bulbs after 6-8 months, or else they loose spectrum.
Mods: No known mods available for this particular unit.
Variations: 48” Nova Extreme T5 Fixture with Moonlights and Individual Reflectors.
Personal Opinion: I have used this product with great success. It has grown SPS corals fairly rapidly, and I have even been able to keep clams at approximately 29” of depth. LPS and Soft corals can be easily grown and fragged under this light as well. I have never had any complaints out of this unit. It lasted me approximately three years, before it was sold and still in use!
Recommend this product? Yes, although individual reflectors are a better choice.
Product rating: 8.5
1=worst 10=best
swf.com has it? Not to my knowledge.
Date Reviewed: 02/12/2009
Product Name: 48” Nova Extreme T5HO 8x54watt with Moonlights
Date Purchased: 01/01/2006
Approximate Cost: $426
Features: This product features a splash guard acrylic sheet, two built in fans that are pretty quiet, and White LED Moonlights. Also features four, 420nm original actinic lights and four 10,000k daylight bulbs. The whole unit only has one reflector for all eight bulbs.
Benefits: Provides enough light to grow SPS corals at approximately 15” from the light very well. It also provides enough light to keep most clams and LPS corals on the substrate in a 31” tall 90g show tank. It’s extremely easy to change out the bulbs when needed. Just take off the splash guard and replace the bulbs. It can keep just about any sort of coral that you want.
Pros: It’s extremely cost effective for a low budget for lighting. If you do not like the heat that metal halides produce, a T5 system might be the best alternative choice. It easily mounts on a 55g aquarium, or any aquarium that is 4ft (48” long) I’m not going to get into the T5 vs. MH argument in this review.
Cons: Some say that the fans are very noisy when the lights come on. Also, you should keep your fans cleaned of all dust and debris that might accumulate. Because there is a splash guard, you may also need to wipe the guard of all salt creep. The middle metal holder for the acrylic splash guard will rust over time.
Tips and Tricks: Make sure you take off ALL of the plastic out of the unit before turning the fixture on. Also, the T5 bulbs may last up to 15 months of use, however you should replace the bulbs after 6-8 months, or else they loose spectrum.
Mods: No known mods available for this particular unit.
Variations: 48” Nova Extreme T5 Fixture with Moonlights and Individual Reflectors.
Personal Opinion: I have used this product with great success. It has grown SPS corals fairly rapidly, and I have even been able to keep clams at approximately 29” of depth. LPS and Soft corals can be easily grown and fragged under this light as well. I have never had any complaints out of this unit. It lasted me approximately three years, before it was sold and still in use!
Recommend this product? Yes, although individual reflectors are a better choice.
Product rating: 8.5
1=worst 10=best
swf.com has it? Not to my knowledge.