reef tank help

[shinobi9119]

I know everyone says more is better in this hobby. (most of the time it is

)
But I am wondering about the lights I am planning to buy. I have a 75 gallon, it will be a reef with 3 inch sand bed. I am getting a t5 setup either a 4 bulb nova extreme or an 8 bulb nova extreme (54 watts per bulb). Obvious choice would be 8 bulb, but I just wanted to see what everyone else had to say. Thanks YOU

 

[michaeltx]

if you are buying retrofit kits you can always add more later if you want to add more lighting to the tank.
but this tank is lite with 4 36 inch t-5 systems a total of 8 t-5 bulbs alternating

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CA 420nm Actinic | CA 420nm Actinic
CV Actinic/Blue+ | CV Actinic/Blue+.
CA 420nm Actinic | CA 420nm Actinic
CA 10,000k White | CA 10,000k White

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and its amazing its also a 125 each set of 36" cover half the tank.
Mike

 

[ameno]

nice tank, great color

is it set up with individual reflectors? I hear that is a big concern with T-5 lighting

 

[michaeltx]

yes it has all individual reflectors if not the loose alot of their punch and intensity. this isnt my tank but has me to a point when I go to get new lights it will be T-5 all the way LOL this is a guy close to me actually our reefclub pres. and its an awsome tank!!!
Mike

 

[ameno]

I'm looking at t-5 on my new 125 also, may have to look into retro fit a little more, looks like that may be the way to go.
It's good to see I'm not the only person in arkansas that does saltwater.

 

[michaeltx]

kewl I didnt even notice you were from arkansas what part?
Thats what I am going with when I upgrade my tank.
Mike

 

[ameno]

by the way Shino I don't think Nova extreme has individual reflectors yet, that may be something to think about

 

[ameno]

I'm in Hot Springs, Not sure were that is from Forest city though, I though I'd been just about everywere in Ark.

 

[steve24]

now that is one awsome tank

i have the Aquatinics TX5 lights (5-54w) on my 55 reef if that helps any

 

[michaeltx]

I dont think it does either I thinks its one reflector for all the bulbs. you can look at the specs and it should list if it has one each or multiple reflectors.
its close to memphis about 45 minutes west of it on 40.
Mike

 

[michaeltx]

yours doesnt look half bad wither steve24 looks great!!

Mike

 

[ameno]

Ok that's why I'm not familiar with the area I usually travel north and south.
I hear the Aquatinics is one of the best on the market. Thats what I was looking at on mine, but I think I will look into the retro fit some now. I might need some insight on how to set that up sometime if you Don't mine. It looks like it would be less bulbs and cheaper doing it that way. I'm in the process of making the canopy now but not real familiar with retro fit lighting. A 72" Aquatinics uses 14 bulbs, thats a lot to change out when the time comes.

 

[shinobi9119]

no they dont have individual reflectors, i think a certain 72 in model does, but not any of the 48 inch ones. someone had told me to get individual reflectors, can i do that for these lights?

 

[ameno]

I would for sure go with a set up that has individual reflectors. I'm not sure if you could change those lights out for that. If it were me I would look into a different setup are go retro fit.

 

[shinobi9119]

thanks. my budget for lights for the time being is a lil over 400. If these nova extreme's arent suffecient, can anyone recommend a better setup for around this price. I would prefer t5 but i am open to suggestion. Thanks

 

[shinobi9119]

would the T-5 Tek Light fxtures be good. They are in my budget, have individual reflectors and run in 4, 6, and 8 bulbs. what is the minimun number of bulbs i can use with individual reflectors?

 

[ameno]

the aquatinics and tek lights are the only t-5 I know of that have individual reflectors. I think if you went with a MH lighting it would probably end up costing more then T-5. May want to look at the t-5 retro fit. that looks like the best way to go cost wise and to get the quality lighting your wanting. I just haven't looked into cost on it yet, but I would think it would be cheaper.
That's what I'm looking at now, because the t-5's I was looking at was going to cost about 1k, and it's hard to spend that much for lights.

 

[ameno]

from what I've been told tek does not have as good a par rating as aquatinics
but is still a good light, that would be my second choice

 

[shinobi9119]

thank you

 

[shinobi9119]

i never actually looked into retro fitting before. Can you tell me what it is and wht its all about?