Tech challenged

spetitti

spetitti

New Member
Please!! I need some help in deciding what lighting system to Buy. I have a 20 gal tank with some mushroom corals and two fishes, a damsel and a maroon clown and lots of LR and some live sand. The tank is about 17 inchs deep. I just don't know which one is better for my tank, and it's a lot of money to spend and not get exactly what I need. My choice is between a Nova Extreme T-5 24" 96 watts and Helios 24" T4-6 VHO 90 watts. I was reading somewhere that wattage is no longer an issue as before, that the PAR is more important with the newer lighting fixtures. I want to be able to put an anemone in my tank for the clown plus I like the way they look. I try to read all I can about lighting but the more I read the more confused I get. My brain is just not wired that way. Any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks SP
 
cveverly

cveverly

Member
Nova Extreme Pro T5 has individually contoured reflectors that act like individual reflectors. This is a lot better than the regular Nova Extreme that has a single reflector. There is a 20" Pro that houses 6 bulbs giving 108 watts.
Do you have a link to the Helios lights your are looking at?
For the same money you can find a 150 watt Metal Halide that will support about anything you would want to put in your tank.
 
cveverly

cveverly

Member
I looked at the lights and see they are made by Via Aqua. Their stuff is not the best quality although it is not total garbage either. If I were going to pick between the two you listed I would select the Nova. Nova has a new line called Extreme SLR T-5 Fixtures. They claim 20% more light versus their older light system. I would consider this if I were going T5. They offer a 24" light with 4 lamps outputting 96 watts for $169.
Another option is to find a good used Metal Halide 150 watt fixture. I found a like new Giesemann 150 watt fixture for $100. there are a lot of people selling their MH lights and buying T5.
BTW, The Nova SLR has individual reflectors (20% increase in light) and that will give you more PAR that you are reading about.
 
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