Help Me Pick A New Light

[Alexander]

another thing about the t5 fixture is that the fans are enclosed in the fixture well at least on the nova extreme and the air comes in one side and out the other. there is practically no heat that gets transfered directly to the tank

[bobby]

No it wasn't that link I had one off of RC that was really good but I can't find it now. If I run across it I throw it on here.

[reeffreak]

Out of the lights you listed the Outer orbit would be my choice.You may get heat issues running MH on a 30 gallon tank.I just don't think MH is needed.

Forget all that crap about watts per gallon.It does not apply well these days especially when it comes to T5.You get twice as much PAR/lumens per watt then PC and with individual reflectors they are right up there with Metal Halides.The Tek 4x24w which has IR is what I would go with.

[Rcpilot]

Just found this:
Nova Extreme HO Light Fixture - 2 x 24W - T5 - 10,000k/460nm - 24 in. | T5 Lighting | Lighting Systems | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com

Here's the REAL delima:
I want more lights on the tank, obviously. But, I spent a little money on the PC unit I have now. It's 130w, but not quite good enough for doing clams and anenomes.

It's like 8" wide with the legs. My tank is only 12.5" wide.

I've been looking all over the place for a light that I could just set down on top of the tank and place it right next to the existing light. Nothing I could find up till now would fit next to the existing unit. I was looking at single strip PC lights, but for the performance, it just wasn't worth the money to add another 65w of PC lighting. Thats all that would fit next to the existing unit.

So, I resigned myself to the fact that I'd have to buck up and spend some real cash for a good MH & PC or MH & T-5 combo light.

It's not that money is no object. I do have some cash to spend on it - just got a nice commission check from work - but I want to spend my money wisely this time. I was a bit rished when I bought these PC lights, and it didn't take long to realize I'd made a mistake. They are fine for entry level reefing or a fish only tank, but for a serious reef tank they are painfully inadequate.

I'm REALLY tempted to buy this T-5 unit, but it's listing one actenic and one daylight. I really just want more light in the 10,000K range. Don't need more actenic.

Would it be possible to buy this unit and just plug in another 10,000K daylight? Or would the ballast have to be retrofitted in order to run dual daylights out of this fixture?

Or, just buy it and live with it for $60? I've got 130w (65w daylight & 65w actenic) of power compact now. Would it make any difference to add 24w of T5 daylight 10,000K and 24w of T5 actenic?

This is a hard decision to make and I just don't know if I should continue to jack around with the light I got by adding to it--or just drop some cash and get a really nice light in the 300w range.

[yote]

T-5 Aquarium Lighting: Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights

I dont think you could go wrong with this light.Instead of 2 -24 watt bulbs,you'd have 4 for a total of 96 watts.

You'd also want to keep the actinic bulb to keep the 10,000K from looking so yellow.I think the ballast would handle the daylight bulbs though.

[reeffreak]

If you want to add more light than that fixture will do.I still don't know if you will be unlimited though.Its not much of an investment and could always use for something else down the road(say maybe a fuge)which is the same light on my fuge.Give it a try and see what happen.Much of this hobby is anecdotal anyways,IMO.

Changing both bulbs to daylight may give your tank a wash out look even if you have PC actinics.Maybe a 50/50 would be better.

[Rcpilot]

Yote, thats too wide for my tank. It's 14" wide and my tank is only about 12.5" wide. I dunno how they mount, but I'd sure hate to buy it assuming that it would fit and then have to ship it back.
Look at this!! SEXY!!
PFO Solaris- 20K - 24" LED Hood: Premium Aquatics

Can't afford it.
Found this. It's PC, but it will fit the tank. 390w.
Aquauniverse.com - 24'' 6 X 65 watt Power Compact

I know it's PC. Seams like for $300 I could just about get a really schweeeet T5 or MH combo light.

[Rcpilot]

Look at this one:
Catalina Aquarium

[fishbait]

hmm. i wonder if that's a typo on the 6 bulb hood? it's 25 bucks cheaper than the 4 bulb. you would think it's the other way around.

[reeffreak]

Wow 6-65w PC bulbs in 24'' long fixture.That fixture has to be 24''L x 24''W at least.

The Solaris is to expensive.I'm not even sure LED is totally proven yet.Its promising though.

The Catalina doesn't have individual reflectors.The 4 bulb Tek fixture is way better.