Quick lighting question

[cgoodman381]

What type of lighting are these setups?
http://www.current-usa.com/orbit.html
Is it a PC unit?
I am looking at the 4x130 unit compared to the 8x54 HO T5 unit.

[UnderwaterWorld]

Those are power compact, what T5 unit are you looking at? I would think that would be your better bet

[cgoodman381]

Ah, ok. I couldnt find anything on their site about exactly what type it is. Im looking at the 8x54 watt nova extreme fixture. Ill pass on the PC, as I want at least T5.

[dustin_P74]

i like the novas pricing on T-5 at the two doctors.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...2&pcatid=12772

[fatman]

If you can swing the price get a T-5 fixture with an individual reflector for each bulb. That is the only way you will get good PAR at any appreciable depths.

[McCrary]

Individual reflectors can almost double the amount of light you get, so its worth it.

[fatman]

Unless your really into calculus and DIY both and want to design your own reflectors where your using an individual parabolic reflector for each bulb and tube your usually best dealing with prismatic lenses with one for each bulb, or even just a gutter type reflector. With a parabolic reflector you must have your bulb at a specific distance from the reflector and the distance varies upon where you want the most intense light focusing. With the prizmatic lenses or gutter there is much more room for flexibility without the problems associated with parabolic reflectors. Most cheap lighting reflectors will use what they call parabolic reflectors, but they put all the tubes in the single refector. A parabolic is made for focusing from a single source to a single targeted focus.

[cgoodman381]

What brand t5's come stock with individual reflectors?

The one im looking at now is a parabolic reflector, unfortunately its all i can afford. If i wanted decent lighting it would cost twice the amount the tank +rock and sand cost me

[fatman]

Reeffreak is the person with all the T-5 knowledge. I do halides and only use other lighting as supplemenatl lighting for viewing pleasure, so the PAR is not usually a factor. I get all the PAR I need from the halides for coral growth, but use lower K values than most people like for viewing so I add Power Compact lighting for color viewing adjustments. I am considering T-5 as supplements if I can get good reputable opinions on the ballasts used in a fixture I am considering. With T-5's I can probably drop my halide wattage down by 40 percent in display tanks, where corals are just maintained and growth is not expected or even encouraged. Well reflected T-5's are really the only intense lighting approaching Halide capabilities, and in some situations (shallower water and smaller tanks) they are superior to halides, at least efficiency wise.

Originally Posted by cgoodman381

What brand t5's come stock with individual reflectors?

The one im looking at now is a parabolic reflector, unfortunately its all i can afford. If i wanted decent lighting it would cost twice the amount the tank +rock and sand cost me

[reeffreak]

Consider The Current Nova Pro's(6x54w) over the Nova Extremes(8x54w) Goodman.The Pro's have two less bulbs but have individual reflectors.Like Mc Crary mention IR doubles the light output,consider the 6 with IR like running 12 without IR.

If I'm not mistaken,the price for the Pro's is about $30 more than the extremes.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...pcatid=18 700

Note:there are better fixtures with better reflectors out there.Most don't come with bulbs like the Nova and are more expensive.Worth the added cost,IMO but not necessary.