Lights Lights Lights

[wellnuts]

Upgrading my 75G from a FOWLR to Soft/LPS and lighting is about to make my head explode. At $400ish, I can't afford to make the wrong decision.
I'm currently using a Current PC 4 X 65W hood which only gives me 3.5 watts/gallon. The concensus seems to be to upgrade to T5 HO Hood.
To get to 5 watts/gallon (I do understand that PAR, LUX, etc is more important than watts, but trying to figure it out that way seems practically impossible) I have been lookoing at T5 HO 8 x 54W that would give me roughly 5.5 watts/gallon. With reflectors and fan, they run like $450.
Then I read about people that have the same tank as me using only a
T5 HO 4 x 54W and having good luck with SPS and clams!!!

What should I buy?????

My tank is 48"L x 18"W x 20"H
Don't want to buy Metal Halides because I don't want to end up running a chiller and spending a fortune on bulbs.

[daugherty]

i have 8 t5's and love them. on my 75

[d.french]

if you have the money 48" constellation by aquactinics is a good buy

[d.french]

i have aquactinic tx5 which is only 5 54 watt t5's and i keep anything under it, it is a very bright fixture, good individual reflectors make a big difference.

[d.french]

tx5 is like 460 bucks i think, nova pro is 370.00, constellation is 600+. i have both nova pro and tx5, tx5 real nice light nova pro is good but i would change bulbs out to name brand bulbs like geisemann and ATI.

[wellnuts]

Darrick/James

The Tx5 vs the Nova Extreme:

Aquariumpros.com has the Nova Extreme 8 x 54W for $435
Wouldn't that be better than spending the same money (roughly) on the Tx5 with only 5 x 54W?

Or is it a metter of the nicer reflectors producing essentially the same amount of light as 8 bulbs, at a lower energy cost?

Even though my tank will contain mainly soft and LPS, I'd like to at least be able to add a brain coral and not have to worry.


Thanks

[dustin_P74]

the nova extreme does not have independent reflectors. and the Tx5 i believe does have the IR's so your basically getting the same out put from those 5 bulbs as a 10 bulb fixture at a lower cost to you in the long run

[yote]

I'm running the Nova Extremes on my 75 and keep pretty much whatever I want.But the IRs will give you a whole lot more usable light per watt burned.
So between the Novas and the TX-5,go with the TX-5.

[Bifferwine]

It's been said that having individual reflectors doubles the amount of light that reaches your tank, so choosing 5 bulbs with IR vs. 8 bulbs without will save energy and give you the same results.

[dustin_P74]

dont forget money saved in bulb replacement