I already have a nova extreme on my 5.5 and was wondering if the fishneedit t5 with giessmann bulbs added to my nova extreme would be good for sps and clams? What is a decent 24" t5 fixture that doesn't cost to much.

If you want SPS and clams, it's best to avoid the fishneedit fixtures and get something with better reflectors. Check the T5HO information thread for more info on fixtures with good reflectors, such as TEKs from sunlight supply.

Is there anything for around 100 that is decent?

Thanks

For a 24" fixture you can find the fixtures for about 50 bucks.... Check linnens and things online... yes, you read that right... linnens and things... do a search for T5...

They have the fixtures for aquariums rather cheap... you can always get better bulbs if you want...

fishneedit isnt a terrible brand just mfg'ed and imported direct from china to the usa by an individual, so he offers his products at very competitive prices...
id personally go MH. FISHNEEDIT makes nice mh pendants...

So between a nova extreme 36watt and a fishneedit 48watt with giessman bulbs I will get good growth right? I would do a metal halide pendant but the heat and eveporation make it not worth the trouble.

Thanks

If the fishneedit is the same as the nova extreme I will go with the fishneedit. I need something that can fit easily over the width of my tank. I dont think I can fit both of them over my tank. Does the nova extreme come with fans? I can get either of them for the same price.

What are the dimensions of the tank? You could get a retrofit kit from reefgeek.com.

Giessmann bulbs are nice but not the best. The T5HO information thread has good descriptions of various bulb types. Bulbs are easier to replace than reflectors.

My tank is 16in long x 9in wide. I cant fit 2 novas over it and I dont want a retro. I will probably go with the fishneedit. Are the ati bulbs the best? I only have about $100 to spend on the fixture. I looked at the t5 ho info thread and all the best fixture cost like $300! I just need a t5 set up that will grow my corals.

Thanks

I actually am getting the nova instead and I will eventually switch all the reflectors of both my novas to ice cap reflectors from reefgeek.

i have a fishneedit 70w and with a AB 20k bulb its great, and they have good cs, also
i don't have personal experience with this brand but seems like you get a lot for your money:
Odyssea 24" 96W (4x 24W) T5 HO Light Fixture Advance $69

from http://shop.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-24in-4...nce-p/52201.htm

Which bulb combo would produce the most growth? Are aquaticlife fixture a lot better than the nova?

Thanks

If it's a two bulb, no. They are about the same. The four bulb AL units have different reflectors IIRC that are much better.

Thanks evil

I am looking for a decent 2 bulb fixture thats not more than $100. What would be a good bulb combo?

Holy $&^T you rock so hard

I just bought the nova 2x24 watt! Now I have to figure out which bulbs to put in it. I was thinking something from either ati or giessmann. Which combo is good for growth?

With two bulbs, you're fairly limited on what you can get away with in terms of color versus growth. However, two ATI aquablue specials (or an ATI aquablue special and an ATI blue plus) may be enough.

May not happen. I have a Nova 4X24 and there's on way on earth you'll fit reflectors in between the bulbs.


If you got the Nova SLR version, you *might* pull that off. Maybe.


Reflectors are real cheap at www.diyreef.com right now if they have any left. Going out of business.

Is the hagen glo 2 bulb fixture better than the nova?

I have had a hard time getting a peak at the Hagen Glo 2 bulb. It looks to me like it's one large parabolic reflector with two bulbs stuffed into it, but I can't say that for sure.


If that's the case, it would be better than the 2-bulb Nova with the old style flat reflector. The Glo would probably put out about the same as the Nova Extreme SLR though.

If the Nova is indicated as "Nova Extreme SLR" then it will actually have individual reflector for each bulb. Not parabolic, but better than nothing.

The link for the Nova SLR is below. Just note that it does not come with fans, and I highly recommend you rig a fan on this thing. T5's will not generally get "dangerously" hot, and they won't melt anything like a halide will, but they do not run well without some form of cooling. I think they are making a mistake by not putting a fan even in the 2X24 model. My 4X24 model came with a fan (old style) and the air coming out of it is pretty warm.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...fm?pcatid=16770

EDIT:

Let me also say that your main limitation will not be lighting here. Lighting a small tank like that is a piece of cake.


The hard part--- real hard--- will be keeping the salinity and other parameters stable. Salinity that varies more than one ppt per day won't kill SPS, but it will slow their growth. And you will have a hard time keeping it that stable. I'm speaking from experience and not science, but it can be done.

After you get the light thing settled, check into options for an ATO. There are lots of small ATO stuff out there.

I might try to just mod my nova extreme and hide my led fixture in it. I am getting it in today so I just need to see if it will fit if I take out the reflector. My parents dont care about my t5 so if I put the led fixture inside they wont know the difference. The reason I was going to get t5s instead of the led fixture was because my parents didnt want a home made fixture burning the house down.

Your toaster has a greater chance of burning the house down.

Its not me who think it would burn the house down! Its my parents who dont trust anything that doent come from an official company. Even when I told them that my fishneedit metal halide or an aquatraders light has a greater chance of a fire. Is the reflector easy to take out of the nova? I was thinking of drilling holes for ventilation.

Alright so the LED fixture is finally in! I turned it on and I love how I can adjust the color temp. Do I need the fans that are on it? The fans are kind of in the way and I would rather take them off the heatsink.

It would be advisable to keep the fans.

You know Linens and Things is the same as Pet Mountain right? Both websites are run by the same company.