I've decided to go with a basic 15 gallon tank and I'm now trying to decide what lights will work best. I would like to go with a T5 fixture so I can chage the bulbs of for desired PAR readings and looks. I'd like to keep mostly soft corals, ricordeas, and zoos. Are most T5 bulbs interchangable among different fixture brands?

Will any of these be a good choice? They are all 2x24 watts- I figured i could always add a second fixture later. Right now I would be just tranfering some GSP, hammer head and xenia frags from my 5.5 into it.

Nove Extreme 24"

Aqualight 24" Fixture

Aquaticlife 24" Fixture

Nova Extreme SLR 24" Fixture


Thanks for any info!

I have a Nova Extreme SLR on my 10g and it seems to be doing a great job

The bulbs are interchangeable between any different 24" t5 fixtures. The most important thing about t5's are the individual reflector, like the kind you see on the last link. T5's without individual reflectors are no good for the most part, and also for the best color combos you may want a 4 bulb fixtures. The 24" 4 bulb tek 5's pop up in the classifieds section on here for dirt cheap sometimes

Would the 18" Nova Extreme SLR (36W total) work for a 10 gallon? I looked in our school's catalog and discoved that I am olny allowed a 10 gallon tank at the max.

I'd stay away from the 18" ones since those only use proprietary bulbs that really suck ass. I highly doubt that your school's got an aquarium police, and chances are that they can't tell a 20 from a 10. Unless it starts leaking they probably won't even know it's ever there.

lol. nice

will these work on the 18" T5 fixture?
http://www.nanotuners.com/advanced_search_...&search.y=0

I got the aquatic life 2x24 as you have listed there since it allows you to chain 2 together for a 4 bulb setup.. made sense to me

The nanotuner bulbs will fit the 18" T5 fixture, search the site, there's a thread regarding the new bulbs.


Jeff