Appropriate T-5 Fixture

[FreakinReefin]

I'm setting up a softy prop tank with a 40B and wanna just use T-5 lighting. What would be the most appropriate fixture to use? I'm not planning on making it too fancy as far as custom hoods or anything of that sort since this will not be a display. I'm going to keep it bare bottom with egg crate racks built at multiple levels.

I have never built a prop tank so any advice would be great! Thanks!

 

[fatboyt123]

Probably something like a tek 36" with 4 bulbs would be great.

 

[FreakinReefin]

Probably something like a tek 36" with 4 bulbs would be great.

Are the Nova Extreme's just as good? They seem to be a little bit cheaper.

 

[fatboyt123]

Never used the nova's before.

When ever they get more of these in stock these would be great as you are only useing it as a frag tank. Because I dont know how good the refelectors are.

http://shop.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-36in-4x39W-T5-HO-Light-Fixture-Advance-p/52202.htm

 

[returnofsid]

The older Nova T5 fixtures, with parabolic reflectors, instead of ICR reflectors, SUCKED. The newer Nova T5 fixtures do have ICR reflectors, but experiments show that they still aren't as good as the Tek5. There's a VERY long thread, over on RC, T5 Q&A thread. In that thread, Grimreefer has compared the 2 fixtures. Tek5 beats out Nova, hands down. Odyssea fixtures suck really bad.

 

[FreakinReefin]

The older Nova T5 fixtures, with parabolic reflectors, instead of ICR reflectors, SUCKED. The newer Nova T5 fixtures do have ICR reflectors, but experiments show that they still aren't as good as the Tek5. There's a VERY long thread, over on RC, T5 Q&A thread. In that thread, Grimreefer has compared the 2 fixtures. Tek5 beats out Nova, hands down. Odyssea fixtures suck really bad.

Well...on the flip side of things; what would you do? At one point I was thinking of using a 400w halide pendant situated pretty high over the tank and using some retro T5 actinic along side. Of course, this was when I thought of using the frag tank for propagating SPS as well. If this type of setup would work, although I'm sure it's overkill to a point, then I wouldn't mind doing this. I also have a lumenarc reflector that I am not using which could be put to use. The only thing I worry about with that is UV damage since there is not UV glass shield.

I think I should have started this thread in lighting...if a mod needs it moved then have at it! Sorry, thanks!

 

[FreakinReefin]

This is the direction I want to go with it...