T5 lighting

Reefcraze_1 · 02-18-2009, 06:13 PM

The day has come for me to upgrade from my twin PC fixture to something that is reef adequate.

I definitely want to go with T5's and I'm just not sure of how many bulbs i need and how often they need to be replaced.

I was looking at both the Current USA Nova Extreme Pro and the Current USA Nova Extreme Fixture.

The concern I have with each is that the "pro" while having 6 bulbs doesn't have true SLR, instead it's a single reflector that has been bent around each bulb.

And for the standard while having true SLR it only has 4 bulbs which i don't think will be enough to keep Maxima or Corcea clams close to the sand bed (19" of water).

Anyone experienced with T5's or particularly these fixtures, your knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

BarbMazz · 02-18-2009, 06:52 PM

What size is your tank? I have a 65g tank that's 36" wide. I did retrofit T-5's. 6x39w with individual reflectors. My tank is 24" high... with the dsb the water depth is probably about 18". I have a derasa clam on the substrate that's doing fine. I have three croceas up on the rocks that are good. I have sps up high that are thriving.

Reefcraze_1 · 02-18-2009, 06:56 PM

The tank is a 60 Gallon, 18 inches wide, 36 long and 21 high. But with the sand bed the water depth is only around 18" or 19".

michael_cb_125 · 02-18-2009, 06:56 PM

I just bought a new T5 fixture for my tank. I was running 250 watt halide and T5s. But some heat issues arose and I sold that setup. I looked at the Current USA fixtures, but decided that they were not up to par with my tank system. I opted for the ATI Power Module. I have spoken with many people who say that these are the best T5 fixtures available currently. ?
They are a German made fixture and get great reviews. Plus they are actively cooled, have true individual reflectors, and when used with ATI bulbs have the best PAR ratings out there.

Sorry I could not help with the fixture you are looking at. But, IMO for a little more money you can get a truly great lighting fixture.

~Michael

michael_cb_125 · 02-18-2009, 06:59 PM

Something like either of these two would be amazing:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI

~Michael

Reefcraze_1 · 02-18-2009, 07:06 PM

ya i don't have the budget to buy a $850 light then pay the duty for bringing it into Canada.

That's an amazing light fixture but the cost is just way too high.

funkpolice · 02-18-2009, 07:25 PM

how much is the nova pro? I also have an ati powermodule and if the difference is only a couple hundred bucks it's definitely worth waiting for. Ati also has another model, I think is called a sunpod. It's a little cheaper, but I don't know what the differences are. I do know there are people that are very happy with their nova extreme pros.
bill

michael_cb_125 · 02-18-2009, 07:53 PM

I think that the other ATI is a Sun Power

Aquarium Technik Innovation ATI | ATI-Sunpower | ATI SUNPOWER

michael_cb_125 · 02-18-2009, 07:55 PM

The prices are very similar to a Current USA light, but you are getting better PAR, and a German made fixture vs. a Chinese.

~Michael

funkpolice · 02-18-2009, 08:01 PM

wow, that sun power is almost half the price of the powermodule. It looks like it has fewer cooling fans, and I think it may not have individual reflectors.
bill

rmlevasseur · 02-18-2009, 08:30 PM

Dang you go thru equipment fast Mike!

michael_cb_125 · 02-18-2009, 08:32 PM

I know I Know.

~Michael

Reefcraze_1 · 02-18-2009, 08:37 PM

well the Pro is $340, and the ATI Power module that is on reef geek is $740 not including the duty to bring it into Canada. Double the price really isn't an option.

michael_cb_125 · 02-18-2009, 08:49 PM

The ATI Sunpower 6X 39 watt is 460 dollars.

From everything that I have read the sunpower and the powermodule are essentially the same fixture with regards to the technical aspects.

The main differences arise when looking at the cooling system and overall design of the unit (prettiness)

Personally I would opt for the "German Engineering"
---Its Vat teh People Vant
~Michael

Reefcraze_1 · 02-18-2009, 09:17 PM

What about the sunlight supply tek light, which is german made?

I was looking around and i saw a member here who has a 4 bulb 54 watt fixture and is keeping maxima's on the bare bottom of his tank, which is 21" deep. The tek light has 95% reflective german aluminum SLR's and is supposed to increase light output by 300%.

So if I were to use the 36" fixture with Giesemann bulbs would that be sufficient for a maximas through 18" of water?

02-18-2009, 06:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Reefcraze_1 Limpet Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 140 View Gallery Karma Komment	T5 lighting The day has come for me to upgrade from my twin PC fixture to something that is reef adequate. I definitely want to go with T5's and I'm just not sure of how many bulbs i need and how often they need to be replaced. I was looking at both the Current USA Nova Extreme Pro and the Current USA Nova Extreme Fixture. The concern I have with each is that the "pro" while having 6 bulbs doesn't have true SLR, instead it's a single reflector that has been bent around each bulb. And for the standard while having true SLR it only has 4 bulbs which i don't think will be enough to keep Maxima or Corcea clams close to the sand bed (19" of water). Anyone experienced with T5's or particularly these fixtures, your knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

02-18-2009, 06:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
BarbMazz Madame Klanganator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Near Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 4,052 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5 lighting What size is your tank? I have a 65g tank that's 36" wide. I did retrofit T-5's. 6x39w with individual reflectors. My tank is 24" high... with the dsb the water depth is probably about 18". I have a derasa clam on the substrate that's doing fine. I have three croceas up on the rocks that are good. I have sps up high that are thriving. __________________ A Snail's Pace Beginning: an old lady's first reef http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...tml#post366161 ~not knowing how near the truth is we seek it far away~

02-18-2009, 06:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Reefcraze_1 Limpet Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 140 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting The tank is a 60 Gallon, 18 inches wide, 36 long and 21 high. But with the sand bed the water depth is only around 18" or 19".

02-18-2009, 06:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting I just bought a new T5 fixture for my tank. I was running 250 watt halide and T5s. But some heat issues arose and I sold that setup. I looked at the Current USA fixtures, but decided that they were not up to par with my tank system. I opted for the ATI Power Module. I have spoken with many people who say that these are the best T5 fixtures available currently. ? They are a German made fixture and get great reviews. Plus they are actively cooled, have true individual reflectors, and when used with ATI bulbs have the best PAR ratings out there. Sorry I could not help with the fixture you are looking at. But, IMO for a little more money you can get a truly great lighting fixture. ~Michael __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

02-18-2009, 06:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting Something like either of these two would be amazing: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI ~Michael __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

02-18-2009, 07:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Reefcraze_1 Limpet Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 140 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting ya i don't have the budget to buy a $850 light then pay the duty for bringing it into Canada. That's an amazing light fixture but the cost is just way too high.

02-18-2009, 07:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
funkpolice Reef Lobster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orland Park IL Posts: 1,396 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting how much is the nova pro? I also have an ati powermodule and if the difference is only a couple hundred bucks it's definitely worth waiting for. Ati also has another model, I think is called a sunpod. It's a little cheaper, but I don't know what the differences are. I do know there are people that are very happy with their nova extreme pros. bill

02-18-2009, 07:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting I think that the other ATI is a Sun Power Aquarium Technik Innovation ATI \| ATI-Sunpower \| ATI SUNPOWER __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

02-18-2009, 07:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting The prices are very similar to a Current USA light, but you are getting better PAR, and a German made fixture vs. a Chinese. ~Michael __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

02-18-2009, 08:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
funkpolice Reef Lobster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orland Park IL Posts: 1,396 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting wow, that sun power is almost half the price of the powermodule. It looks like it has fewer cooling fans, and I think it may not have individual reflectors. bill

02-18-2009, 08:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
rmlevasseur Acropora Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,849 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: T5 lighting Dang you go thru equipment fast Mike! __________________ Robert http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ufas-tank.html

02-18-2009, 08:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting I know I Know. ~Michael __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

02-18-2009, 08:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
Reefcraze_1 Limpet Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 140 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting well the Pro is $340, and the ATI Power module that is on reef geek is $740 not including the duty to bring it into Canada. Double the price really isn't an option.

02-18-2009, 08:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Reef Shark Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 5,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting The ATI Sunpower 6X 39 watt is 460 dollars. From everything that I have read the sunpower and the powermodule are essentially the same fixture with regards to the technical aspects. The main differences arise when looking at the cooling system and overall design of the unit (prettiness) Personally I would opt for the "German Engineering" ---Its Vat teh People Vant ~Michael __________________ All Fish are "Semi-Reef Safe"

02-18-2009, 09:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
Reefcraze_1 Limpet Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 140 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: T5 lighting What about the sunlight supply tek light, which is german made? I was looking around and i saw a member here who has a 4 bulb 54 watt fixture and is keeping maxima's on the bare bottom of his tank, which is 21" deep. The tek light has 95% reflective german aluminum SLR's and is supposed to increase light output by 300%. So if I were to use the 36" fixture with Giesemann bulbs would that be sufficient for a maximas through 18" of water?

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