Need T5 lighing for my 180 Gallon

[julesjt]

I am trying to read and read and can't get a straight answer. I need a 72" fixture with the correct amount of bulbs for a 24" high and 24" deep 180 gallon tank.

I want to get a fixture that has everything I need to get the enough lighting for softies, lps and sps.

I was going to go with 250w MH HQI fixture but I really dont want to deal with the heat and electricity.

Please help point me to a good brand fixture that will be what I need. Lunar lights would be great if possible with T5 fixture.

[charlie]

Current USA Nova Extreme Pro T5HO 10k/460nm Actinics

This is the fixture I would suggest, if you want to go with T5.

[julesjt]

Current USA Nova Extreme Pro T5HO 10k/460nm Actinics

This is the fixture I would suggest, if you want to go with T5.

Thanks, I been hearing that a lot. I wish there were already made LED fixtures but not seeing anything for 72"

[returnofsid]

The only problem with the Nova, is it's going to really limit your coverage front to back, with it being only 12" wide. Another option would be to hang 2 36" fixtures. If you were to go that route, you would have more choices of manufacturer. You could also get more coverage front to back. If you wanted THE BEST of T5 and had an unlimited budget, I'd go this route. You can't get better T5 fixtures than these.
2 of these would give you amazing coverage, with 10 bulbs per fixture.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/Powermodule_Fixtures/36_inch__10x39W_Powermodule_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_by_ATI

On a more limited budget, you could go this route, which would still be better than the Nova, but still slightly more expensive, although these include bulbs. 2 of these....
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Sunlight_Supply/Tek_Light_Fixtures/36_inch__6x39W_Tek_Light_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_%28Black%29_by_Sunlight_Su pply

[julesjt]

The only problem with the Nova, is it's going to really limit your coverage front to back, with it being only 12" wide. Another option would be to hang 2 36" fixtures. If you were to go that route, you would have more choices of manufacturer. You could also get more coverage front to back. If you wanted THE BEST of T5 and had an unlimited budget, I'd go this route. You can't get better T5 fixtures than these.
2 of these would give you amazing coverage, with 10 bulbs per fixture.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/Powermodule_Fixtures/36_inch__10x39W_Powermodule_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_by_ATI

On a more limited budget, you could go this route, which would still be better than the Nova, but still slightly more expensive, although these include bulbs. 2 of these....
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Sunlight_Supply/Tek_Light_Fixtures/36_inch__6x39W_Tek_Light_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_%28Black%29_by_Sunlight_Su pply

Thanks, if I had unlimited budget I get that LED system that is 72" but 3200 bucks way out of my league

The 36" inchers are still only 6 bulbs across from what I can see, I am a good two months away from the light purchase so I havent decided what I am going to do

[returnofsid]

The 36" Tek5 is a 6 bulb unit, but the fixture is 15 1/2" wide, instead of the 12" Nova. I just measured my 6 bulb Tek5 and the 6 bulbs are spread over 13". The spread of the Nova will be less, so won't give as good of coverage. I'd also be interested in what ballast the Nova uses. The Tek5 uses 2 of the best Advanced ballasts in the industry. If you were to go with the Tek5 Elite, you'd have cooling fans, built into the fixture as well, which is said to improve the PAR value of each bulb. However, I've ran the Tek5, without active cooling, for several years and love them. I'm currently running 2 48" Tek5 fixtures (1 6 bulb and 1 4 bulb) over my 200 Deep Dimension, which is 36" front to back and 27" deep. I can grow anything I want. I'm also running a 36" 6 bulb Tek5 over my 40 breeder.

A 6 bulb Tek5 will easily provide enough coverage for up to a 20" wide tank.

As for LEDs, the manufactured LED fixtures aren't where they need to be just yet. Give them a couple more years of R and D. DIY LED fixtures are really showing A LOT of promise and are much less expensive. On a couple other forums, there are some very extensive threads about DIY LED fixtures.

[Ninong]

If you want a bargain, then I'm afraid none of the other fixtures can compete with the Current USA products because all of their stuff is imported from China. In spite of the name, nothing they sell is made in the USA. They're just an importer/distributor.

Before making a final decision, just do your research and make sure you know what you're getting for the price. You could start by reading all of the 1- and 2-star reviews here. Those are the reviews by people who had problems. Obviously the people who posted 4- and 5-star reviews are the ones who haven't yet had any problems.

Those fixtures do not have true individual reflectors, which is why the ad copy says "individually contoured" reflectors. It's just one large reflector that is bent to "contour" around each tube.

Anyway, you can't beat any of the Chinese stuff on price. I'm sure the people who have not had any problems with them are satisfied for the price they paid.

[Ninong]

The 36" Tek5 is a 6 bulb unit, but the fixture is 15 1/2" wide, instead of the 12" Nova. I just measured my 6 bulb Tek5 and the 6 bulbs are spread over 13". The spread of the Nova will be less, so won't give as good of coverage. I'd also be interested in what ballast the Nova uses. The Tek5 uses 2 of the best Advanced ballasts in the industry. If you were to go with the Tek5 Elite, you'd have cooling fans, built into the fixture as well, which is said to improve the PAR value of each bulb. However, I've ran the Tek5, without active cooling, for several years and love them. I'm currently running 2 48" Tek5 fixtures (1 6 bulb and 1 4 bulb) over my 200 Deep Dimension, which is 36" front to back and 27" deep. I can grow anything I want. I'm also running a 36" 6 bulb Tek5 over my 40 breeder.

A 6 bulb Tek5 will easily provide enough coverage for up to a 20" wide tank.

As for LEDs, the manufactured LED fixtures aren't where they need to be just yet. Give them a couple more years of R and D. DIY LED fixtures are really showing A LOT of promise and are much less expensive. On a couple other forums, there are some very extensive threads about DIY LED fixtures.

The TEK fixtures are made by Sunlight Supply in Washington. Perry Jones, one of our former moderators, used to work for them. He started working for them right about the time that they decided they wanted to get into the aquarium light manufacturing business. That was several years back. They can't compete with the Chinese fixtures on price because they pay their workers at least ten times as much.

The German manufacturers can't compete with the Chinese because they pay their workers even more than the American workers make after you add in health care, pensions and the government-mandated five weeks of vacation plus many, many holidays. That's why BMW built their new plant in South Carolina several years ago. Labor there was cheaper than in Munich and no unions.

[returnofsid]

The TEK fixtures are made by Sunlight Supply in Washington. Perry Jones, one of our former moderators, used to work for them. He started working for them right about the time that they decided they wanted to get into the aquarium light manufacturing business. That was several years back. They can't compete with the Chinese fixtures on price because they pay their workers at least ten times as much.

The German manufacturers can't compete with the Chinese because they pay their workers even more than the American workers make after you add in health care, pensions and the government-mandated five weeks of vacation plus many, many holidays. That's why BMW built their new plant in South Carolina several years ago. Labor there was cheaper than in Munich and no unions.

Really not sure what any of this has to do with the topic of this thread....

In regards to ICR (Individually Contoured Reflectors) vs. Individual Reflectors, there's really no difference, and in fact, Sunlight Supply Tek5 fixtures used to be Individual Reflectors that were brazed together and then polished, to create an ICR. The reflector was not a single reflector, that's been bent around each bulb, but numerous contoured reflectors. I believe they actually do build them as a single ICR now. I've actually toured their facility and it's very interesting to learn how they're made. Sunlight Supply is an excellent company, and you won't go wrong, using their fixtures!! Their "customer support" is very good, as well. A couple weeks ago, I spent a lot of time on the phone with them, through several conversations, working out an issue I was having with a 4 year old fixture.