Opinion on Nova Extreme pro T5 HO.

[yellowtang]

Iam in the process of setting a 38g SW.....softies some LPS and probably small clams.
However,since this set up will be a bit different than my already 72g reef,
I was wondering if anybody here is using the Current USA...Nova Extreme pro t5 HO,with 6 bulbs
Tek sunlight supply came to mind,but they lack Moonlights or fans,and legs are a
$60.00 option...not to mention price.
do you have any opinion on these fixtures.
Thanks.

[xiaan]

I have been using mine for over a year now over my 38G tank and I love it. I have been keeping SPS/LPS and they are growing like weeds.

PROs:
- 6 T5HO bulbs over a 12"x36" area.
- Fans for cooling the bulbs.
- Runs very cool no heat issues on my tank

CONs:
- I doesn't exactly have individual reflectors but I believe it has better PAR than the 4 bulb Tec Fixture due to fans and 2 more bulbs.
- Fans can be noisy. I swapped out mine for some very quiet computer fans.
- No Moon Lights. I added mine after by velcroed them into the inside of the fixture.
- Bulbs that come with the fixture are not that good (I eventually swapped them out for better ones)

[Funkmotor]

I'm running one of these on my 40 breeder and it's awesome.  I'm still running mine bone stock except for the tubes, but reading Xiaan's post makes me want to swap out the fans as they are a bit loud.  (Not that they scream, but less sound would be better.)

I'm growing loads of SPS under mine and that starts about 1/2 way up the tank.  Other than that I've got a trach brain, frogspawn, lots of rics, squamosa clam, etc. and nothing seems to be hurting for light at all.

I also have no heat issues, and that's probably because the heat from the fixture is blown out the end by the fans.

I'll admit that the Tek Lights are a bit sexier, but the Nova Extreme Pro is a good fixture.

Xiaan:  Any advice on swapping out the fans?  They look like 120V 80mm ones to me...not sure where to get quieter ones.  (Or are they 12V?)  If they're 12V, I've got a couple Vantec Stealth fans I might pop in there.

[xiaan]

Xiaan:  Any advice on swapping out the fans?  They look like 120V 80mm ones to me...not sure where to get quieter ones.  (Or are they 12V?)  If they're 12V, I've got a couple Vantec Stealth fans I might pop in there.

I used some 80mm 12V 8db computer fans I got at PC Cyber and then hooked them up to a 12V DC converter I had. They are not on the same power supply as the lights so you need a separate plug to control the fans.

[gauthier613]

Best thing I ever did was switch to Cold Cathod Tubes over the LED's they produce a much more natural moon light in my opinion.  I still have the old LED's but the cathods are much much nicer in my opinion.

[C-Dog]

yea id have to agree, i saw the Cold Cathod Tubes in comparisson to the led lights and they are much more natural looking than leds