adivce on what light to get ??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
R

russisloud

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 6, 2005
27
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42
Bourbon, IN
about two weeks ago i got a new to me 125 and have moved my 55 salt tank in to it. i'm now looking at some lights for it but i'm not sure what one to get....these are the three i'm looking at....

72 Inch 4x96 Watt AquaticLife PowerCompact CF Light Fixture w/ 6 Lunar LEDs http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idproduct=AK01049&idCartRow=17116497&isKit=0&child=AK010521


72 Inch 8x39 Watt AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixture w/ 6 Lunar LEDs http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idproduct=AK01035&idCartRow=17121479&isKit=0&child=AK01038


72 inch Current USA 12x39W Nova Extreme Pro T5HO 6-10k/6-460nm Actinics http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idproduct=CU01083&idCartRow=17121480&isKit=0&child=CU01082

i have about a 2inch sand bed, 170lbs of live rock, 3small fish, and just a few small corals right now. i will be building it up over time. i like the built in timers on the aquaticlife lights but i also like the NEP.
for the most part the reviews look good on all three too.

do you guys have any input??
 
2nd link looks awesome. If you get this setup, keep us informed. I also am looking for a new light system. GL
 
kool, with all the differnt lights out its kind of hard to know what one to go with. and with the cost of a big light i want to get it right the first time.
 
My honest opinion is none of them. If you had to choose one of them then I would choose the Nova Extreme pro because it has four more bulbs than the Aquatic life fixture so you will be able to have a better color combo to make coral colors really pop. Second the NEP has active cooling and the Aquatic Life does not from what I read I could be wrong. And with t5ho active cooling is just as important as individual reflectors, and active cooling will give you longer bulb life. So if you really have to choose between one of those fixtures then go with the NEP. Now I don't know what your budget is and what you plan to keep in your tank But the NEP is $650 if you are willing to spend that or even a little bit more then look into ATI power module or ATI Sun power fixtures. They represent the absolute best t5 fixture on the market hands down. The reflectors are made of 98% reflective aluminum they are all individual reflectors so they will give you the most power out of your bulbs. There active cooling is the only setup that cools the ends of the bulbs, which is the only spot they should be cooled to lower heat and increase bulb life. The body is a solid stainless steel body and the fixtures are wired for independent dawn to dusk control. And finally the bulbs that come with the ATI fixtures are not even comparable to what your going to get with any of the fixtures you listed. You will not be disappointed with these fixtures. Take a look at them before you spend your money, here's a couple places you can buy them online.

http://www.reefgeek.com/

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/index.php

The difference between the Power Module and the Sun Power is that the Power Module has one more fan per unit and is a stainless steel body instead of aluminum.
 
i checked out the ATI lights and they are nice, but wow are they $$. alot more then what i can spend on a light for the tank. i think i'm going to go with the AquaticLife T5
 
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