Building individual reflectors.

[jcolon2]

Hello again! So I am really contemplating purchasing a t5 unit because it will cost me nearly the same amount of money to replace my entire vho setup. (one of the ballasts is faulty, I need endcaps and new wiring, and all the bulbs have to be replaced : / ) And I can't do halides because of heat and money issues.

Question: If I was to purchase a nova extreme, and retrofit it, could I construct my own individual reflectors for the bulbs and place them in a canopy (rather than utilizing the less efficient single reflector provided by the fixture)?

Best,

Justin

 

[fishman1069]

Get the Nove Extreme Pro. It has slr's

 

[JonnyJ]

i would suggest just saving and waiting for a good deal on a perfect working fixture like a

used
Tek,Ati, Or a nova extreme PRO only.


they can be found pretty cheap [except the ati's]
everyones switching to leds so its a good time to look.

 

[jcolon2]

I found a deal for a nova extreme t5 ho 8 bulb unit (432 watts) that has been retrofited but also has the box. 6 bulbs work, one doesn't (So I can just buy a new ballast). It is only costing me 125 dollars (and I am paying with a gift card from amazon, so essentially it is costing me 0 dollars (except for the ballast). Whereas, a tek or other unit will cost me (and I don't have the money). I would jsut hate to replace my vho setup (which I don't even like. I also don't want to replace it with an inefficient light fixture either.

I want to make the right choice. Is this a good deal? It will be retrofited in a canopy over a 55 gallon reef tank.

I wish it was the pro as you said but it's not because the 48 inch pro only has 6 bulbs.

 

[JonnyJ]

55 gallon tank is 12 inches wide. i dont see you fitting or needing 8 bulbs for it.

 

[jcolon2]

How so? I am able to fit 6 vhos over my 55. If space wasn't the issue, would the nova extreme work over the 55? Even a 75? I mean it has 432 watts. So in essence, wouldn't it do the same thing as the pro? Please mistake me if I am wrong (I hate lighting lol). But, 432 watts is more than enough light over a 55 and even a 75. So would there really be such a great need for individual reflectors? I mean a 55 reef tank can get away with 275 watts (even though I know there is the whole debate that it is not about the wattage).

 

[Wes]

You want one T5 bulb every 3 inches. So a 55g that is only 12 inches only needs a 4 bulb fixture. Stuffing more bulbs over that tank is just a waste of money and electricity. And it is possible to have too much light.

If you want cheap I recommend this.

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/SL-960300.html

It's a bare bones fixture. But it has nice individual reflectors and it's made by a good reputable company (sunlight supply).

It's basically a cheaper version of the tek light.