Tek light, Solarextreme, or... Help

[ryangrieder]

So I'm selling my metal halide fixture here. I'm tired of mh. Im not doing any crazy corals so no need for it. I have a 36 inch tank. Im think 4 or 6 bulb fixture. I like the new deep blue solar extreme fixture. Seems to look nice, has a digital timer built in, and cheap. I'm also looking at either the tek light fixtures. 4 or 6 bulb. I like it and they are cheap too, but I see you need everything separate. Legs 60 bucks, the acrylic sheet, ect... And they don't have LEDs. I'm thinking about adding a reef brite led strip anyway, but still. What do you guys think? What else you recommend? I been sitting on sites all day and saw a few I like. Id do a led fixture, but i don't think for around 300 bucks i can pull one off for my 46 bow. My price range is around 300. Im planning on doing softies and lps only, no sps.

 

[jaa1456]

I have a 36" Current Nova extreme Pro it does the job for me. It is a 6 x 39 and I get great growth out of my SPS and everything else. I bought mine used for 200 with brand new bulbs, I sold all the bulbs though and bought the ones I wanted. I just added a Reefbrite 36" strip light to my tank this month. They cost 200 new. I added it to the tank be securing it to the T5 fixture. With the LEDs that close to the tank they only shimmer when on by themselves. But for 300 I don't think you can pull a Reefbrite and T5 combo. unless you find both used.

 

[dacaptain78]

If your tank is wide enough I would go with a 6 bulb fixture. It will offer you more bulb color combinations which in turn allows you to better fine tune the lights to your personal taste. I have a 6 bulb Tek light. Its plenty of light for my corals, but the Work Horse ballasts did need replacing after about two years of use.

 

[Imbarrie]

If you are looking at a TEK light, I suggest the Elite series, they have an active cooling system. I have heard some bad things about the passive system.
I have had a NOVA Ex PRO and now have a TEK Elite both were 6 bulb units. Everyone is loyal to what they like, I like the TEK. It is much quieter and I like how the bulbs are spaced out more than the NOVA.
I also found a 54w with bulbs shield and legs for 350.

 

[ryangrieder]

Jaa sorry, fixture for 300. The reef brite I know is 200. My buddy has a used one he is selling me for 120. But that 120 in not including in price. 300 for just fixture

 

[ryangrieder]

And also bulb combination I'm not worried about. I'm actually copying breakin news style with just ati blue plus and the reef brite

 

[Brando457]

Have you looked at the evo led fixtures I think they're right around $299-320


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[aznt1217]

I would just go for a cheaper set of LEDs. Brando mentioned the Evolution LEDs. The longer version that would cover your entire tank that will let you keep anything is like 449.

If you round that out that's basically what you'll spend on bulbs and the fixture you are buying + the reef brites.

 

[jaa1456]

Oh in that case of 300 for just a fixture, I would look around, I saw an ATI 6 bulb and a Tek going for 275, they were used but good fixtures, They were both 36" as well

 

[ryangrieder]

enyone ever hear of CoralVue? i found this one and its affordible and seems nice

CoralVue 4 Bulb T5/LED
Fixture 36" , 7 high
power 1 watt LEDs,
hanging kit, & legs
$260

 

[lo7100]

go to redsand and get a led for $300

 

[ryangrieder]

go to redsand and get a led for $300

redsand? whats that a company or website?

 

[Master Shake]

Deep blue, coralife, current are trash. Tek is great, icecap is good if you can find any left cuz they went out of business and if you do get icecap and it breaks then you have no customer assistance

 

[Master Shake]

o and the marineland led are complete trash, even the reef ready ones, unless you get like 4 of them

 

[jaa1456]

Yea forget the LEDS that Red sand has, i was talking to Feng and he said they are constantly crapping out on him. The better ones he sells go for 400 anyways. I pmed you on some TEk fixtures I found.

 

[ryangrieder]

Yeah I'm not looking for a crap brand, I want something good. Im tired of all the brands you mentioned master shake. And thanks jaa for your finds.

Now tell me, why exactly is tek good? Im kind of confused why they don't have legs with it, or a hanging kit, or LEDs. Does it have more then one switch on it? Fans? Im never personally seen one. Im planning on going over to russ place and taking a look at one soon, but I just want to hear your opinion about them. Not just they are good. Why are they good? Individual reflectors? Ect....

Like i said, it's a 46 bow, so i don't really have room for a 6 bulb. The last two bulbs will hang over the back, and the legs usually are too big. I can't hang it either because i have the stainless ssteel canopy by oceanic. That won't work fitting inside the bow shape canopy. Check out my tank thread in my signature if you don't understand. And also, im not doing anything crazy for corals. So LEDs would be cool, but not necessary. I think a four bulb t5 and that reef brite should be good.

 

[jaa1456]

The only thing I hear about TEK over other brands than maybe ATI, Is that the reflectors are better and individual and they are more efficent at driving the bulbs, So you get more out of the bulb than say a wavepoint or current fixture. I have never owned on myself though.

 

[Imbarrie]

When you get a light let us know which one and why you picked that one.


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[ryangrieder]

Well right now I'm leaning for the tek, but I'm really trying to figure out if its best for me. Everyone loves it, i want to know why. I do understand though which a lot of people don't, that reflector choice is extremely important. And everyone says tek has great reflectors.

Also,canyon with a tek... Care to add some pics on here. Or anyone with a t5 fixture, 36 inch. I wanna see! Lol

 

[jaa1456]

Hey ryan tomorrow I will put up a new video with my Current 6 x 39 and the reefbrite 36" all blue LED. I got a new camera and will post it up tomorrow.