I am in the process of looking for a new light, I think. I have been looking at a Nova Extreme T5 4 bulb light with lunar LED. Do you think this is a decent light for a 55 gal starter tank? I am considering getting into some corals soon and think that I will definately need a new light. Also, will this light help with the growth of coralline algae? I have noticed that with my current T8 lighting, that my best growth on my live rock is on the tops where the best light is. All comments and opinions are welcome. thanks.

The Nova Extreme T5's are pretty good IMO. IME coralline grows best in blue lights and high flow.

I have the 24" Nova Extreme 4 bulb on my 12 g and have sps's and clams in it. I like it but you gotta take into consideration that the 12g is only 14" deep.

As for the coraline I have a wierd type and it grows like crazy. Most Coraline's like the more blue light spectrum so if you want it then make it blue.

skinz78 wrote:I have the 24" Nova Extreme 4 bulb on my 12 g and have sps's and clams in it. I like it but you gotta take into consideration that the 12g is only 14" deep.

As for the coraline I have a wierd type and it grows like crazy. Most Coraline's like the more blue light spectrum so if you want it then make it blue.

When choosing a light, what is the difference between the actinic lighting and lunar lighting, and should u have or do u need both?

IMHO, the lunar lighting isn't needed at all. Sure it is nice to see in the tank at night but I don't think it does much for the corals.

The atinic lighting is needed for the corals though, I usually do a mix of atinic and 10k bulbs in my T5 setups.

skinz78 wrote:IMHO, the lunar lighting isn't needed at all. Sure it is nice to see in the tank at night but I don't think it does much for the corals.

The atinic lighting is needed for the corals though, I usually do a mix of atinic and 10k bulbs in my T5 setups.

What is ur timing of your lighting? Currently I only cycle my daytime lights for about 9 hours on (12PM to 9PM) then off the rest of the time. I only have fish now, no coral.

I think on my tanks I go from 3pm to about 11pm.

I agree with skinz, lunar lighting is for you and thats about it. If you like to have a fant blue light at night to look at your tank then get it but its not going to do much for your corals. Actinics do add some to photosynthesis but most people add them because they make your corals glow

If I was going to get the nova 4x48" i'd buy the odyssea 4x48" instead. I think its 89bux and is a very comparable fixture except it has better reflectors. There's also another inexpensive brand out there that suposedly had IR and active cooling. I think its called fishneedit.com I'll find some links.

WOW, check this out, they must have just released a new odyssea t5 fixture. It has a digital timer built in, individual reflectors and active cooling all for $110. I've been using the older version for mths and i love it for the price.

http://shop.aquatraders.com/ProductDeta ... Code=52211

Here's the other site i was talking about.

http://www.fishneedit.com/4ft4bulbs-with-l44.html

$110 is a great price for a 4' light

Yep, but $110 for a 4x48" t5 light with decent IR's, controller, led's and active cooling is damn good.

Wow, wish I would've known about that light earlier. I leave my lights on for 12 hours, and I've experienced better coralline growth under my 10,000 K bulbs as opposed to my 14,000 K bulbs which are significantly bluer??????

luke33 wrote:WOW, check this out, they must have just released a new odyssea t5 fixture. It has a digital timer built in, individual reflectors and active cooling all for $110. I've been using the older version for mths and i love it for the price.

I already have a timer though. I don't think that I have a need for any more timers. You say that u love it for the price, does that mean that it is good for the cheap price, or it is as good as the Nova just less money? I don't want to buy a light just to buy another one later because it does not last.

I think what Luke is saying is that its a good fixture and then when you add the price on to it its even better. I was impressed with it when i looked at the link. The biggest thing with T5's is for them to have individual reflectors and this one has them. After that IMO its the bulbs you use.