Which Light is Better

default user · 10-17-2009, 09:02 PM

Which one of these lights/fixtures is the best, or should I consider maybe a different one all together? Just lest me know.

Is there any difference between these first two other then one says saltwater and the other says freshwater?

Current USA Nova Extreme
Current USA Nova Extreme 2
AquaticLife T5 HO
Corallife Aqualight

Newman · 10-17-2009, 09:13 PM

Well, i cant give a lot of info:

1. the second Nova is more suitable for freshwater as it seems to have one blub that mainly gives off red color temperature light (good for planted tanks)

2. I am biased on the third choice, as that is the fixture i currently own. the difference in my fixture and the one in your link is that mine came with only ONE 6000k bulb and the other was a bulb that emits mostly red color temp. light (roseatte bulb).

For a planted tank though, I would recommend replacing the 6000K bulb with a 6700K one. they only cost about $18.00

3. the fourth choice also seems ok to me.

Thats all i can really say, wait around and see if anyone else has more accurate advice

default user · 10-18-2009, 02:57 PM

Well the bulbs it comes with isn't that big of an issues for me since they can always be replaced.

Oh and it is for a 55 gallon that, once I get the correct light and hood will become a planted tank.

epond83 · 10-18-2009, 06:20 PM

As far as i can tell they are all dual T5's right? So thye will all put out the same amount of light depending on bulbs you get. the 10k bulb is going to be probably a bit hight for you... i really don't get why they sell bulbs with the fixtures. most peolple don't want those anyway. something to consider is mounting. looks like the first two sit on top of a glass lid where as the the second two are designed to sit on the rim for a topless tank.

Newman · 10-18-2009, 09:15 PM

sorry to hog the thread, but this may be benefitial to the topic starter:

If say default user goes with one og those fixtures, what bulbs would you recommend? of what color temp (Kelvins) and of any combo? Is the roseatte lamp needed? are we better off using two 6700K bulbs in there?

This all pertains to planted tanks of course.

epond83 · 10-19-2009, 02:54 PM

Kelvin tells you the over all make-up of the bulbs color output. Two bulbs can have different spectrums but have a simular kelvin. So the very best thing you can do is look at the light spectrum for the bulb. Can't remember where i found this but i wrote it down.
Light needed by plants in nanometers:
Chlorophyll a 430 and 662
Chlorophyll b 453 and 642
Caroteniod 449 and 475

I havn't used them but i've heard Geisemann bulbs are good, they have nice spectrum out put and got info about them

blamejames · 10-19-2009, 07:53 PM

i bought the Glo balast and light setup and i am very pleased with my purchase as for i am seeing plant growth within the first week and i also have very hard water! plants that saw growth were anubias nana and amazon swords. i also use eco complete plant substrate and inject co2! all of these factors are important to consider. the coralife was the one that i was going to get but the wattage is much smaller compared to the glo balast!

default user · 10-19-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blamejames

i bought the Glo balast and light setup and i am very pleased with my purchase as for i am seeing plant growth within the first week and i also have very hard water! plants that saw growth were anubias nana and amazon swords. i also use eco complete plant substrate and inject co2! all of these factors are important to consider. the coralife was the one that i was going to get but the wattage is much smaller compared to the glo balast!

T-5 High Output Aquarium Lighting: Hagen GLO T5 HO Electronic Fluorescent Lighting System

This one? How did you land up mounting it? And what size tank do you have?

blamejames · 10-20-2009, 02:11 AM

i cant remember the specs exactly but i have the daylight bulbs 6700 K i think could be wrong but this light is briiiiiiiigght 108 watts way bright than the coralife! i have a 90 gallon tank and i used the mounts that came with it! i dont have a glass top of course! open top the only way to go with out bending light!

epond83 · 10-20-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blamejames

i cant remember the specs exactly but i have the daylight bulbs 6700 K i think could be wrong but this light is briiiiiiiigght 108 watts way bright than the coralife! i have a 90 gallon tank and i used the mounts that came with it! i dont have a glass top of course! open top the only way to go with out bending light!

108 watts, so there are two 54watt T5 bulbs? a coralife with the same two bulbs will be just as bright. I'm not promoting one or the other but two 48" T5's should put out the same amount of light from any fixuture if properly driven.

10-17-2009, 09:02 PM	#1
default user Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 20	Which Light is Better Which one of these lights/fixtures is the best, or should I consider maybe a different one all together? Just lest me know. Is there any difference between these first two other then one says saltwater and the other says freshwater? Current USA Nova Extreme Current USA Nova Extreme 2 AquaticLife T5 HO Corallife Aqualight

10-17-2009, 09:13 PM	#2
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,780	Well, i cant give a lot of info: 1. the second Nova is more suitable for freshwater as it seems to have one blub that mainly gives off red color temperature light (good for planted tanks) 2. I am biased on the third choice, as that is the fixture i currently own. the difference in my fixture and the one in your link is that mine came with only ONE 6000k bulb and the other was a bulb that emits mostly red color temp. light (roseatte bulb). For a planted tank though, I would recommend replacing the 6000K bulb with a 6700K one. they only cost about $18.00 3. the fourth choice also seems ok to me. Thats all i can really say, wait around and see if anyone else has more accurate advice __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

10-18-2009, 09:15 PM	#5
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,780	sorry to hog the thread, but this may be benefitial to the topic starter: If say default user goes with one og those fixtures, what bulbs would you recommend? of what color temp (Kelvins) and of any combo? Is the roseatte lamp needed? are we better off using two 6700K bulbs in there? This all pertains to planted tanks of course. __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

10-20-2009, 02:11 AM	#9
blamejames Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 51	i cant remember the specs exactly but i have the daylight bulbs 6700 K i think could be wrong but this light is briiiiiiiigght 108 watts way bright than the coralife! i have a 90 gallon tank and i used the mounts that came with it! i dont have a glass top of course! open top the only way to go with out bending light! __________________ _______________________________________________ 90 Gallon 4ft Glo balast 6 jumbo neon tetras 6 glolite tetras 3 lamp eye tetras 5 algae shrimp 4 cherry shrimp Plants Amazon Swords, Java Fern, Lace Java Fern, Dwarf Pygmy Micro Swords, Anubias Nana, Crypt. Spiralis. _______________________________________________

10-18-2009, 02:57 PM	#3
default user Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 20	Well the bulbs it comes with isn't that big of an issues for me since they can always be replaced. Oh and it is for a 55 gallon that, once I get the correct light and hood will become a planted tank.

10-18-2009, 06:20 PM	#4
epond83 Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 470	As far as i can tell they are all dual T5's right? So thye will all put out the same amount of light depending on bulbs you get. the 10k bulb is going to be probably a bit hight for you... i really don't get why they sell bulbs with the fixtures. most peolple don't want those anyway. something to consider is mounting. looks like the first two sit on top of a glass lid where as the the second two are designed to sit on the rim for a topless tank.

10-19-2009, 02:54 PM	#6
epond83 Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 470	Kelvin tells you the over all make-up of the bulbs color output. Two bulbs can have different spectrums but have a simular kelvin. So the very best thing you can do is look at the light spectrum for the bulb. Can't remember where i found this but i wrote it down. Light needed by plants in nanometers: Chlorophyll a 430 and 662 Chlorophyll b 453 and 642 Caroteniod 449 and 475 I havn't used them but i've heard Geisemann bulbs are good, they have nice spectrum out put and got info about them

10-19-2009, 07:53 PM	#7
blamejames Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 51	i bought the Glo balast and light setup and i am very pleased with my purchase as for i am seeing plant growth within the first week and i also have very hard water! plants that saw growth were anubias nana and amazon swords. i also use eco complete plant substrate and inject co2! all of these factors are important to consider. the coralife was the one that i was going to get but the wattage is much smaller compared to the glo balast!