[wschalle]

I'm looking for some lighting suggestions for my new tank.

I've done a pretty fair amount of reading on this subject, and I feel like I am at the point where asking for suggestions would be more productive than confusing.

The plan is this:
I will create a heavily planted (both high and low light varieties) tank with CO2 injection and ferts.

I do not want to use a canopy, nor can I hang lights from my ceiling. I do not like the look of a canopy or tank top.

I would like to find one or two light fixtures that can mount safely and stably to the top of the tank, either with a leg or clamp system.

Ideally I would like to use T5 bulbs, possibly 4x39 watts...

Can anyone suggest a system/post pics of their system?

Thanks

 

[wschalle]

Anyone?

 

[epicfish]

Definitely T5HO lighting.

4x39W would work well over a tank of that size.

A Current USA Nova Extreme fixture would work. I would go for a Tek lighting system. Catalina Aquarium also carries 36" T5HO fixtures.

 

[wschalle]

Can you get those Nova Extreme fixtures without the moon lights? Can you (or anyone) recommend a good supplier?

So many of these fixtures are sold with actinic bulbs that are useless to me... I wonder if a supplier would be willing to swap out those for 6700k ones?

 

[epicfish]

Depending on what fixture you want, there's quite a few places to go.

Which one are you looking for? Catalina Aquarium is willing to swap out their actinic bulbs for white bulbs for free.

 

[wschalle]

Hmm... Those catalina ones look nice... and the price is pretty good too...

 

[epicfish]

Yep. Those are nice.

If you want a Tek, cheapest place I know is www.carolinareefs.com.

Here's a common problem with Nova Extreme fixtures: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/73596-nova-extreme-loud-fan.html

 

[wschalle]

The catalina fixture looks exactly like coralife... what gives?

 

[lauraleellbp]

The catalina fixture looks exactly like coralife... what gives?

The difference opposed to Coralifes- Catalinas are made in the USA, have a Workhorse ballast, and individual polished reflectors. :thumbsup: They probably do use the same supplier for the housing, is my guess.

 

[macclellan]

They probably do use the same supplier for the housing, is my guess.

They look quite similar and have the same basic design, but the sizing is different in ways that matter (legs aren't interchangable, acrylic splashguards different sizes, etc).

 

[lauraleellbp]

Good to know. :thumbsup:

 

[macclellan]

Yeah, I got lucky - I didn't buy legs for my Catalina since I had a spare set of Coralife legs laying around. Turns out they didn't fit! *But*, Catalina included free legs for no apparent reason and all is right with the world.

 

[wschalle]

How study/not sturdy are the legs? I don't want this thing falling over at the drop of a hat...

 

[lauraleellbp]

I was worried about them when I first got them, they don't LOOK sturdy at all. But I haven't had any issues. And I bump my fixture all the time when I'm doing maintenance, so IMO they hold up pretty well.