nova extreme pro or tek lights

I also have a tek 8 54w 4ft, don't know anything about the nova but I do really like my tek I like that I choose how many bulbs I can run 2 4 6 8

 

i no it started as nep vs. tek but what do you guys think of aquatentics? are they really worth all the extra doe...

 

im sorry i believe its aquactinics.

 

I do like the nova extreme pro alot. Expecially for the price. I personally don't think that the reflectors on the pro are inferior just because they are made out of the same piece of metal. The reflectors wrap all the way around the bulbs just like they do on the tek, directing the light in one direction...down. Before the pro came out, the novas had the crappy reflector and then tek set the standard on this and nova had to keep up. I think both fixtures are great and would use both but if I were buying one out of my pocket I would go with the nova 6 bulb.

 

The NEP's reflectors just about cover the bulb but they are not like the Tek or Aquactinic SLRs that clearly cover the bulb.
I don't really care for the NEP BUT they do have one thing going for them that the Tek doesn't and thats the active cooling....
If SLS would hurry up and get the new FANed Teks out the Teks would really be a great fixture!!

The Aquactinics IS about $100 more on occasion than the Tek BUT it comes WITH fans and WITH the acrylic splash shield. The Tek you need to purchase the shield seperately and it costs anywhere from $12-37 depending on the fixture.

The TX5 in particular is thinner width wise so it appeals to people without wide tanks...
The Teks are shorter height wise but much wider...

 

Well the features on my NEP for the price is what got my eye on it. I spent 400$ cash CA and this what i got:
- NEP light fixture 48''
- 6 48'' T5 bulbs: 3 actinic and 3 10,000K
- 2 switches, controlling 2 and 4 bulbs
- 2 built-in fans
- single piece reflector with each bulb having its own relfector
- acrylic splash guard
- 2 fixture legs to sit on aquarium
All these features came together for a price about 150$ cheaper than the TEK 48'' 4 bulb system. That includes the seperate pricing for T5 bulbs and legs. I never knew it didnt come with a splash guard and believe that would even bump the price more.

 

how important is the splash guard? will the bulbs blow if water hits them? a fan blowing accross the top of your tank and also into the fixture on the tek's would fix the heat issue as well as help your tank keep cool..win win..

 

splash guard isnt necessarily just for water though, it also helps prevent salt creep into the lighting system itself... and we all know how much fun it is to clean hardened salt from places we cant reach. Water can interupt your lighting system but im sure that its not that important as the water is in vapour form. The splash guard on my light, altho gets full of salt every couple weeks never seems to have water dripping from it, so i assume water wouldnt accumulate into the fixture.

 

that is a good point. plus without the shield your reflectors will get salt built up which affects the par output.. good point. someone said as long as the tek light was about four inch's off the water it wouldn't be a problem

 

John they are as good as new not to worry and that letter arrived today about 4:00 I called them. If you got the bulbs also ? then you will have a great set up not much need to change them out ..