Sunlight Supply Tek vs, Nova Extreme Pro T5

I fully realize you fine folk get a lot of "this vs. that" questions...but if you trust I actually tried to do my due diligence before bothering ya'll with this small issue, then TIA for tendering a answer:

OK, I got a limited amount of discretionary bucks to blow on a 90G...
looks like I'll need 6 T5's over it....
...and I can't seem to squeeze much un-biased info out of these fixtures (I normally don't trust vendor opinion as much as consumer opinion)

So I ask:
which one has a better rep
which one does anyone have personal experience with?


48 inch 6x54W Sunlight Supply Tek Light
Sunlight Supply Tek Light High Output Fluorescent Lighting Fixtures

(sorry for the long URL, but for some WEIRD reason tinyurl won't resolve...I got goofy DNS issues with WOW cable)
Nova Extreme Pro
Nova Extreme Pro T5 High Output Lighting Fixture - 6 x 54W - 48 in.

....I'm leaning towards the latter only because it comes with bulbs////
...and since $300 of my hard earned bucks is a terrible thing to waste;
what do yuz folks think?

 

I think both a very good fixtures. The TEK will put out a little more usable light (when both fixtures are using the same bulbs) because it has individual parabolic reflectors. The Nova pro has individually contoured reflectors (looks like www) which really means it has one piece of highly polished aluminum but it is bent around each bulb. Not quite as good as individual parabolic reflectors, but still pretty darn good. I have two Current Sundial fixtures and they have the same individually contoured reflectors as the Nova pro (four bulbs instead of six, has built in timers, and moonlights). And I can attest, you can bleach out your corals from too much light if you are not careful. I know of several reefers who have the Nova pro over 75g or 90g tanks and they keep anything they want without any problems (Zoas, softies, LPS, SPS, Clams).

Not sure if that helped. But I say the Nova Pro will be more light than you will ever need.

PS- I've never heard anybody who owns a Nova Pro complaining about them.

 

Hands down Tek. Can't even compare the two. I love my tek. No issues whatsoever after about 16 months.

 

Never used a Tek light, Never felt the need to spend the extra money on a fixture when the Nova Pro is performing just as well.
I can attest that I had a 6x39W Nova on a 46 bowfront and I kept and grew anything I wanted to in that tank. True I changed the bulbs for ATI and UVL but don't we all? LOL

 

Shoot... I've posted 4-5 post and the quality of answers I get impresses me...I can't even find a decent flame war
Truly, sincerely I appreciate the fact those 3 post required someone's time and a few taps on the ole KB....

Ditto: yeah I noticed the bent reflector deal... but the trade off is not spending another $80 for lights .... I'm guessing the performance is "close" but the Tek wins in a horse race...

So I gotta consider, do I shell out another $80 for the lights and get the Tek but end up with a slightly better fixture over the long haul; or save $80 and buy the Nova w/bulbs and use the saved squilla to upgrade something else?

Decisions...decisions....

 

Oh one more thing...BIG THANKS for clarity on the 6 bulb vs 8 bulb argument (I think to a point can't you arrange corals vertically?)

Besides
I kinda felt those $500 super cooled 8 bulb "power module" dealies were kinda over kill....
Some people think spending always equates to "better"....
ATI 48 Inch Powermodule T5HO High-Output Fixtures
...and sure in this case: yeah probably; to a point, but I don't see double the performance for double the money

 

A 6 bulb would be best for your tank. Chek out www.reefgeek.com for a good price on a teklight WITH bulbs. They alse have high quality bulbs to chose from, great customer service, and an overall friendly company.

6-bulb 48" tek w/ bulbs for $416.

 

One thing to be concerned about on the nova is ballasts if they go. A friend of mine had one for just over a year and the balast went and apparently he's had a heck of a time finding a replacement, he checked several places in town here and nobody has any clue on the type of balast in question.

The Tek's I believe have a failry standard balast if they ever need replacing from what I have been told. He actually just bought my old Tek to replace his light and likes it much better. Silent and the other was always a bit noisy, not loud by any means just noisier...Tek is silent..

Just food for thought...

TJ

 

I can attest to both of the fixtures. When I started out in this hobby I purchased a 48 inch 6 bulb Nova Extreme Pro. This fixture did a very decent job at facilitating coral growth. My softies and LPS grew at a very constant growth rate and even my SPS were growing, albeit at a much slower rate.

After running the Nova Extreme Pro for roughly 10-11 months, I got the itch for a new toy and ended up getting a 48 inch Tek 6 bulb fixture. This fixture is hands down the better value. After installing the Tek and acclimating my corals to the new intensity of light (over the course of a few weeks) I began to see unparalleled colors in my corals. My purple montipora digitata developed an uncanny deep purple hue that was not present with the NEP. Also, my acan and chalices developed much more subtle color variations that were not seen with the NEP.

The only draw back with the Tek is that it does not have built in active cooling like the NEP. There are multiple DIY threads that show how to install (seemingly quite easily) fans in the fixture to help cool it, but to be quite honest with you I have found that the fixture does not put out a lot of heat. It is definitely very sleek looking and I would highly recommend the Tek over the Nova Extreme Pro.

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask or shoot me a PM.

Hope this helps your decision.

 

Boring rambling only I care about but....
Be you man or woman I'm sure you know how difficult it can be to get your "significant other" on board with the discretionary spending... In my case I'm semi lucky b-cuz the ole girl certainly enjoys the reef tanks...

...but then again spending $500 bucks could draw unnecessary scrutiny to the 90G build.... he he
...but then again: here is the 2nd variable: I've wasted even more money being "cheap" and re-purchasing a similar product due to failure or performance issues down the road,,,,

Actually that might be a plus; "she" likes the furniture-ish appearance of the tank-stand-canopy-combo we just so happen to be stealing from this LFS .... and I've been trying to figure out how to incorporate a Pre-built T-5 fixture into this sweet looking canopy...the lack of pre-existing fans might allow me to install even more efficient "custom cooling" gadgets into the hood (I'm above avg & anal in woodworking/electrical stuff)

...I'm wondering if I could take advantage of some the inherent heat transfer from bulbs-to-fixture and cool the entire unit by mounting it via aluminum screw "stand-offs" into the canopy... thus generating the new issue of whether to mount the fans in the back or side to side (one active side/one "passive hole")

The above feedback is EXACTLY what I needed....since I "might/probably " physically mount this fixture to a wood canopy, geometric/dimensional constraints and heat transfer variables play into the purchasing decisions here (the fans on the side of the nova models concerned me)

...and w.o too much further verbose rambling is one of the major drawbacks of online ordering; we are down to 2 "non-big box" LFS in the entire Cleveland metroplex!!! ...it's killing me I can't support them here but I need a 6 bulb fixture!!



It is definitely very sleek looking and I would highly recommend the Tek over the Nova Extreme Pro.

...that might be a certainty; my tank is on layaway pending making space (anyone need a zillion fancy guppies) ...once home I'm gonna need physical dimensions before purchase...BIG THANKS for the offer...I may take that up

it did