t5 vs. PC

Why worry about legs when you can hang your lights . That is what I did...set me back $20 but its awsome. I have some pics up of the hanging system.

 

i don't want to hang my lights tho... i understand that its probable better to (you can make adjustments if the lights are too low or two high), but wouldn't you have to go up into the attic, build braces, drill holes through the ceiling, etc. etc? just getting up there would be a PITA for me... its hot, and the entrance to the attic is way on the other side of the house from my aquarium... not to mention the itchy insulation i'd have to fight with...

 

maybe you could use a stud finder to see if you find a beam or something to drill into, like that you dont have to go up in the attack.Also some of the newer insulation does not itch(no fiberglass).

 

i thought about that but didn't know if it hold enough weight (i don't know how much the lights in question would weigh)... and if you screw in something vertically, it wouldn't hold as good, would it? i figured eventually the screw would work itself loose

 

well, the good news is that my lights came in!! i love them!! the bad news is that one of my actinic bulbs was broken when i opened the box.... so i contacted drs foster and smith, using their live chat thing, and i'll have a new bulb sometime tomorrow... i was afraid that i'd have to talk to FedEx because they usually get blamed if something is broken because the package was handled rough... but it only took about 5 minutes to get my new bulb, no questions asked... anyway, i've tested each light (my 2 white ones, my single actinic, and the 4 LEDS). with as bright as the single actinic is, i don't see any use in having 2... i mean, wow, it seems brighter than the 2 others... or maybe its just that i'm used to seeing a plainly lit aquarium, and the solid blue just messes with my mind... i still don't see how the actinics could be effective for anything except for making things look blue... about the flimsy legs... i don't know about y'all, but mine came with 4 screws, and a hole in each leg... wow, how to explain how this would work... anyway, stick the screw through the hole, and tighten up, so it clamps the leg to the fixture... either that, or superglue the legs to the fixture... but it'd be permanent...

 

It requires 2 people to install the legs, one person to spread them out where they are tight and the other screw them in.

 

sounds provocative...

 

I know this post has been sitting around for a year, but does any one else have any experience with this Nova Extreme fixture? I'm considering getting the 24" model. I've read some reviews that say that the fan is extremely loud. Has anyone had this problem?
Thanks in advance...
-e-

 

i just bought the 48" 216 watt t5ho to replace my 260 watt pc. the light penetrates down to the sand of my 24" deep tank. the pc light penetrates about half that.the pc you actully see a huge difference you can see the light completely fade out at about 12" deep.the fan is loud i guess but no louder i would think than any other pc fan, dose not bother me. t5 bulbs are a lot cheaper and you have the option of upgrading reflectors,bulbs,and ballasts.

 

I just wanted to thank everyone for this thread, I didn't create it but I happen to have found myself in this same situation. I was looking at the nova extreme, 216w vs. pc. I think im going with the nova extreme. this thread was extremely helpful, thanks to all who posted.