Looking for Light Fixture Advice

[jcarson999]

I need a new 72" fixture for a 180g reef tank (72"x24"x24") I'm setting up. So far I'm looking at:

Aquactiinics Constellation (14x39w T5HO)
Outer Orbit (3x150 HQI + 8x39w T5HO)
Current Nova Extreme Pro (12x39w T5HO)

Not sure exactly what Corals will be going in - but there won't be any SPS. Any comments or thoughts on these fixtures would be appreciated. I'm open to other suggestions, too, but would like to stay under $1000 for the fixture. I'm going to have a canopy, so no hanging fixtures, and I don't want to retrofit anything to the canopy itself.

Thx,
-jim

 

[AlexStinson]

If the best you can do is a prebuilt strip, i would go with the outer orbit....
best would still be individual reflectors, you get a MUCH higher quality than in the strips, leading to better light and longer life. Also, in those hqi+t5 strips the reflector is far too small to take full advantage of the light produced (plus mogul is way better)

 

[gparr]

I own a 36-in. Aquactinics fixture and couldn't be more pleased. It's well built, performs well, had individual reflectors and is obviously going to last for a long time.
Gary

 

[Poseidon]

I'd vote for the Aquatinics too... (You could keep SPS AND Clams with that fixture.)

 

[jcarson999]

Thanks to those who responded for their input - I appreciate it.

-jim

 

[oceanparadise1]

does Aquactiinics Constellation (14x39w T5HO) have SLR or just one big one? if its just one big one go with the extreme pro

 

[jcarson999]

Does SLR refer to reflectors? If so, the Aquactinics has separate reflectors for each bulb ....

-jim

 

[oceanparadise1]

then go with that