38 gal Lighting options(36L x 12W x 16H)

[Henry22]

Im upgrading from a 15 gal tall and already have the stand and tank. I will only be keeping soft corals and some LPS like frogspawn. I was either looking at the Coralife Aqualight which is 192 watts I think and is 202 at Dr F and S but doesnt come with bulbs, or the Satellite fixture which is 150 and comes with bulbs but is lower quality or the T-5 nova extreme which is 200 and 150 something watts.

Its such a deep tank Im worried about light reaching the bottom. I dont want to spend a whole lot and I know T-5 bulbs are cheaper than MH or CF. If there was a 150/175/250 watt metal halide fixture around 300 I would get one but there isnt that I have seen and all the pendents wouldnt have enough spread and I cant hang.

Can you install individual reflectors in the Nova extreme and would 150watts HO be enough. I was also looking at getting a tank with the same dimensions but not as tall but I dont think there is one. Any help is appreciated.

[cubanheat1]

i would make a nice canopy to match the stand, and house a 175w or 250w M.H retro with maybe 2-65w p.cs ( i think they run around 24"). I currently have a 250w m.h and 2- 27w pcs on my 29g .I can keep anything as for coral. It all depends on what you wanna keep. Good luck

[cubanheat1]

I like aquamedic pendants or maybe some of hellolights.com M.H retrofits . I run a aquamedic pendant works great. Your tank should only be 3" shorter on each side than mine and the pendant give good light distribution

[Henry22]

arent those pretty expensive? The tank according to the tank volume calculator is only 31.8 gallons. Im not sure what Im going to get. Thanks for help.

[Henry22]

Im going to go with the Nova Extreme 4 x 39w T5 HO fixture or the Tek fixture if I can find it for cheaper.

[DiSkuStiNg]

Remember the Nova comes with bulbs, but the tek doesnt so it will wind up being like 80 more then just the fixture. And the brackets if you want to stand it on your tank are like 60. Thats what really detoured me.

[Henry22]

Im going to go with the Nova. I dont particularly like SPS and dont have the money for it so Im fine. What legs does the Nova fixture use, I cant hang.

[Phong33]

Do note that the nova doesn't have individual reflectors which play an extreamly significant part in the performance of T5. That being said, go with the tek.

[Henry22]

I realize that, but Im only keep soft corals. As disgusting said, on all the online stores that I have seen, you have to add bulbs which are twenty each raising the Tek unit well above 300 when the Nova is 190 with bulbs. Also, the legs for the Nova are 10 dollers when the Tek unit's legs are 60.