if it's not one thing, it's another

[nemo79]

Finally I find the right light with the right price but unfortunatly the nova extreme is 14 inches wide! My tank is only 13". I am so mad. I refuse to buy the tek lights, $75 for the legs and the bulbs aren't included!

[coral reefer]

Is that a big problem for you? I mean, is the light fixture to wide to fit on your tank to be stable and secure? Or is it a matter of all the light not shinning directly into your tank?
The little amount of light lost out of the tank won't hurt your livestock. Those lights disperse the light along the length of the whole bulb, as oppossed to metal halides that are a point source bulb!
Check out some other websites/lighting fixtures for a better fit! Check out metal halide pendants as well.
If you can hang your lights, it would be better and offer you some flexibility in terms of height above your tank for the acclimation of corals etc.

Good luck!

[nemo79]

thats the problem, I can't hang anything above my tank. I am in an apartment and all the ceilings are concrete. it's very fustrating. My tank is 13 inches wide, i'm not sure if the nova will fit correctly with the legs. I have contacted current usa to see if those measurements are accurate.

[Dyngoe]

Hey Nemo,

I talked with my friend who had a nova exreme light. He reminded me that they have ~2" in the back of the light that holds the ballasts. You could easily hang this section over the back of the tank and then you would have the lights directly over your tank. Now, the standard legs won't work with this configuration unless they have made adjustments to their system. BUT, that's what TAP plastics is for. You can usually find 3/8" black pieces in their scrap pile that will work great as legs. What you do is get one piece, usually ~2.75" that will rest inside the lid of your tank on the side and then another pice ~2.5" high that will rest on the top of your lip. Glue them together with two more cross brace pieces and voila! a set of nice looking black stands. Plus, you can use the braces to mount circulating fans. I attached a rough drawing of the idea without the cross braces to help clarify. If you want help with your specific project, PM me and I'll help you measure it out.

[nemo79]

I wish it would work. but it won't, i have my hang on skimmer and filter on the back of the tank (no where else to put it) and I have to use eggcrate as I have a kitty that would go into the tank...she almost gobbled up my firefish that decided to fly out of the tank while I was checking my sg. I really really appreciate all your help. Man I am having such a B!$*c of a time with this. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. not to mention you don't have huge options up here in canada. there are 3 places that sell t5 fixtures. You guys are so lucky.

[Salty Marine]

I have the "24" Nova Extreme 4 x 24W T5 HO w/2 Lunar" and the feet on it slide back and forth for adjustment so it would fit 13 inches no problem but the over hang. Maybe smalller lights from them have the same adjustability.

[nemo79]

No I Double Checked And It's Only 7inches Wide So I Am Getting The Nova. Yippy. Now I Can't Wait To Go Home And Order It.