Tek or Nova Extreme Pro under the tree?

I would go with the Tek lighting system, I've got the 4 bulb system and it has worked well. I have now added some supplemental t5's (2 bulb 36" unit) and the two I was deciding between were the novas or the hagen glo. After trying out both, the Hagens put out more light to my tank then the Novas. So I am now using the Hagen glo as supplemental lighting, and comparing to the Teks, the Teks put out a noticeable amount of extra light.

 

I think a Tek with what stated, as well as I recommend it over Current always, will be in your best interest..... but I think even a 6 bulb might sit weird on the bow. If I remember correctly the sides on the bow, before it curves is a foot right? You will need to fit your light on those sides OR,which no one mentioned as of yet(or I missed it) you could hang it!! You could get the 8 bulb and hang it. But like inwall stated you will have light spill over. In my opinion, a 6 bulb would be MORE than enough to light the 72 bow.
Otty brought up a nice idea more suited for a bow, halides... You could easily get two 250s, hang them and then add one, maybe two t5s for supplemental blueing/actinic.

Also, what do you plan to keep? If you say mostly softies that will be a huge difference over a SPS dominated tank!

Happy reefing

 

Well, I decided to go with the 6x54W Nova Extreme Pro. The main reason is the width of the Nova is 12" which will fit perfectly on my tank. The Tek is wider and would hang over the front. Also, the price of the Nova is lower once you factor in the need to buy the legs and splash shield for the Tek. And finally, since the Tek relies on convection cooling once the splash shield is installed the unit heats up enough to drop the PAR down to roughly the same as the Nova. I do like the look the thin profile of the Tek better though.

I'm not planning on using the bulbs that came with it. I bought this arrangement from Aquarium Specialty.
2 x Giesemann Aqua Blue+ 48" 54 watt 531045
1 x UV Lighting 48" T5 75.25 Bulb 14000K F54/7525
2 x ATI T5 54 Watt 48" Blue Plus ATI1013
1 x GE Starcoat T5 HO 54 Watt 48" Lamp 901588

Wendy on Reef Central is using this combination of bulbs with spectacular results. Here is the page of that thread.

Lastly, the price of this setup is almost exactly what I'm getting in cash back from my Amex Blue card in January. Call it Karma.

Thanks for all your help and advice.

 

I received my Nova Extreme Pro fixture today. Looks great. Tank is much brighter now. You can read my review here.

 

looks real good. The novas you have are the new style so there pretty good from what I have read (individual reflectors).

 

to bad, i have one of these for sale
Coralife 48 Inch Aqualight Pro, 2x250W HQI Lamp + 2x96W CF Lamps Sq. Pin + 4x1W LED

 

Just do it right the first time and buy at least a tek,yes i know you halide people, but i'm T5 for life.100 gallon,up 8 months..







The acros in this pic where 2-3 inch frags,no additives...nothing but two 5 gallon water changes a month.

 

T5s....They are making strides!! Nice pics papareef!

 

So far I'm really happy with the current fixture and the bulbs I got. Barely any heat under the bulbs. It all blows out the sides by the fans. Great colors under the new bulbs.

My BTA opened really wide today under the lights and for the first time my tomato clown went into it. I've had the clown since the beginning of November. It's been hanging out close to the anemone for a while but seemed like it didn't know what to do. I thought it might go in soon when I saw it start chasing a green chromis away. Lights just went out for the night in the tank and it isn't sleeping in the anemone. It's up against the glass where it always hangs out at night. Do they normally spend the night in the anemone?

I do miss the moonlights that my old fixture had though.