nova extreme for freshwater??? HELP

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stratusfearrr

stratusfearrr

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Feb 25, 2009
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36"Nova Extreme 4x39 watt T5 HO 10K/460nm

can this nova light fixture be used on freshwater? i found it for an excellent deal, and im wondering if it can be used for freshwater applications. if not, what new lights need to be bought?

thanks. :help::help::help::help:
 
Slappy*McFish

Slappy*McFish

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Feb 18, 2002
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It can be used. You have live plants, I presume. With that light, you'll need CO2 and you should replace the 460nm actinic blue bulbs with 6500-6700K bulbs. The 10K bulbs are fine to keep.
 
gmh

gmh

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Yes, you will absolutlye need to add CO2 with that much wattage. You could remove a couple of bulbs if you don't go with a CO2 system. What size is the tank?
 
stratusfearrr

stratusfearrr

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gmh said:
Yes, you will absolutlye need to add CO2 with that much wattage. You could remove a couple of bulbs if you don't go with a CO2 system. What size is the tank?
Click to expand...
its a 46 gallon bowfront. i need the more wattage because i currently have 75 watts, and that just isnt enough to get the red color out of some of my plants. i dose liquid co2 every day. and a comprehensive plant supplement once a week.
 
gmh

gmh

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You might still want to remove one of the bulbs, or keep the photo period short. With all 4 bulbs I think you may need to go pressurized CO2 and a complete fert regime.
 
stratusfearrr

stratusfearrr

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gmh said:
You might still want to remove one of the bulbs, or keep the photo period short. With all 4 bulbs I think you may need to go pressurized CO2 and a complete fert regime.
Click to expand...
If I remove one of the lights, won't tht pose a safety hazard??
It seems like the prongs or whatever they are inside the fixture aid b sending the electricity nowhere.

Isn't that dangerous?
 
SubRosa

SubRosa

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If you want to maximize the reds in your plants you should keep the actinic bulbs.
 
gmh

gmh

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As long as there is no metal to metal contact, there should be not be a discharge through the unused socket. At least that is my understanding. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.
If you do run all 4 bulbs I think you could get away with keeping one of the actinics. It would not help much with the plant growth but you will have plenty of wattage. I would keep the photo period short however, as it would contribute to algae growth.
 
stratusfearrr

stratusfearrr

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Feb 25, 2009
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gmh said:
As long as there is no metal to metal contact, there should be not be a discharge through the unused socket. At least that is my understanding. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.
If you do run all 4 bulbs I think you could get away with keeping one of the actinics. It would not help much with the plant growth but you will have plenty of wattage. I would keep the photo period short however, as it would contribute to algae growth.
Click to expand...

so like lights on from noon till ten? or lik 2 pm to ten pm?

idk what the definition of a short photo period is. because mine currently run about 11 hours a day at 75 watts.
 
zzyzx85

zzyzx85

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there's no real definition of "short" photo period, only relative. in your case, I'd go with around 8 hours.

2pm to 10pm is fine. actually, that's how mine is right now with 3wpg and co2 injection.
 
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