Nano Build

[littlej2455]

Hey Guys!

I am so confused one where to start with lighting a 10 gallon nano with a few soft corals and fish. I really like the LED lights and I am trying to find the right match for me. I like the Marineland lights but I wish they would let you leave the moonlights on. And I just saw TrueLumen's PadLite which is really neat, but it seems a little too good to be true. It says that for a tank that is 24" long that I would need two of them, but I was wondering y'alls suggestion on which light is best for a nano tank. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[straydog]

The marine land fixture is the wrong direction on lighting unless you are doing a fresh water planted tank. I tried it on a 10 gallon with mushroom coral in my experience the corals hated it.

 

[frantz]

If you do get the marineland one make sure its the brighter of the two versions. I have it, though I probably wouldn't get it again (DIY LED next time I can afford it). On my 10g nano I am using a 96w PC and it really lights up the tanks and the coral I have seems do be doing pretty well. I got it used for $50 at a LFS too so no complaints (cheaper than the replacement bulb will be). For me best is partly defined by the opportunities on the used market.

 

[littlej2455]

Heard anything about the PadLite?

Frantz;714845 wrote: If you do get the marineland one make sure its the brighter of the two versions. I have it, though I probably wouldn't get it again (DIY LED next time I can afford it). On my 10g nano I am using a 96w PC and it really lights up the tanks and the coral I have seems do be doing pretty well. I got it used for $50 at a LFS too so no complaints (cheaper than the replacement bulb will be). For me best is partly defined by the opportunities on the used market.

 

[frantz]

never heard of it, googled.. I'd say its not gonna work for coral on a 10g based on output and number of LEDs. Lighting isn't my area of expertise at this point though. This is what I'm using

 

[littlej2455]

Innovative Marine's popular LED Skkye light tablet (1) $300
Aqua Illumination Nano (1 maybe 2) ~$300 for one
Truelumen Pro LED 24" (2) ~$200
PAR30 Reef Lamp Kit (2) ~$200

These are what I am looking at now.

 

[straydog]

The par 30 you could probably get by with 1

 

[db366]

Don't rule out the Kessil fixture, it has gotten good reviews.

 

[littlej2455]

I just saw on their website that if you want corals
It will like a 12x12 area. Do you think I'll be ok if I put the corals in the middle?

And I will have to look up that fixture, thanks for your help!

 

[straydog]

The 12x12 area would be for a deeper tank, most people I have seen using them have to elevate the light witch gives it a better spread over a larger area.

 

[superclown]

Just get you a ecoxotic Led Module/ and maybe a stunner strip and you would be good to go for just a 10g

 

[serpent]

Depending on the dimensions of the tank, either ecoxotic or a Par 30 bulb. I have used both and decided on the Par 30 bulb due to the dimensions of the tank. I am running it on a 13"x13"x9" frag tank, so I only needed 1 Par 30 bulb.

I picked up my Par 30 bulb from reefkoi for $59 and that thing will burn any coral to the ground if you run it too close and don't acclimate. It is mounted to a desk lamp, architecture style, that is fully articulating and can go 23" above the tank.

 

[littlej2455]

Thank you so much for all of the advice. I think I will try on Par 30.

Also fish suggestions would be good. I would like to see if I could get some
Fish that wouldn't mind eating pellets from time to time if I have to leave my tank; just so I can put them on an automatic feeder:

 

[straydog]

I can share my 2 favorite witch are my starie blenny because it helps me keep algie under control, and my neon goby that has more than a few times droped an ick break out. They both will take pellets. I also have a serpant star that keeps the under side of the rocks from collecting waste. More of matinance crew but