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View Full Version : Good Lighting for a ~5g Nano Reef?


L33T
05/21/2007, 03:34 PM
I'm doing a ~5g Nano Reef (5-9 g range)

I'd like to spend no more than $30 total on lighting, including tubes and all.

I was wondering however: if I use PC lighting, which rating number on the bulb do I use? For example, at the Home Depot, n:vision bulbs are sold. On the one particular bulb for example, it says that it is a bulb that uses 14W but is equivalent to a 60W regular bulb. Does that mean that it is sufficient for my purposes? Or am I supposed to use the 14W rating instead?

Thanks

MDeth
05/21/2007, 03:50 PM
I'd stick to PC from a LFS just to be safe.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_powercompact_compact-fluorescent_coralife_mini_aqualight_lamp_fixtures.asp?CartId=

L33T
05/21/2007, 04:01 PM
Will that one provide the lighting necessary for these:
- Some sort of finger leather
- Red, blue, & green mushrooms
- Plate corals
- Yellow Polyps <-- this is a "must have" for me ^__^
- Brain corals
- Duster Worm or two
- Seahorses
- Star fish
- Clam *

And what about this aquarium: Marineland 5g Hex...(http://www.marineland.com/products/consumer/con_hex.asp)

It provides 15W incad... but you can change it to PC; it says so on the box.

L33T
05/21/2007, 05:27 PM
Ok after looking at the costs of these lights, I think I might just go with a glass aquarium and get a kit... (w/o any DIY involved preferably... not that I don't love DIY. I do... just check out my website... but I still have an unfinished DIY project, and with the GRE's and much more... I haven't the time right now).

How does this look?
1. El cheapo glass aquarium available at LFS (5.5g). I already have one of these... they cost something like $10 or $11.
2. I need a hood. What sort of hood? Please help.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=OE1223
That's only 13W... far from sufficient from what I'm reading =(

seaskraP
05/22/2007, 04:47 PM
i use the coralife 18watt mini fixture that was recommended for my little 5-gallon nano. although it doesn't cover the whole tank, the light dispersion is pretty good.

this is the first day the nano was setup.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/132965new_nano-day1-med.jpg

a piece of clear acrylic is attached to the power filter, and the light just sits on the acrylic.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/132965nano_ATO-med.jpg

that 13watt PC fixture with the legs also looks like a good choice, as it would cover the whole tank.