Can I upgrade my lighting??

[johnny4491]

I want to know if I can upgrade my lighting on my 6 gallon nano tank because i tried putting some soft coral in here and lost all of them and at first I thought it was my water but ended up finding out its my lighting on my tank. I'm a newbie to this but is there any way I can remove my lip completely and add a a better lighting if I can what kind of lights do you guys recommend. Thanks guys any advice we'll be appropriate

 

[eatbreakfast]

It should be completely possible to remove the top and utilize another type of lighting.

Your tank dimensions will be the limiting factor as many companies don't make equipment for something that small, but high oitput t5 bulbs or led lighting should povide you with what you need.

 

[johnny4491]

It should be completely possible to remove the top and utilize another type of lighting.

Your tank dimensions will be the limiting factor as many companies don't make equipment for something that small, but high oitput t5 bulbs or led lighting should povide you with what you need.

Do you have some type of link where I can see them at

 

[Tahoe61]

FWIW that lighting should have no problem sustaining pretty much any soft coral. I have had this tank and kept even some hardy stony corals under the stock lighting.

But if you do want to upgrade the lighting you can go to Rapidled and build your own LED fixture.

http://www.rapidled.com/

You can also look at AI Prime.

On a tank of that size you want to go LED if possible to avoid heat issues.

 

[johnny4491]

FWIW that lighting should have no problem sustaining pretty much any soft coral. I have had this tank and kept even some hardy stony corals under the stock lighting.

But if you do want to upgrade the lighting you can go to Rapidled and build your own LED fixture.

http://www.rapidled.com/

You can also look at AI Prime.

On a tank of that size you want to go LED if possible to avoid heat issues.

Yes that's true about the heating I have basic lighting on it and it's always above normal so I have to keep a fan next to it and cause of the lights it has my corals didn't make it

 

[Tahoe61]

What I am suggesting is that lighting is not the reason the corals died. The stock lighting for JBJ 6 gallon nano cube can grow soft coral without issue.

Yes I do think you would be better off with LED's, but I doubt your current lighting fixture was the caused the demise of your corals.

 

[johnny4491]

What I am suggesting is that lighting is not the reason the corals died. The stock lighting for JBJ 6 gallon nano cube can grow soft coral without issue.

Yes I do think you would be better off with LED's, but I doubt your current lighting fixture was the caused the demise of your corals.

Well that's what I was told because I took my water to 2 different location and they told me my water was fine they checked it with a kit that I don't have and they told me it was most likely my lighting because nothing was wrong with my water

 

[Tahoe61]

^ I am sure they would love for you to buy a lighting fixture.
Did they do the full chemistry? Calcium, Alkalinity.....
What is your specific gravity?
How are you topping off the tank?
How hot is the tank running?

Back to topic, yes you can upgrade your lighting and remove the rim. But do not be surprised if that does not resolve your tank issues.

 

[johnny4491]

^ I am sure they would love for you to buy a lighting fixture.
Did they do the full chemistry? Calcium, Alkalinity.....
What is your specific gravity?
How are you topping off the tank?
How hot is the tank running?

Back to topic, yes you can upgrade your lighting and remove the rim. But do not be surprised if that does not resolve your tank issues.

How do I check for calcium and alkalinity and what's gravity and what do u mean topping off of my tank and my tank is 79° right now and that's cause I took the fan away and you are right they might want me to buy more lighting but I also want to add different types of corals as well because I'm not going to upgrade to anything better any time soon and thanks for the help again I appreciate it (newbie problems)

 

[Tahoe61]

Sure no problem.

Are you adding fresh water to the tank daily to make up for evaporation? That is topping off, you should be topping off with RO (reverse osmosis) unless you're using an automated top off (ATO). Tap water may contain Chlorine or metals both toxic to corals. Salt does not evaporate, causing the water to become too salty unless diluted again with fresh water.

If you want to keep stony corals you'll eventually need to buy the test kits for Calcium and Alkalinity as well as Magnesium.

 

[johnny4491]

Sure no problem.

Are you adding fresh water to the tank daily to make up for evaporation? That is topping off, you should be topping off with RO (reverse osmosis) unless you're using an automated top off (ATO). Tap water may contain Chlorine or metals both toxic to corals. Salt does not evaporate, causing the water to become too salty unless diluted again with fresh water.

If you want to keep stony corals you'll eventually need to buy the test kits for Calcium and Alkalinity as well as Magnesium.

My water doesn't evaporate is that something to be concerned about and I do my water changes every 3 to 4 days so I don't see a lot of water that evaporates? And is there like a set on Amazon I can buy that sell those 3

 

[Tahoe61]

Every tanks water evaporates, at different rates but yes evaporation is going on. You will not need to change water that often if you add fresh water every day, not salt water. Get some bottled purified water at the local store. If you can afford it buy a cheap RO unit.

Your specific gravity value is probably off contributing to your coral issues. You need a way to measure specific gravity (SG) routinely, buy a cheap hydrometer until you can get a refractometer.

I buy all my test kits off either MarineDepot.com or BulkReefSupply.com.

 

[johnny4491]

Every tanks water evaporates, at different rates but yes evaporation is going on. You will not need to change water that often if you add fresh water every day, not salt water. Get some bottled purified water at the local store. If you can afford it buy a cheap RO unit.

Your specific gravity value is probably off contributing to your coral issues. You need a way to measure specific gravity (SG) routinely, buy a cheap hydrometer until you can get a refractometer.

I buy all my test kits off either MarineDepot.com or BulkReefSupply.com.

Is this what your talking about so just get a bottle of purified water like the ones from stater bros and add some water a little at a time

 

[Tahoe61]

Yup.

Keep the value between 1.023-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal.

 

[3lusive]

I have a refractometer (for salinity measurements) that you can have free of charge, and as long as you are in the lower 48 I will even cover the shipping.

Water changes every 3-4 days could be stripping too many nutrients out of the water , and therefore your water could be TOO clean for the coral you are trying to keep. While I'm not saying to skip out on them all together, I would probably drop to maybe once per week.



If you are dead set on upgrading the light, Dave at NanoBox makes an LED kit Nanocube / Biocube group. Give him a shout and see what he can do.

http://nanoboxreef.com/index.html

 

[johnny4491]

Yup.

Keep the value between 1.023-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal.

Ok so if it's too high add water and if it's low what do I do ??

 

[johnny4491]

I have a refractometer (for salinity measurements) that you can have free of charge, and as long as you are in the lower 48 I will even cover the shipping.

Water changes every 3-4 days could be stripping too many nutrients out of the water , and therefore your water could be TOO clean for the coral you are trying to keep. While I'm not saying to skip out on them all together, I would probably drop to maybe once per week.



If you are dead set on upgrading the light, Dave at NanoBox makes an LED kit Nanocube / Biocube group. Give him a shout and see what he can do.

http://nanoboxreef.com/index.html

Ok thank! I will stick to once a week from now on

 

[Tahoe61]

It should not get too low.

Measure the SG and fine tune to get a value within the range I suggested. Once you get that value, mark the water level on the tank with tape or sharpe on the back compartment on the outside of the tank. Simply refill the tank everyday to that level marked on the tank, and the SG should stay within that range.

You want to maintain values consistently, try not to have swings as able.

Hope that helps.

 

[johnny4491]

It should not get too low.

Measure the SG and fine tune to get a value within the range I suggested. Once you get that value, mark the water level on the tank with tape or sharpe on the back compartment on the outside of the tank. Simply refill the tank everyday to that level marked on the tank, and the SG should stay within that range.

You want to maintain values consistently, try not to have swings as able.

Hope that helps.

I'm checking it right now and I'm not sure my hydrometer is working because it's making it to low ? How do u know those things are working

 

[Tahoe61]

Are you making your own salt water? If so what salt brand are you using.

I would take member 3lusive up on his very kind off is applicable. https://www.reef2reef.com/members/3lusive.41375/