Complete Newbie Needs Help With Lighting!

Kirsty · Aug 1, 2007

Hi Guys,

I am a complete Newbie to Zoas and keeping them happy, well, I've had some for a couple of years, but now venturing into more. But, I am nearly clueless to lighting.

I have a Via Aqua 418w nano with factory setting lights and recently added an Arcadia ultraseal controller and Interpet day light reflector lamp 15W and it states that as it is a reflector lamp you get 30% more light...

The difference was quite literally eye opening.

As I have limited funds and brains, can anyone assist me with my search for better lighting keeping it maybe in product name terms etc so I know what to search for?

Apologies again for being so dense, but I look forward to your replies.:iconbiggrin:

Kirsty.

surfn · Aug 1, 2007

greetings from across the pond kristy! welcome to club-zoa!

any chance you can post some pictures of the tank and equipment? i gota be honest in that i'm not very familiar with the items you listed.

Kirsty · Aug 1, 2007

I'll see what pics I can get and as soon as possible.

Thanks so much for your reply

Kirsty · Aug 2, 2007

Sorry, forgot to say greetings from over the pond too!

Well, I'm sorry for the photo quality; but my digital camera has packed up so only have my camera phone to assist!

As you can see, some of my zoas are quite "leggy" and I am wondering what the cause of this is....?not enough light?

You can also see that us Brits don't often get the chance of being able to get hold of some of your wonderful coloured varieties of zoas, but I am positive that the ones I have would possibly colour up more or at least be happier if I sort their lighting out.

Recently, aside from the factory fitted lighting system, I added an Interpet day light reflector lamp; 10,000K, 15W, and am wondering if I can add another of these combined with one of their actinic ranges. Do you think this will improve things? I can, I think, also get one of their reflectors if I needed to.

I really think the factory fitted lights are absolutely useless, and as they only manufacture one type of tube, both actinic and daylight, you cannot upgrade unless I was to throw it away!

I'm not concerned about how the outside of the tank will look as I am more concerned about the occupants health!

I'm lucky enough to be getting some more colourful zoas as of week beginning 13th August and really want to ensure that all my zoas have the correct lighting to ensure their happiness!

By the way, this site is absolutely amazing!

Thanks in advance,

Kirsty.

autoponicz · Aug 2, 2007

what size tank and what kinda fixture and wattage ? power compacts im guessing...

Kirsty · Aug 2, 2007

I think the total volume is 56 litres, English speak (!), sorry, but being a complete girl I don't know what that equates to in gallons

Right, I think this is the best info I can give:

overhead lighting unit (15inch), it only runs 2x18wpc 50/50???

Hope this helps?

surfn · Aug 2, 2007

you've got about a 15g tank, which i'm guessing is about the size of a nano-cube/bio-cube?

how tall is the tank? how wide is the tank?

but yeah, i can tell by the pictures that you definitely need a stronger light.

Kirsty · Aug 3, 2007

Hi, the tank measures:
14 and a half inches length
17 inches height
13 inches deep

Am worried that if I put too much light over this little tank I'll get other problems??

Thanks for your help.

surfn · Aug 3, 2007

yeah, for a tank that large, you'll want to get a much stronger light. i'm not sure what ya'll have available over there, so i'm not sure what to recomend to you.

the only downsides to a stronger light, are more heat and more evaporation.

Kirsty · Aug 3, 2007

Thanks alot anyway. I'm looking in to this as best I can and hope to post some new pics once sorted.

Thanks again.

surfn · Aug 3, 2007

just to give you an idea, i'm running a 32w PC on my 7g (26.5 liters) tank, and its not meant to have corals in it.

most people who have tanks that are 17inches high, use metal halide lighting. i think a 150w DE metal halide would be your best choice to hang above the tank. but PC lighting around 60-90 watts will also work well for you.

this is a good website for nanotanks. i'm not sure you can get something due to the voltage conversion b/w US and Euro though. but at least it will give you an idea of what to look at.

www.nanocustoms.com

Kirsty · Aug 3, 2007

Thanks again, I'm off to look at that site now!

Kirsty · Aug 5, 2007

I used my overdraft to buy some new lighting today, am getting some more colourful zoas week after next and hope to post some pics soon.

Thanks again for your time.

surfn · Aug 5, 2007

Kirsty said:
I used my overdraft to buy some new lighting today, am getting some more colourful zoas week after next and hope to post some pics soon.

Thanks again for your time.

oh no, dont be taking out overdraft loans b/c we are a bad influence! :hammer:

Kirsty · Aug 6, 2007

I've spent too much! Oh well, nevermind

I checked out the site you suggested; I wish we could easily get hold of that sort of thing over here, especially that Pico light.

Well, the lighting difference is quite amazing even though the pics don't really show it. I'm still using my camera phone; sorry!

Yes, I have created a Frankenstein of a lighting system, but as long as everything on the inside of the tank is happy, then so am I! I've only had it running for the afternoon and already more has opened than ever before!

Once I get things more sorted, I'll try and borrow a camera to get some better pics.

Thanks again,

Kirsty