looking for suggestion or lightning inputs for a nano tank

[ifarmer]

hi everyone,

I am going to setup a nano reef in the next month or so and am looking for light options for my new nano tank. Tank is just 15x15x15 and I probably will grow just about 6-7 Acropora species for fun.
My 4 previous SPS tanks were lit by T5.

So please suggest me what would be a good light option for such a small tank. (I will give LED a chance only IF I dont have any other options).

thanks

 

[Crabs McJones]

Is there a specific reason you don't want to go led? Just out of curiosity? Otherwise you could do a single, 250 watt metal halide in a 15 inch fixture

 

[JaimeAdams]

You could get a small MH like a 70 or 150W MH. I think that you would probably have heat issues. You could go with a T-5 fixture but it would certainly over hang the tank. I don't currently use MH except overly small SPS tank at work. If it were my tank I would probably stick a Kessil a160 or a radio xr15 pro over it and call it a day.

 

[tsav87]

Hamilton has a MH fixture with tank mount brackets, looks like a good choice over LED if you don't want LED. No T5 fixture would be small enough for your needs.

https://hamiltontechnology.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=17_85&product_id=97

 

[ifarmer]

Thanks everyone.
The reasons i dont like LED because it did not work for me a few years ago.
I tried Rapidled in 2008-2009 for 12 months. And later upgraded to ecotech Radion in 2009-2010 for another 12.months.
Both did not give me good result back then.


@tsav87. I like the look of those MH fixture. Do they have 75w bulb?

 

[mcarroll]

Those aren't my personal favorite LED's, but even still they aren't that bad.....they could not have been at the root of whatever problem you had before.

Have you had a reef tank that works and which you liked before? If so what kind of lights did it have?

 

[Finhead]

I used 2 Hydra 26's on my 18" cube Red Sea Reefer Nano with great growth and coloring from my SPS. You could most likely go with one of the Hydra 26 HD's on the 15" cube.

 

[ifarmer]

i mostly have been using just ATI T5 since 2009.

 

[mcarroll]

i mostly have been using just ATI T5 since 2009.

Presuming you like them but still wanted to switch, then you should consider strip-format LED's rather than spotlight format.

 

[hart24601]

Using a kessil over my reef jar right now, and there are fans of this amazon PAR 38 light:

23w, UV spectrum plus several violets, 3 year warranty all for 35 bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B073..._QL65&keywords=abi+tuna+blue+par38&psc=1&th=1


LEDs are the bees knees especially for nano and pico tanks.

 

[tsav87]

LEDs are the bees knees especially for nano and pico tanks.

Because no one makes anything for a small tank other than LED. Although back in the day, there was a 12" or 18" T5 fixture, I think it was Coralife. There also was a multitude of Power Compact Lights.

 

[hart24601]

Coralilfe still sells its 11” 2 bulb fixture. Tho not sure how I could get the 300 PAR I like in a nano for acro without led and not have a silly amount of light bleed.

Then again I don’t like t5, so it’s easy for me. You would rather run PC lights then LED?!?


https://www.amazon.com/36013-Mini-Aqualight-Light-Fixture/dp/B003WYY6SI

 

[HB AL]

A Kessil 160 would be the ticket, probably over kill but your not gonna be complaining about the light not producing results.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You may want to contact this seller on eBay.
Not a lot of big names making small tubes now. Aquaeon and coralife it seems.
Odyssey seems like the only smal fixtures oddly enough.

They also carry the small 150 halides. But I’d look for an old coralife if you go that route.