Nano reef lighting help!

caitlinmarie91 · Jul 31, 2020

So I have a 10g nano reef up and running, fully cycled with a solid cuc and now ready some stocking. This far I have been using the standard lid it came with with bright white LEDs. Started doing some digging on if I needed to add blue LEDs as a supplement and got sucked into a wormhole of information and hours later I am even more confused than I started. help please!!

Randomwhiteguy89 · Jul 31, 2020

You will indeed need a light with some blue in it not only for a better looking tank but because the corals photosynthesize light in order to grow and a white light will not give them what they need I’ll post a picture of a cheap light that will work great for your tank it comes with a mounting bracket built in timers and a list of par readings not to mention it’s cheap I have seen 2 of these used o. A 20 gallon long and the corals grew amazing so one on a ten gallon should be perfect

Mike Kearns · Jul 31, 2020

I use this one on my 10 gallon. Even grew some montipora (slowly).

caitlinmarie91 · Jul 31, 2020

I’m assuming these won’t work with my current lid. Should I ditch a lid altogether?

Mike Kearns · Jul 31, 2020

caitlinmarie91 said:
I’m assuming these won’t work with my current lid. Should I ditch a lid altogether?

I did. I was using a glass lid (standard aqueon 10 gallon tank) but it kept fogging up. so I just removed it. There is only one fish in the tank (damsel) and if he jumps I won't cry. You could go with a diy window screen type.

Alenya · Jul 31, 2020

I have the window screen type. Just be aware you’ll need to top up a lot more

caitlinmarie91 · Jul 31, 2020

Guess I need to invest in a good auto tip off too lol

Marvollo · Jul 31, 2020

I am liking my auto aqua ato. Check out the selling forums for some good start up deals

MaxxuM · Jul 31, 2020

Welcome to the world of reef keeping

I've used several types of lighting and pretty much narrowed it down to these options....

Premium Brands - Grow Most Anything
Kessil A80
*Kessil A160WE
AI Prime 16HD
Radion XR15 G5 Pro

Budget Fixtures With Selective Growth
*HIPARGERO LED Aquarium Light
NICREW Aquarium LED 50W/100W
KINGBO 18W LED Aquarium Lighting Bulb
*Fluval Sea Nano
There are a ton of other options but these are pretty popular IME

* Have personal experience with these lights.

I've learned my lesson and now buy things for "future proofing" vs budget thinking. The Kessil A160WE, AI and Radion for example are near overkill for a 10g but can be dimmed and will grow just about anything. If you go with a 20L or 40B in the future all you'll need to do is buy 1 more of any of these and you're covered. All the other options are iffy and you'll likely have to buy something completely different. I'm using a Kessil A360WE over a 5g nano at the moment but I know I'll be using it in the future on a larger tank once I move into my new home in a few months.

The question is, do you think you'll be upgrading in the future (many people do). That's the real question you should be asking yourself.

Pistondog · Jul 31, 2020

2nd the ai 16hd. Can be used if you upgrade.
Great app for adjustments.

Steven Garland · Jul 31, 2020

One suggestion I will give you.

When it comes to lighting,don't skimp. Buy a quality light,something that you won't have to upgrade until you want to actually upgrade the tank.

I have been in the hobby for over 10 years and I have seen so many people dump money down the drain because they buy a less than mediocre light. I have been guilty myself and learned. Go more powerful thank you think and get something dimmable if you go led so you can dim it to your corals likings and always go up or down.

I got to the point where I build my own lights,tailor it to what I want and I don't have to worry about it. When it comes to leds,MOST manufacturers use cool whites which is terrible for coral rendition and true to life colors,use low quality bin royals and violets. Using warm/neutral whites and mint to wash out the yellow tinge and good quality binned royals and violets will create an amazing quality light that will grow anything. Focusing on the spectrum that hits the points that coral need to grow.

old salt reefer · Jul 31, 2020

MaxxuM said:
Welcome to the world of reef keeping I've used several types of lighting and pretty much narrowed it down to these options....

Premium Brands - Grow Most Anything
Kessil A80
*Kessil A160WE
AI Prime 16HD
Radion XR15 G5 Pro

Budget Fixtures With Selective Growth
*HIPARGERO LED Aquarium Light
NICREW Aquarium LED 50W/100W
KINGBO 18W LED Aquarium Lighting Bulb
*Fluval Sea Nano
There are a ton of other options but these are pretty popular IME

* Have personal experience with these lights.

I've learned my lesson and now buy things for "future proofing" vs budget thinking. The Kessil A160WE, AI and Radion for example are near overkill for a 10g but can be dimmed and will grow just about anything. If you go with a 20L or 40B in the future all you'll need to do is buy 1 more of any of these and you're covered. All the other options are iffy and you'll likely have to buy something completely different. I'm using a Kessil A360WE over a 5g nano at the moment but I know I'll be using it in the future on a larger tank once I move into my new home in a few months.

The question is, do you think you'll be upgrading in the future (many people do). That's the real question you should be asking yourself.

What he said. I have a IM nuvo 10 with a Prime 16HD, it does grow everything. It's a 60 watt light and I'm only using 32. Your going to most likely grow out of a small tank and a light that can be moved to a bigger tank is a smart buy.
Disclaimer: my nuvo 10 was to be a QT but some how ended up as a mixed reef nano.(IE it's not the only tank I have).

caitlinmarie91 · Jul 31, 2020

Here is my current set up

caitlinmarie91 · Jul 31, 2020

I had someone recommend something like this to add on to my existing light if I wanted to keep my current lid. Any thoughts on this idea? I do plan in the next year or so to upgrade to a larger aquarium and I will definitely be splurging a bit for a good lighting system, so would this option work for now or is this just going to end up slowly killing whatever coral I put in?

Pistondog · Jul 31, 2020

Get some better lights, that have some pur spectrum.

MaxxuM · Jul 31, 2020

IMO I'd get rid of the top and make a custom lid using those aluminum window screen kits from your local hardware store + clear netting from BRS. I'd invest in a gravity fed ATO that fits your tank. And I'd invest in Kessil, AI, or Radion lights. Also, if you're in an apartment I'd get an RODI unit that fits your faucet (I have one) and make water as you need it then toss it into a cupboard.

Pistondog · Jul 31, 2020

caitlinmarie91 said:
I had someone recommend something like this to add on to my existing light if I wanted to keep my current lid. Any thoughts on this idea? I do plan in the next year or so to upgrade to a larger aquarium and I will definitely be splurging a bit for a good lighting system, so would this option work for now or is this just going to end up slowly killing whatever coral I put in?

No experience with these.
You can try to invent your own, or go with a light that has been engineered, hopefully by experts, for your purpose.
Unfortunately, you pay for the expertise.

Tamberav · Aug 1, 2020

caitlinmarie91 said:
I had someone recommend something like this to add on to my existing light if I wanted to keep my current lid. Any thoughts on this idea? I do plan in the next year or so to upgrade to a larger aquarium and I will definitely be splurging a bit for a good lighting system, so would this option work for now or is this just going to end up slowly killing whatever coral I put in?

Don't waste your time if you plan on healthy corals. That light your lid have is not made for saltwater corals, it is for viewing fish only and for people who like to add plastic ships and pineapples for decorations and not living things

The strip lighting is just adding blue for 'looks' but also not for growing corals.

You need to ditch the lid and get yourself a real light. Depending on what you upgrade to, the light you buy for this tank will be useful for the next one. Say you got a prime HD, if you wanted to get a 30g Long for your next tank, you could just add a 2nd one.