small tank - light too strong?

[illdoya]

Hey everyone! Quick question about light intensity

I got a great deal from a friend on a Current USA 2x18w Satellite PC fixture

I put in on 4g Finnex - tank dimensions are 12.2"Lx7.5in"Dx10.2"H

Should I raise this light off the tank? It sits on its arms about 2.5in above tank, 3.5in above the waterline. I don't want to fry anything.

I want to add a small fish and corals - zoas and other less intensive species

Would you guys raise the fixture or sit it on the tank using the arms? What do you think?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[uall8up]

I would research the PAR of the light and according on what you plan on keeping in the tank, see what kind of lighting it would requires!!!

 

[feh]

Hmm... this is very generic information on T5 and PC lighting.

 

[illdoya]

I would research the PAR of the light and according on what you plan on keeping in the tank, see what kind of lighting it would requires!!!

I did a VERY quick PAR search for that fixture but didn't find much - but im going to keep looking. Should I be looking for readings that are fixture specific or bulb specific? or both? I've looked into PAR meters, some aren't too expensive, but the aquarium-hobby-specific meters I've seen are about $75. Just not in the current budget

to keep in the tank - a suitable fish (its a small tank so i know options are limited..) and some corals. Since its a powerful(?) light, if I can keep the params stable, i'd like to try some SPS in the tank if possible. I'll be starting with some 'leftover' zoas from the main tank.

I want to start with "beginner corals" b/c its a super small tank, at work. I dont have the same kind of time I do to maintain it like I do at home so I want to see how the tank will stabilize.

Noob question: fish and light - can it be too bright for a fish? Can they be stressed to death because of light intensity?

Hmm... this is very generic information on T5 and PC lighting.

thanks for the chart feh! It was a great place to start and gave me some good keywords to search.

for future reference - I found this old AdvancedAquarist.com article: Lateral Lines: Classification and Terminology For Reef Aquarium Lighting, written by Adam Blundell, M.S.

the charts for quick reference are as follows:

references for Article and chart:

Borneman, E.H., (2001) "Aquarium Corals selection, husbandry, and natural history", T.F.H. Publications. Neptune City, NJ, USA.
Riddle, D., (2005) Personal communication, and possible future publication.
Sprung, J., (1999) "Corals: a quick reference guide", Ricordea Publishing. Miami, FL, USA.

thanks as usual to Advanced Aquarist!

so back to my original question - given the specs of the fixture in question, would you raise it off the tank? Or let it sit right on top?

 

[ritter6788]

That light isn't too strong for anything IMO. PC lights aren't very powerful.

 

[mfinn]

That light isn't too strong for anything IMO. PC lights aren't very powerful.

+1.

 

[illdoya]

dang ok I was sure the light would be a fryer! so left 3.5in from water line is good you guys think?

also - i feel stupid for not mentioning this before - the tank gets an incredible amt of natural sunlight (i sit next to a window). Im going to now google to see about it, but can anyone chime in? In direct sunlight most of the day bad(so much it washes out all blue from light fixture)?

what do you think? thanks in advance!

 

[Mufasa31]

I might be concerned with the heat pcs give off.

On that small of a volume, it might be a problem.

 

[illdoya]

i was a bit too, they raise temp 2-3 degrees, but i keep the window open a bit and the breeze brought it back to 79 (where heater is set). I did however put up a board to block the natural sunlight until I see about the ill effects. this may block the breeze though lol, so i was gonna get a small desk fan to keep a breeze on it.