This will be a long post please bear with me. So I have been using a power compact lighting system on my 34 gallon solana tank for about 7 months. So I decided it was time to change the bulbs. I need two 20 in 65 watt bulbs, that is what I was told I had. Funny thing about those 20 in 65 watt bulbs.....they don't freaking exist! Are you kidding me. So I take a closer look at my little light fixture that has been a great little trooper only to find out yes he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. The fixture actually contains 20 in 40 watt bulbs. ARRGGHH. O.k. I am over the initial shock, kinda. I have decided that I will replace this fixture with a Sunpod 150 watt MH lamp. There are few options for higher output 20 in fixtures. I know I will have the slowly acclimate my tank to the new lights over time, adding to the on period a few hours each week. My main concern is what will this extra wattage will do to my corals, mostly my blasto.(keep in mind I was under the impression that my lighting was better). I figure that this would provide roughly 5 watts per gallon(with displacement). For LPS corals is that too strong or will everything just acclimate over time and be fine? Also were do I start with this new fixture? I was thinking of 4 hours on to start then add an hour a week up to 8 hours. Here are the specs on the new fixture High Intensity PowerPaq 14,000K HQI Metal Halide 150 watt [/*:m:1c3u8byx] LED Panels provide both blue & white lunar lighting[/*:m:1c3u8byx] Microprocessor based driving system [/*:m:1c3u8byx]
I have a 90 gallon with 2-250watt metal halides and 4-48in VHO's and have several LPS and they love it. Keep in mind they are not at the top of the tank and I started at 4 hours a day for the first week and raised it one hour a week until I got up to 8 hours a day with no problems. You might need to move some coral around until they find a happy place. You could bleach the coral if they get to much of a light change to quickly. IMO your on the right track, hope this helps you out some. You will love the new lights
You could also run into heat issues, but as stated by Grimmet, you may just have to move some corals down. Another option is T5's, they well have a lot less heat issues and my opinion with what I ahve been doing with mine is they well grow about anything and I have had to move some corals lower under them also. Another option is to run a mogul base 150 MH instead of the HQI, it would be plenty enough on your nano tank. Personally I would seriosly consider the T5 road. cheers
I don't think T-5's come in any lower than 24", though I could be wrong. That would more than likely stick out past the ends of the tank. I use a 20" 150 watt Sunpod also. I have a 70 watt" 20" Sunpod also, which came with the Aqua-Pod. I replaced it early on because I wanted to keep more light demanding corals in it eventually. I use a clip on fan to regulate the temerature. No over heating issues. NSA in Maumelle has a cool clip on fan called C-breeze. Its very adjustable on the angle it blows. I believe it runs like $42.00 there. Marine Deopt also carries the fan for about a five spot less. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...ting-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html
Sorry Ralph, incorrect. Check out the 20" Nova Extreme Pro 6-bulb (6X18W = 108W). This is a good sale price from Drs: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...ubref=AA&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=0035962000000 This has less wattage than a Sunpod, but don't get too obsessed over the wattage factor. In my opinion, focusing too much on a particular W/gallon isn't that important. There are tons of examples of people growing beautiful corals/clams, whatever you want under T5 lighting, especially in shallow tanks. One nice thing about the T5's is that you have more flexibility on appearance of spectrum, due to multiple bulbs, not just one color temperature. Con of the 20" T5 is that currently, there is not a large selection of bulbs on the market, but with the popularity of small tanks, this should only increase (as of now, I think there is just 10,000K daylight, and 460 nm actinic). That said, I run a 150W metal halide over an open top 29 gallon aqarium, and it is beautiful, I wouldn't trade the "shimmer" effect for anything. My only complaint is evaporation. I lose about a Liter of water a day (1/4 gallon). This is partially due to me keeping my temperature at 80 degrees (speaking which, using nothing but the fans in the sunpod for cooling, my temperature never goes above 82.0). Either fixture will do a good job, its all about personal preference.
Thanks Ben!! Like I said I could be wrong. LOL They are only 18 watts each though. I would rather just replace one bulb than 6 though. The replacement bulbs are $15.00 each plus shipping, multiply that by 6. That's about $90.00 without shipping. A 150 double end bulb is $60.00. That's the first 20" bulbs I have seen. (I looked at Marinedepot.com and the bulbs are 18". Good call again Ben)! They maybe less than 20" though if the fixture itself is 20"? The ad does not really give the overall length of the fixture unless I missed it.
Before I bought my system, I was researching small systems, and I ran across this light. There are definitely some discrepencies. When you look at the ad for the fixture, it calls it 20" 18W bulbs, but some places sell bulbs that are 18", and I've even seen "20W" bubls. I could never figure it out. For the record, I will re-iterate that I LOVE my sunpod. I'm waiting for the stock 14K bulb to run out, and trying to decide if I want to get a Phoenix 14K, or a Radium 20K (before the burnings start, this is supposed to be pretty blue, but not crazy 20K blue). My vote is for the Sunpod, but I just want other member to know what options are out there.
Great stuff. I did look at the Nova but must have missed the fosters and smith sale on it. Everywhere else I looked it was almost 300 dollars. I got the sunpod for about 230 with free shipping. And as for the 14k vs. 20k bulb I did come across this guys post. He uses a sunpod on his solana tank, and recently went to a 20k bulb. If the link works it on the 9th page of his build, he has before and after shots with the different bulbs. I personally think the 20 k looks better, but wonder how long it will keep its nice blue tone. I also wonder about the growth. http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.p ... pic=145113
