Newbie with 16 gal bow front

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gypsyb

New Member
Hi! I was given a 16 gal. bow front (glass) for my birthday and have been thinking I'd like to start a Nano tank. The problem is the more I read the more confused I'm getting, esp. on the lighting!
I'm reading T5's are great but can bleach things out, etc...
Could you please send me some links showing an aquarium my size with tips on what you've done for lighting, etc..
It's 20 wide X 17.5 high X about 11.5 from front (bow) to back.
Thanks!
:gcool
 
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KidNano

New Member
what would you be putting in the tank? Too much of any type of lighting can bleach things out. I'm right there with you on the more you read the more confusing things are. I've been in the hobby for 10 months now and every time I feel I'm getting the hang of things I start reading about something new and lose the comfortable feeling that I had.

First step I've always been told is to decide what you want in the tank and then you can better decide what you want to put over the tank. And I know as a beginner that is a very tough decision.
 
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NanoReefaholic

New Member
Unless you're willing to have a 2" overhang on each side you're not going to be able to go T5HO. The smallest T5HO lamp is 24", and T5NO (normal output) is pointless for corals.

You're looking at a 150w MH (recommended to save the 'upgrade' syndrome), 70w MH (limiting in lamp colour selection, and yes it's spelt 'colour' in Canada), PC (not recommended, old technology that is very inefficient vs the output), or T8NO's (normal lamps, useless for coral).
 
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reefman23

New Member
NanoReefaholic said:
PC (not recommended, old technology that is very inefficient vs the output)
Click to expand...
While the T5HO's and MH's are generally a "better" choice, PC's still have a definite spot in our hobby. Depending on the depth of the setup and the corals being housed, the hobbyist might not need anything more than PC lighting.

When I had a 16g bow, I ran the Current USA 2x40 watt Satellite fixture and it worked just fine for the low-medium light corals I was housing. With my interest in some of the higher-light corals I added a 70 watt MH to the 80 watts of PC and loved it.

IMO, if you want MH lighting, it is best to supplement it with PC or T5HO actinic lighting to get a more precise control with the overall color of the lighting as well as allowing for the dawn/dusk effect. Instead of having 150 watts of intense MH lighting instantly kicking on and off every day, you can ease into/out of it with the actinics.

HTH,

Jesse
 
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NanoReefaholic

New Member
Not in the end if you look at it. The main reason why PC's are still so widely used is because of people falling to marketing and old school advice. Many companies are still trying to recover their investment in aquarium PC/CF lamps and as such they market them heavily. The total cost of ownership and cost of running vs the output attained makes PC's a very poor choice irregardless of tank size.

When you're lighting a tank 24" or larger your lighting choices should be MH or T5HO. Less than 24" you should be looking at MH or LED. PC's have no place in todays technology.

Perhaps we'll have to agree to disagree but go onto some forums and ask for setup advice and anyone who suggests PC's will (and do) receive a quick education, unless you're modding a nanocube hood that is.
 
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NanoReefaholic

New Member
Good read Cris, but don't forget to take Sanjay with a grain of salt and that RC thread is getting quite old as new tech is coming out. The "facts" are there but it's improperly documented and quite a few people have discredited him down to only being a reference. Sanjay is a very basic, and incomplete, guide to lighting. Head over to some of the other forums and read up as there are some very good data. I'd post links to 'my' forum but I'm not sure if that would be taboo.

The shear design of PC's are one direct reason why they are becoming obsolete so fast. That area in between the U is dead space where light isn't properly reflected toward the tank. This is also why you read that the reflector is key in a T5HO setup.

Don't forget, WATTAGE MEANS NOTHING!!! I don't know how many times this can be said before people finally get it. Wattage is only the amount of electricity the lamp is using, nothing more. The numbers you need to look at is PAR, and even then not all par is equal.

With PAR values the total flux is measured and every photon is considered equal. Unfortunately this is not the case as you increase the wavelength the energy contained within each photon is greater yet the density of photons within the wavelength is less than that of lower wavelengths. Most measure SI photometry units (luminous flux) rather than SI radiometry units (radiant flux) and this is one reason why the plot is important, to see the true energy values.

There is also PMAR (photomorphogenically active radiation) to consider.

Another PC vs T5HO is the TCO (total cost of ownership). PC's need to be replaced ~6 months to keep spectrum shifting to a minimum where as T5HO's run for ~12 months. PC lamps are also becoming harder to find, again for good reason.

I've also ran PC's in stock cubes but now I can't stand them. I rip them out every chance I get and mod the hood. I also had bought a kit that came with a orbit PC fixture (36" 4x96w). I ran it for 8 months until I was given a TEK T5HO rig (36" 6x39w). It was like night and day and the growth doubled over the next two months what it had grown with the PC's. That's just my experience and in my opinion PC's are pieces of crap.
 
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drty811

New Member
im staying out of this one..........if your going to argue then do it privatly. your not helping gypsyb at all.
 
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NanoReefaholic

New Member
Huh, who's arguing? I said they were good links/reading on lighting but also posted they aren't complete for the average reefer reading them. They are still very worth while anyways. I also posted why PC's were becoming outdated and personal experiences with them. This may serve to aid in setup choice, but I guess some saw it as something else. If we're not here to learn from the past experience of others then what's the point?

gypsyb, what corals will you be planning on stocking? You could always setup a FOWLR with the stock hood until you get the hang of salt if you're new to saltwater.
 
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KidNano

New Member
I'm in no way qualified to debate this issue. I design homes for a living. Which is why I posted links and didn't really offer my own opinion. However, I've seen plenty of tanks that have been quite successful with PC's. I think it's probably pretty common knowledge that PC's are at the bottom of the list for best lighting on a reef though.

I have 4x54 T5HO and I'm very happy with them.

gypsyb... figure out what you might want to put in the tank...... decide how much you want to spend and get as many opinions as you can. Remember that they are just opinions. If you can afford the 150 MH then go for it. I've heard that the K2 viper is a pretty good light but some people have had trouble with the hinge coming loose and the light ending up in the tank. That could be troublesome but probably not to difficult to resolve. good luck on your decision.

Nanoreefaholic..... you should post a thread for your tank. :)
 
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NanoReefaholic

New Member
Ya I should, :lol:

I have the K2 Viper on my 12gNC and think the trick to getting it tight is to hold the unit straight while tightening it and remember to torque tighten it and not just finger tight. It tightens up more then you'd think and when you let go it still leans forward. I bet this is a big reason why people find them in tank.
 
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johnanddawn

New Member
nanoreefaholic please do not take offence to what i have to say, i have been giving very useful advice to beginners for a long time but have no claim to know it all. you seem very knowledgable and will definitly be an asset to this site and some peoples questions

I am also not a huge fan of PC's but they DO have a place in this hobby still today and i will post this pic as proof to my claims - my 35 hex lit with just 2 PC 65Wers:




gypsyb:
i am like erik i've been around way to long to argue over such things. if that were my tank i would run either 2 40W or 1 96W PC lamp and choose only the corals that were compatable with that lighting scheme. nanoreefaholic makes some VERY VALID points unfortunitly they are virtually worthless to a new reefer such as yourself. although MH is a great choice you do not want to deal with the heat issues as a beginner. T5's are not an option due to length, and LED are way too expensive. you can have a beauty of a reef with just PC's but yes you will be limited on coral choice. due to the size of your tank shrooms come in a multitude of colour, or very hardy and make nice additions to a small tank for a beginner. this will allow you to learn the hobby and maybe one day get a bigger tank with better lighting. i'm sorry this has become a lighting arguement that has likely confused you more as who to believe but........ you will find there are a lot of ways to do the same thing some just are more convinced their way is best. you will not find the best way on any forum because there is no best way just opinions and what works for me type statements
 
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NanoReefaholic

New Member
Yes, I apologize if I went over your head gypsb. I wanted to put all the information out there just in case.

The 35 looks great and coral selection is key. There are many different ways to attain the same goal and no two tanks will workout the same. I've also been a reefer for many, many years and have found that it's a never ending learning process in a hobby that has year old information considered outdated.

LED's are a big investment off the get go but the TCO puts them cheaper then PC units (and most MH), but if you can stay within the confines of PC then your next problem will come with bulb selection.

Not everyone likes the same colour and opinions on the best mix vary as much as the best setup.

edit, btw no offence taken and love the frogs lol!
 
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KidNano

New Member
johnanddawn said:
nanoreefaholic makes some VERY VALID points unfortunately they are virtually worthless to a new reefer such as yourself.
Click to expand...
Amen brother. I totally think giving too much info to a newbie hurts them more then helps them. I set my friend up with my 12 gallon and got so excited about having someone close to me that i know with a tank I started sending him all these e-mails and links and totally freaked him out. And I barely know anything. a slow learning curve is totally necessary for this hobby.
 
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gypsyb

New Member
I found this "Nova Extreme HO Light Fixture - 2 x 18 Watt T5 - 10,000/460nm - 18""
I checked the measurment of the fixture that came with the aquarium and it's an 18 inch.
I'm still learning about the different coral requirements, so it's a tough call on exactly what would go with this.
It's the same price as the coralife that I saw in a local pet shop. unfortunately around here, unless I want to drive to Seattle I'll prob. be ordering my lighting on line.

Oh a note: I will never buy pre-mixed ocean from the dispenser at petco again! The last bucket didnt' have any OCEAN to it! It's good that I checked it before I dumped it all in my tank. I'm mixing my own now and the water has cleared up. Go figure!
 
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gypsyb

New Member
Then there's this " Dual Satellite Aquarium Lighting Systems With Lunar Lighting



Looking for value and efficiency in an aquarium lighting system? The Satellite from Current are the most complete fixtures available for your freshwater or saltwater aquarium. State-of-the-art SunPaq lamps last twice as long as standard fluorescents, and produce 3 times the light output. The 10,000K Daylight lamp will provide your tank with clear, crisp sun-simulation. The Blue Actinic lamp penetrates deep for proper absorption by corals and plants, and the fantastic Lunar Light shimmers simulated moonlight throughout your aquarium, encouraging spawning and fascinating nocturnal behavior. Twenty-four hours of perfect lighting in low profile, black powder-coated aluminum housing. Featuring built-in electronic ballasts, polished aluminum reflectors, and on/off switches for each individual lamp so you can customize your aquarium lighting schedule. The Satellites are the smart choice for complete, efficient aquarium lighting.


Like I said I'm confused, LOL
 
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