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#1
08/08/2007, 10:01 PM
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lighting a 5.5
hey I have a 5.5 gallon AGA standard tank, I want to turn it into a low cost low tech nano reef. Before that I was going to do another planted tank but I want to do something different. If you are not familiar with the 5.5 gallon tank, you prob should know it is a B**ch to light it is 16 inches long and there are no light fixtures that fit it. and to top it all off, its rimless. anyways I have a miraculous little fixture that fits perfectly but its only 18 watts would that be enough to grow lower light corrals if not, any suggestions? I also have very strict budget, I'm in med school so I can't even have a job hehe.
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75 gallon freshwater planted rainbow tank 170 watts cf, fluval 404, DIY co2 future 5.5 gallon nano reef (hopefully) |
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#2
08/08/2007, 10:13 PM
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Joe, I had a nano starting out and nano-reef.com is a great resource.
I'd recommend something like this? http://www.innovativelights.com/esu-54078.html or perhaps even a 70w set-up.. see if you could find a used sunpod HQI for sale. add some fans and you're good. |
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#3
08/08/2007, 10:22 PM
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I used a 2x40W Current USA Satellite PC fixture on my 5.5g nano. The fixture itself is 20" long, designed for a 10g or 15g tank, but the legs are set into little grooves that run the length of the housing, so they can slide in to easily sit on top of a 16" tank. Additionally, they're shaped in a way that fits a rimless setup. The bottoms of some legs need a plastic rim to fit around (they're shaped sort of like this:
,---, tank, facing you ,---, but Current's look like this on the bottom: ,-- tank, facing you --, so they're flat on the bottom, with just a little lip on each outside edge, and fit just about any tank. Is the fixture you've got a PC light, or is it a T8 fluorescent strip? if it's PC, it might do for some lower light corals, but if it's a T8 strip I wouldn't count on it for more than the least demanding (shrooms) or non-photosynthetics like sun corals.
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"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen |
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#5
08/08/2007, 11:59 PM
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Check out the 'nano reef' forum here on r/c. They will help you a lot there.
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tests as of 1/04/08 Ca>480ppm, I'm bringing it down dKH=9, ok PO4=0ppm, ideal 1/06/08 after a water change Ca= 480ppm, still a little high pH= 8.2, I'd like it at 8.3 NO3= 10ppm, acceptable |
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#6
08/09/2007, 07:29 AM
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Check out www.ahsupply.com . If you're a DIY'er, it's easy to make a simple canopy and cram 13W PC's in there. I have 4 in mine, with SLR reflectors.
--Colin |
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