lighting options for a 5 gal nano?

[sharkdude]

I am looking for advice on lighting options for a 12 inch wide, curved front 5 gal nano.

It has a plastic hood that was modded to hold a single 24w pc 50/50 bulb and a 10w t5 actinic bulb.

I was thinking of a coralife or similar fixture with dual 18 -24 w pc 50/50 with the mounting legs to replace the existing plastic hood.
A 20in fixture would hang over on ends, but probably be ok so long as the legs can adjust to 12 inches apart. A 24 inch fixture might be way too much and hang over the edges too far.

I only want to keep various soft coral frags and zoanthids in this tank.

The 5 gal nano currently houses a G.smithi mantis and a small sixline wrasse and some misc softy frags.

Thanks for any advice or experiences, or offers of used fixtures that may work for me.

I've looked at coralife aqualight fixtures at MD, and some other cheapy ones on aquatraders dot com.
I saw nanocustoms dot com , but I think thier retro kits are way more than what I am looking for.

[epicfish]

Current Satellite or Coralife 2x18W would work on this. They fit over my 2.5g tank which is ~12 long, so I think it should fit on your tank.

36 watts should be enough for softies and zoas.

[OC CJ]

well, if you looking into longer lights, i have a 18 inch jbj light, 2x36 watts, 1 10k and 1 blue, both bulbs are brand new. looking to get 40 for it.

i used it on a 3 gal pico tank and just set it on top. you could always build some legs for it. just throwing that out there.

send me a pm if interested. here's a link to some photos.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1257299

[dragonforce]

Sharkdude, hows that little guy doing with the wrasse?

Something like this would be plenty to grow softies in

http://cgi.ebay.com/Current-USA-12-S...QQcmdZViewItem

For comparison, I run a 9w 50/50 and a 10w 50/50 screw type over my 3g G.Ternatensis tank, the sand is covered in different shrooms and the rocks are covered in zoos. I think that 18w single bulb setup is plenty, it even has an efficient reflector.

Or you can just use the lights that are retrofitted in there, should be enough.

[sharkdude]

Hey Dragonforce,
Thus far Major Motoko the Mantis and Joker the Wrasse are doing ok together. I removed the original rock she came in, but I have adequate alternatives she has been vigorously exploring.
Joker is wary and sufficiently evasive thus far despite Motoko's ambush attempts! I'll try and get some pics soon.

Maybe the bulb I have is old, but it does not seem very bright and I am not getting good expansion on xenia, leather, zoas thus far so I am looking for a light upgrade.

pm sent OC CJ.

[spline9]

This may be a tad wide but check out Current's Nova Extreme T-5 fixtures. They have a 18" 40w fixture. Dr's F&S have it for $50.39. I plan on getting one for a 5.5gal tank I'm going to set up at work for softies, too.

[sammoorefield]

I know the color isnt great, but those 65w costco flood lamps would work well. 6500k $12...I have had softies under them and they seemed fine.