Best lights for a 10gal. reef

[Kaos]

I've looked around and there isn't a whole lot of hoods available in the 20" range. I was just wondering what everyone was using and what you were keeping so I could get an idea and possibly be turned onto lights I didn't know about. TIA.

 

[James11]

I use the coralife 2X65, it hangs over the sides of the tank a little, but the lighting is great. I've got an RBTA, leather, zoos and some xenia, they seem to love the light. Hope it helps.

 

[lizardcouple]

or you could get the coral life powerquad or build a hood and do a metal halide or the coral life hqi metal halide

 

[keener1830]

I have 2 32watt PC bulbs on my 10 gal, one 50/50 and one blue atintic. All the light in the world, I have sps and soft corals in there and eveything is doing great, I bought retro kit from nanotuners.com

 

[masher]

Before the move to my 20h I had a 10 with 2x36 from AH supply and you can get a nice black hood/box to put the light in fits over the 10 perfect. I did add a fan to mine to keep the 10 cool.

 

[stewie24]

My vote goes for either the 96 watt powerquad (be cautious - its a 50/50 bulb and the spectrum shifts in the actintics quicker than the daylight part). These bulbs run $35.00 + and figure on replacing them around every 7-8 months.
Or else a JBJ k-2 viper 70 watt metal halide clamp on light. Its bright, not terribly bright, but my corals have exploded in growth since i've installed the mh fixture. It comes w/ a 14k bulb. Reflector is not the best, but perhaps it is also the bulb that just isn't that bright.
I'll probably be checking out the AB 10k (actually a 13k) bulb when its time to get a new bulb.

Stewie

 

[bboy aqua]

Im running a 20 inch sunpod from current usa and i love it
its a mh fixture with blue and white moonlights
Its a 70w 14k mh bulb
it has a nice crisp blue color

 

[fantastic4]

I had the same exact question, ran into limitations on vendors that make 20" hoods.

My goal was to purchase a bright canopy (non pendant, non clip on) as my wife hates open top tanks and was fighting me on this.

So i researched and went with Current USA Sattelite 20" 80 Watt.

So far, so good, bright and build quality looks good.

Fan is rather loud to me, however, the look on my 10 gallon is rather nice. Fits perfect.

Note:
I hear the Coralife 96 watt single lamp has build quality issues.

My second choice would be the Current USA Sunpod with Metal Halide and Actinics. Might upgrade if I build a canopy to hide the light.

 

[tgcreef]

20" sunpod all the way they are awsome i love em

 

[Kaos]

Thanks for the ideas. Those of you using the 70w MH, hows your coraline looking?

 

[stewie24]

Coraline will probably receed a bit once the rock has been introduced to the MH. Mine didn't, but of course I acclimated my corals with the 4 layers of window screen bit. The coraline in my tank is mainly pink/purple with some green and a wee little bit of bright red (yes, its actually coraline not cyno lol).
I've heard nothing but good about the sunpods. Perhaps thier bulbs or reflectors are made better than the JBJ Vipers. Worth looking into thats for sure.
Stewie