Lighting on a 20G nano

[dad2gray_n_evie]

I have been tosing the idea and still I cant come up with a desicion, so I figured to leave it to people with more experience. So here is what I got, I am in the process of setting up a 20G nano, for lighting I plan on going with 4x 24" VHO since I already have the eqipment from my last tank, my question is, is that the best route, will the bulbs generate too much heat compared to MH?

 

[55semireef]

Compared to MH, they won't generate that much heat. It also depends on what you want to keep in th there. Your going to need more lighting for sps and clams.

 

[shilo_1]

I have 130w of PC's over mine. I only have a few sps, but so far they are all growing well, as is the RBTA and other softies, LPS and zoas.

 

[nanoreefboy]

i had a 50 gallon set up with 4 36" VHO and had sps and clams no problem. the tank was actually a 36" by 16 or 18" and i never had a problem with the bulbs generating too much heat. they did get hot but what i did and recommend you do is buy some of the ice cap fans with the temperature guage on them. any time that the bulbs did get too hot the fans would automatically increase speed and push the hot air out, had 1 on each side of the hood one blowing in air the other at the opposite end blowing it out. created a wind tunnel through my hood and never had too much heat sitting in the hood on the tank. i plan on getting the same set up on a smaller tank when i convince the wife the 2.5 is not enough anymore. maybe a 20L so i can have a little extra side room in the hood for the 24" bulbs, a 29 would be the same length too.

 

[jdeanda69]

hey nanoreefboy where did you get those fans you are talking about PM me with details thanks

 

[itz frank]

what is the posing problem with 130watts on a 20 gal nano. Too much? or too little for SPS?

 

[55semireef]

That should be ok for sps. They probably would like a little bit more. Make sure they are close to the top of the tank. With sps, I prefer to see them under MH.

 

[itz frank]

that's 6 watts per gallon. they need more? hmmm... interesting. Are carnations included in SPS? What would make this list? Is there a post that explains each grouping? I should probably read up on that. It always gets me lost.

 

[LBCBJ]

I just put a 150w MH pendant on my 18g. Looks awesome, 9" off the water and it doesn't even raise my temp .1 degree.

 

[55semireef]

sps love light. 6 for them can be on the low side if they are not in a good location. You want to make sure that they have tons of light.

 

[super-cichlid]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7562356#post7562356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdeanda69
hey nanoreefboy where did you get those fans you are talking about PM me with details thanks

If you could PM me about these fans too. I'm really interested in them!

 

[super-cichlid]

so based on what's being said no wonder all my corals, clam, polyps and zoos are doinf great. I have 130w actinic PC's and 175w 10k MH on my 20H. Did I go overboard?

 

[nanoreefboy]

here is the link to one of the dealers that sell them. They come in 2 sizes as you can see and i think are worth the money for them. they are labeled the ice cap fans

http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=594

Thanks

 

[super-cichlid]

those fans are pretty cool (no pun intended). Is the thermal sensor right on the fan? Is there a preset temperature or can you set it?

 

[SpongeRobert]

I have used those fans a few times on different setups. They work really well and are very quiet. The temperature sensor has short lead wire attached. I think it's about 12" to 18" long. I do not have experience with the 3" version so I can't comment on that. They are worth the money.

 

[Timothy01]

its recomended to have 7 to 10 watts per gallon for sps i believe.