Nano Cube / Aquapod lighting

[kewliz]

I have some questions. I've got a NC 12 DX, which I love. I'm really tempted to upgrade to a 24gallon. However, neither the NC or the Aquapod have more than about 3 watts per gallon - which is no better than what I have now.

Although I notice the Aquapod does offer 70w MH lighting. How does that compare to 70w of PC lighting? Can you get away with less wattage if it's MH?

Also, how modifiable are the Aquapods compared to the NCs?

 

[jeepjon]

70 watt MH lighting you can keep clams or SPS No problems...with some lesser light loving species around the edges...they might get burned out in the high light of the center...so yeah, 70w of MH is much brighter than 70W of PC. I think a 70W above a 24 pod would be perfect...wish I could get that...but no more money!
-Jon

 

[HartfordWhalers]

go weiht the halides

 

[steelhealr]

3 watts/gallon. SH


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/steelhealr/nano142.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/steelhealr/nano143.jpg

 

[kewliz]

steelhealr - what kind of lighting are you using?

 

[icenine2005]

Watts per gallon is probably a really poor way to measure intensity.

 

[rjwilson37]

You also need to realize that 72w of PC lighting in a tank that is only 19" high which put's the PC lighting at around 18", it penetrates pretty well. You will not get as much color from corals like you will the HQI running bulbs in the 14k range, but the PC does a little better than you may think it can.

 

[schristi69]

And for the MH lights on the pod, you pretty much have an open tank. The LFS guy showed me the difference. The basically remove the hood and one of their Sunpod units sits on top. Ruined the whole look of the tank for me. If I wanted an open top thank I would have gone with a 30 gal Oceanic cube.

 

[kewliz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6841496#post6841496 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schristi69
And for the MH lights on the pod, you pretty much have an open tank. The LFS guy showed me the difference. The basically remove the hood and one of their Sunpod units sits on top. Ruined the whole look of the tank for me. If I wanted an open top thank I would have gone with a 30 gal Oceanic cube.

It has a glass piece over the top, though, right?
Although I'm not as big a fan of the open top, I'm assuming this is to prevent heat problems.