Nano tank lighting, 15gal tall

[Endevor]

I have a 15 gallon tank that has a t5 light fixture on top, but it only has one tube and is 12". I found out really quickly, it's hard to find replacement bulbs that small. The length and width are roughly a little over 13". I was thinking lining some LED strips along the edges to come up with more adequate lighting. Anyone know what lighting I can get that small?

 

[reefscape15]

Is it a 15g column tank?

 

[Endevor]

Yes, it is. Thought it would be a fun idea, and I have a good idea for a water flow system, my only wall is lighting.

http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/15-column-deluxe-aquarium-kit.htm

 

[reefscape15]

I love those tanks! I am also planning on setting one up after Xmas. I've been looking at different lighting types and the best solution I came across was a par37 bulb. I've been seeing a few here and there on the used selling forums for around $70-85 with a mounting arm. A Kessil would also be awesome over one, but they are quite a bit more expensive.

What are your plans for the tank so far?

 

[Endevor]

Well, the tank is literally still in the box. I currently have a 10g with a few crabs and a damsel. It's getting kind of crowded with the new mini skimmer I put in, so I wanted something a little bigger. Bigger's always better anyway. I'm thinking of putting an overflow in the back with some piping going down the back corners. They'll lead to another tank (possibly the old 10g) where my filters and skimmer will do their work, then pump it back up and out the other pipes for flow. Cover it all up with a wall of live rock, put a clown or two in or any other pretty little fish in.

The Kessil would probably be perfect, but way too expensive right now... I saw some submersible LED lights by marineland... They would probably still not be efficient enough.

 

[Endevor]

Would anyone know how effective this would be?

http://www.amazon.com/CL26BK-Aquari...UTF8&colid=CJR7UR57UTOI&coliid=I38FCQ6VPAWXUU

 

[B3ach]

Not effective at all. That's a fuge light for macro algae. Not coral.
Go with metal halide for sure. http://fishneedit.com/150w-metal-halide-pendant-lig.html

 

[B3ach]

Not effective at all. That's a fuge light for macro algae. Not coral.
Go with metal halide for sure. http://fishneedit.com/150w-metal-halide-pendant-lig.html

 

[Endevor]

What color temperature should I use?

 

[aontkos]

I think you could easily rig up a simple LED system for a tank like that.

http://www.rapidled.com/solderless-biocube-8-dimmable-retrofit-kit/

Something like that would light up your tank quite nicely and wouldn't give off the heat that halides would. It is relatively cheap, and with a little ingenuity you could make it look pleasing.

 

[tommer725]

^ +1 very easy cost effective

 

[Endevor]

I'm digging the rapidLED option. Plus, I have some microcontrollers that I could potentially use with it. The link you sent was for the biocube 8. With my tank being 15 gallon, will that setup be sufficient for coral or should I get a bigger kit?

 

[reefscape15]

I think that would suffice. With a deep tank like that you may have to keep any light loving corals higher in the tank.

 

[Endevor]

Sounds great! I'll have to check it out. Another thing I want to do is get an overflow box. Anyone have any input on the following?:

http://www.amazon.com/EShopps-PF-Na...&qid=1351867564&sr=1-17&keywords=overflow+box

http://www.amazon.com/Eshopps-PF-30...&qid=1351867794&sr=1-18&keywords=overflow+box