Im planning on getting my daughter a nano tank in the future. What is the best brand? I have heard that lighting is a problem with not being able to sustain corals. Whats the scoupe on the nano cubes? I think she wants around a 12-14 gallon, but not sure. Can you change out the lighting. How does that work with specific hoods with specific brands? She wants to keep colorful hard and soft corals and a few fish.
whats the best nano tank
- Thread starter Reefgo
- Start date
inktomi
Aviator
I've heard of people putting a 70w metal halide retro in a nanocube's hood.
Nanocustoms carries a lot of the retros already finished, if you wanted to just buy one pre-built. I'm sure there are other companies, or you could just do it yourself.
http://www.nanocustoms.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=1
Nanocustoms carries a lot of the retros already finished, if you wanted to just buy one pre-built. I'm sure there are other companies, or you could just do it yourself.
http://www.nanocustoms.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=1
inktomi
Aviator
If it were me, I'd go with one of the 70 watt metal halides. When I had an 18g tank, I actually just bought a 150W Hamilton Reefstar pendant and used that to light the tank, but it was probably a bit overkill.
The metal halides would also give you the nice ripple effect, and you're daughter would be able to have just about anything she wanted in the tank light wise. I'd probably do a 70w with an actinic power compact bulb or two thrown in, so that colors popped a bit more.
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Oh, also - I've never really subscribed to the watts per gallon deal. I'd just figure out what sorts of things she'd want to have in the tank, and get a light that's good enough for them. If she only wants softies, then power compacts are fine alone - with SPS, a metal halide would be better (all but required for all but Montipora sp.)
The metal halides would also give you the nice ripple effect, and you're daughter would be able to have just about anything she wanted in the tank light wise. I'd probably do a 70w with an actinic power compact bulb or two thrown in, so that colors popped a bit more.
--
Oh, also - I've never really subscribed to the watts per gallon deal. I'd just figure out what sorts of things she'd want to have in the tank, and get a light that's good enough for them. If she only wants softies, then power compacts are fine alone - with SPS, a metal halide would be better (all but required for all but Montipora sp.)
james3370
Premium Member
my biocube 8 has stock lighting & i have a brain coral that is 3-4" closed & swells to over 7" & it's on the sandbed. it would open up even more but it hits the rocks behind it & the front glass....i've seen it over 8.5" when i had it in a bigger tank that i ended up selling. tank also has a kenya tree that closes to about 1.5"" tall & grows to about 6" tall during lights on. various previous setups in the same tank have had torch coral, bubble coral & pulsating xenia that all grew rather well
www.nanotuners.com & www.nanocustoms.com are 2 great sources for anything related to all of the factory nano tank lines as far as upgrades & turnkey systems......nanotuners is my personal preference though
www.nanotuners.com & www.nanocustoms.com are 2 great sources for anything related to all of the factory nano tank lines as far as upgrades & turnkey systems......nanotuners is my personal preference though
I've done a bunch of research prior to buying my 12 g nano cube. The choice I made was for the JBL delux nano cube. I have not added any special lighting or changed anything. 6 months later everything is working out well. I am happy with the looks, how clean it keeps, and the free stand that comes with it. Granted I am still new to this hobby and only have a few fishes and starter corals.
I've done a bunch of research prior to buying my 12 g nano cube. The choice I made was for the JBL delux nano cube. I have not added any special lighting or changed anything. 6 months later everything is working out well. I am happy with the looks, how clean it keeps, and the free stand that comes with it. Granted I am still new to this hobby and only have a few fishes and starter corals.
