lights for 7 gal.

[DEADFISH1]

ok I'm thinking about converting my 7 gal. freshy into a nano reef, and no I'm not leaving my freshy's in there. I'm thinking about using the CSL Smartlight Retrofit PC for light, it has that 50/50 daylight/actinic in one.
question is would the 32 watt be enough for anything or should I go with the 55 watt?

 

[mgamelin]

Deadfish
Check out AH Supply They sell retro kits for nano tanks. They also have detailed instructions on how to modify hoods to accomodate there kits. eclips,ect.
Good luck Marc

 

[DEADFISH1]

oh, wait a minute, I see that the 55watt is 23", too long.

 

[JeremyR]

I know a few people running the 32w smartlite retro in a 7 gallon mini-bow, it works pretty well, it does fit in that little strip light they come with.

 

[DEADFISH1]

I wonder how bad the heat would be with the 32", it might look kind of ugly if I had to put a kent float valve and a 5 gal. jug for top off.

 

[DEADFISH1]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DEADFISH:
<STRONG>I wonder how bad the heat would be with the 32", it might look kind of ugly if I had to put a kent float valve and a 5 gal. jug for top off.

</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

32 watt I mean..

 

[playfair]

I use the 32w CSL retro on my minibow. Recently switched the lamp to a 10kK (no pics yet), to see if it makes any difference in coloration. I liked the color of the smartlite best though, now I have to run carbon weekly to keep the color acceptable.
Here's my BonsaiPage: http://mistressreef.homestead.com/files/pico/bonzai.html

 

[spectral_ranger]

I had a AH Supply 2x32W retro mounted in one of their hoods for my 10g nano (fit it perfectly). When the seals went on that (I abused it prior to nano use) I switched to a 7gal bow and suspend my light box over it. The light box is an inch or two longer than the tank, no big deal. The color is nice (one 6700K, one actinic), and bright enough for many things. My derasa is quite happy in there, and growing quickly.

Chris

 

[DEADFISH1]

great looking tank playfair, is that a 12v computer fan on the side of your light housing?
as far as I can tell it looks like the ones a Radio Shack, great idea.