My first SW tank...and it's a nano!

mixixe · #1 12-11-2006, 11:50 PM

Hi all,

Sorry I dont have any pictures to post, but I lost the connection cable from my camera to my comp

Neway, a nano question about lighting, I have 18 watts of 10000k bulbs over my tank and 13 watts of a desk lamp too, not sure what temp. Most of my zoos that are orangey color are very nice and bright the ones that are supposed to be blue and pink look very dull and barely blue and pink, just a bit irridescent. Is there a problem with my lighting? I had an actnic?? bulb before over it too but it seemed like my anthelia did not like and it cowered for a week until i took those bulbs away. Otherwise everything seems to be growing very well.

Jen

Mr. Scratch · #2 12-12-2006, 01:30 AM

A 10k bulb won't highlight the colors that well, actinic will help as would a bluer bulb, but that is of course only my experience.

BCOrchidGuy · #3 12-12-2006, 03:52 AM

In my experience the black gravel/sand really doesn't do a tank justice. White or natural aragonite is much nicer, it reflects a lot of light and makes the tank look much brighter. A 10k tube won't give you the nicest colour and your desk lamp will be washing out most of the colour the 10k is giving you if it's a normal light bulb. There are a number of upgrades you can go with for light over your tank, depending on what size it is. A 10k and an actinic will go a long way or two 50/50 tubes (actinic/10k on each tube).

Congrats on getting involved in nano's you'll love it.

Doug

mixixe · #4 12-12-2006, 04:51 AM

I have changed the gravel already, I didn't like the black either. Now I am using crushed coral. It's much better. Though I've been reading lately, sand is better than coral. So many things to learn. Maybe I'll upgrade on the lighting a bit more. I'm not quite sure how I should upgrade though. It seemed like some of my corals didn't like the actinic bulb... I dunno why.

woodcarver · #5 12-12-2006, 05:36 AM

Looking good ! Any details on filter etc ?
..................Dave

mixixe · #6 12-12-2006, 05:54 AM

just that little internal filter there, mostly for flow. I try to maintain water quality with water changes, 2 x a week, and i want to add a refugium soon.

mixixe · #7 12-18-2006, 08:44 AM

I think my boxer crab is holding eggs! I thought the crabs were fighting all this time but maybe they were just getting it on

What should I do?

mixixe · #8 01-03-2007, 06:25 AM

Update... so i made some changes in the tank and now it's been running for about 3-4 months and I like it alot better. Here are some pics.

my sharknose goby

my featherduster

my refugium

enjoy!

mixixe · #9 01-05-2007, 05:03 AM

My clown goby Elaine finally came out from hiding! So cute!

Flusher · #10 12-18-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixixe

Though I've been reading lately, sand is better than coral.

In such a small tank, it probably won't make a difference either way. The tank is too small for a deep sand bed (DSB), so you'd probably do best keeping the substrate as shallow as possible. The depth of the sandbed in the first picture looks about right, IMO.

Quote:

Maybe I'll upgrade on the lighting a bit more. I'm not quite sure how I should upgrade though.

Coralife 50/50s. I've been using those for over a year in my nanos, and they work great for soft corals. They screw in to medium-based lightbulb sockets. Two 20W bulbs might be overkill; that's what I use on my 6 gallon tank. A 20W might do it, or maybe a 20W and a 10W?

HTH
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