Dreichler Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 So tell me if I'm doing this right, pretty clueless to picos... i plan on getting my girlfriend a fluval spec iii (2.6 gallon), 10 pounds of pink fiji sand, chemo pure blue, and i wanted to buy like a par38 bulb and goose neck fixture so she can grow some corals, assuming the fluval stock light isn't capable of growing anything nice.... my main issue is choosing a light, I'm not trying to spend $100 on a light, it can always just be a par30 like a 7 watt... any advice on a light? or is the stock fluval capable of growing a scoly, or a tiny trachy, and some gsp, no sps whatsoever, just basic corals and softies and LPS and whatnot... Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 you can get like a 20w(or some other wattae not sure) par 38 bulb for like 40$ and will grow anything in a little tank like that. Link to comment
Dreichler Posted November 2, 2015 Author Share Posted November 2, 2015 you can get like a 20w(or some other wattae not sure) par 38 bulb for like 40$ and will grow anything in a little tank like that. can you provide like an amazon link? and is a par38 bulb really any different than any other par38 bulb Link to comment
jbb Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Would this work for your budget ? http://coralcompulsion.com/led-21w-18k Link to comment
Dreichler Posted November 2, 2015 Author Share Posted November 2, 2015 Would this work for your budget ? http://coralcompulsion.com/led-21w-18k a little much considering i have to buy a gooseneck for around $30-$40 as well, i was looking for a bulb maybe $30 or so, i would like a coral compulsion for her cause i know that they're the best for par38 bulbs, but its a little out of the range Link to comment
frahny Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 a little much considering i have to buy a gooseneck for around $30-$40 as well, i was looking for a bulb maybe $30 or so, i would like a coral compulsion for her cause i know that they're the best for par38 bulbs, but its a little out of the range hate to say it but if that bulb is out of range you're in the wrong hobby Link to comment
picozoa Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 a little much considering i have to buy a gooseneck for around $30-$40 as well, i was looking for a bulb maybe $30 or so, i would like a coral compulsion for her cause i know that they're the best for par38 bulbs, but its a little out of the range Try ebay ones from China? I can not speak to their quality, but you can find bulbs for about $20 shipped on there, maybe cheaper for lower watt ones. They come from China, and it may take a month for it to arrive, but that is the only cheap alternative I know in your price range. I never did find a gooseneck that was decent as cheap as you mention. I ended up finding a long 2 armed light that clamps to my desk. It's not quite as nice as a gooseneck would be, but I'm pleased overall and it was also only $20. Link to comment
Dreichler Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 hate to say it but if that bulb is out of range you're in the wrong hobby I've been in the hobby for years now, this tank isn't for myself, its for my girlfriend who just wants a desktop tank with some GSP and such simple corals... Link to comment
ReefJar Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 If I'm not mistaken, Maritza is using a ABI Par38 12w LED 50/50 as seen in her latest video I ordered one on Amazon last night for $24.99. It looks quite blue in video but maybe not so blue in person. I'll find out this Friday! Link to comment
picozoa Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 If I'm not mistaken, Maritza is using a ABI Par38 12w LED 50/50 as seen in her latest video I ordered one on Amazon last night for $24.99. It looks quite blue in video but maybe not so blue in person. I'll find out this Friday! I'd definitely go that way over the ebay way. Link to comment
Dreichler Posted November 5, 2015 Author Share Posted November 5, 2015 decided to go with the IM Nuvo 8G with the 8W Skkye lighting, maybe upgrade the pump for her, and run chemipure blue... would the Skkye 8W be enough for zoas, mushrooms, and some LPS like small brains, goni, etc... definitely no SPS Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 mmm maybe it will support those but it might need supplementation Link to comment
nismo_sky32 Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 One of the local lfs here has a nuvo with the stock light and it has supported softies for about 2 years now without any supplement lighting. The coral colors aren't the best they could be but I wouldn't do lps under the stock lighting. A little more blue and the corals would definitely pop more Link to comment
Tamberav Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 a little much considering i have to buy a gooseneck for around $30-$40 as well, i was looking for a bulb maybe $30 or so, i would like a coral compulsion for her cause i know that they're the best for par38 bulbs, but its a little out of the range I would just not use a gooseneck and still invest in a par30 from coral compulsion. Find another way to mount it... like a cheap desk lamp fixture or a $5 shop light clip on. The reason is... you can grow the corals with a poo bulb but the colors of them won't be that great to look at (windex and washed out). I think your gf would really enjoy to see the true POP of the corals. Link to comment
ReefJar Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Here is what I'm using: The lamp fixture was $9.99 at IKEA (Brand is TERTIAL). It can be clamped or screwed to a desk/table (comes with the clamp). The height from my desk to the bottom portion of the lamp over my jar is 17.5", so it could be raised further if needed.The bulb is an ABI 12w Par38 50/50 (Royal Blue 450-470nm + Cold White 15000K) $24.95 on Amazon.com (the color is perfect for me in person, not too blue and I get a nice shimmer from the agitated surface) Link to comment
picozoa Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Here is what I'm using: The lamp fixture was $9.99 at IKEA (Brand is TERTIAL). It can be clamped or screwed to a desk/table (comes with the clamp). The height from my desk to the bottom portion of the lamp over my jar is 17.5", so it could be raised further if needed. The bulb is an ABI 12w Par38 50/50 (Royal Blue 450-470nm + Cold White 15000K) $24.95 on Amazon.com (the color is perfect for me in person, not too blue and I get a nice shimmer from the agitated surface) I have almost the same setup with lighting, but I was wondering - is it ok to keep the shroud part of the lamp on it, or does/will the bulb operate better without it for heat transfer etc. Bulb should get here this week, wasn't sure which is better. I'm guessing shroud will look better, so if there is no advantage with heat transfer I'm definitely going shroud. Any idea? Link to comment
ReefJar Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 With my lamp, there's lots of space around the bulb and behind it. The shroud is just barely warm after being on for 6 hours. Lot's of ventilation, so I'm keeping it like this with no need to mod it at all Link to comment
picozoa Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 With my lamp, there's lots of space around the bulb and behind it. The shroud is just barely warm after being on for 6 hours. Lot's of ventilation, so I'm keeping it like this with no need to mod it at all cool, mine just screws off. I guess I'll see how the temp does, because I'd like to keep it on. Link to comment
picozoa Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 I got the China LED PAR bulb I mentioned early today. I like it so far. I was worried it was going to be too white, but my coral(I only have 1 zoa at the moment) is colored up nicely under the light. Under the default lighting(JBJ 3 gallon pico) the colors didn't pop, but under this light they look great. I'd still have gone the Amazon way if I had seen it before ordering, but the China option is not bad if you don't mind the shipping time. It took exactly 3 weeks to make it to me. this one is twice the watts as the Amazon one. I think I'll be able to grow anything I want under it. Even though I am mostly doing zoa's I'm hoping for a couple montiporas(my favorite sps). Link to comment
Tamberav Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 I got the China LED PAR bulb I mentioned early today. I like it so far. I was worried it was going to be too white, but my coral(I only have 1 zoa at the moment) is colored up nicely under the light. Under the default lighting(JBJ 3 gallon pico) the colors didn't pop, but under this light they look great. I'd still have gone the Amazon way if I had seen it before ordering, but the China option is not bad if you don't mind the shipping time. It took exactly 3 weeks to make it to me. this one is twice the watts as the Amazon one. I think I'll be able to grow anything I want under it. Even though I am mostly doing zoa's I'm hoping for a couple montiporas(my favorite sps). Just FYI, the wattage on the chinese ones are often incorrect. They list it as 3w each sometimes but only drive the LED's at 2w or 1w. For example... they list 54w Par38's but if it ran at 54watts, it would actually fry the LED's. No way of knowing if yours is correct or not, just something to keep in mind. I am not trying to discourage you. Link to comment
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