10gal BTA lighting suggestions

[dannyw2594]

Hello,

 

I am new to this site but not new to saltwater tanks. I am a marine biologist and know a good amount about the organisms but need some lighting equipment help. Im starting up my first 10gallon nano tank. My plan is to keep it simple with live rock, 2 Percula clown fish (A. percula), and 1 Bubble Tip Anemone. I will also be adding in a few snails / hermit crabs but don't have specifics yet. I was curious to what is suggested as a lighting source (preferably LED). I am not looking to have to build a LED bar from scratch (I'm a biologist not an engineer), so any tips on where I should start looking for LED bars and what power (watts) you think is needed for my setup.

 

Thanks,

Danny

[Cencalfishguy56]

Hello,

 

I am new to this site but not new to saltwater tanks. I am a marine biologist and know a good amount about the organisms but need some lighting equipment help. Im starting up my first 10gallon nano tank. My plan is to keep it simple with live rock, 2 Percula clown fish (A. percula), and 1 Bubble Tip Anemone. I will also be adding in a few snails / hermit crabs but don't have specifics yet. I was curious to what is suggested as a lighting source (preferably LED). I am not looking to have to build a LED bar from scratch (I'm a biologist not an engineer), so any tips on where I should start looking for LED bars and what power (watts) you think is needed for my setup.

 

Thanks,

Danny

tbh in my experience bubble tip anemones do well in moderate to high lighting, i have mine in moderate and high lighting and do supplemental feeding and they respond quite well, for a 10 gallon tank the current orbit marine LED light is a nice cheap light that I've seen some people keep BTAs under, also a nanobox is on the classifieds for cheap and it can grow sps so an anemone should be no problem

[anizato]

Aqua Illumination Prime HD light fixture is PERFECT for your needs. I have a Green Acide Bubble Tip Anemone in my 10 Gallon under one of these lights and she is perfectly bubbly and happy (:

 

It is incredibly easy to set the light up from your phone or computer. You definitely don´t need to be an engineer to program this light. You can create your own light spectrum.

 

I have mine running at

 

75% UV

70% Violet

54% Royal

25% Blue

4% Green

3% Red

18% Cool White

on top of which I have the "acclimate" feature turned ON and ramped down to 50% for 4 weeks. So those numbers up above are cut down 50% and slowly ramped up to their true potential to get the anemone acclimated nicely with absolutely no stress.

[Cencalfishguy56]

Aqua Illumination Prime HD light fixture is PERFECT for your needs. I have a Green Acide Bubble Tip Anemone in my 10 Gallon under one of these lights and she is perfectly bubbly and happy (:

 

It is incredibly easy to set the light up from your phone or computer. You definitely don´t need to be an engineer to program this light. You can create your own light spectrum.

 

I have mine running at

 

75% UV

70% Violet

54% Royal

25% Blue

4% Green

3% Red

18% Cool White

on top of which I have the "acclimate" feature turned ON and ramped down to 50% for 4 weeks. So those numbers up above are cut down 50% and slowly ramped up to their true potential to get the anemone acclimated nicely with absolutely no stress.

or a kessil a160WE and he can get coloration on his BTA like this

[anizato]

or a kessil a160WE and he can get coloration on his BTA like this

 

 

Yeah, Kessil is awesome, but you need to purchase a $100 controller to do what the AI Prime HD does out of the box.

 

Of course there is the Kessil shimmer, but that is for the aesthetics of the room the tank is in, shimmer doesn't affect reef animals.

 

Beautiful nem by the way. How long have you had it?

[RIP Sebastian]

Nanobox! With an IM 10 (highly reccomend), you'll need a mini Tide. Standard 10, you may need a Duo.

[Cencalfishguy56]

Nanobox! With an IM 10 (highly reccomend), you'll need a mini Tide. Standard 10, you may need a Duo.

standard 10 will be fine with a tide also

 

 

Yeah, Kessil is awesome, but you need to purchase a $100 controller to do what the AI Prime HD does out of the box.

 

Of course there is the Kessil shimmer, but that is for the aesthetics of the room the tank is in, shimmer doesn't affect reef animals.

 

Beautiful nem by the way. How long have you had it?

you are correct lol but since June! It's really that colorful in person!

[Clown79]

I would think the Ai Prime would be a good option as well.

[dannyw2594]

Wow thanks for all the suggestions and awesome anemone! Is their a certain output power I should keep in mind before I buy something?

[Clown79]

Any of the lights mentioned will work. Its mostly about light spectrum rather than wattage. The nice thing about the higher end lights, they are programmable to your needs.

 

Most of the higher end fixtures come with 3 watt leds. The lower priced fixtures come with 1 watt leds but more of them.

 

Nanobox and Ai have a very good reputation. Radions are considered the best by many.

[Cencalfishguy56]

Any of the lights mentioned will work. Its mostly about light spectrum rather than wattage. The nice thing about the higher end lights, they are programmable to your needs.

 

Most of the higher end fixtures come with 3 watt leds. The lower priced fixtures come with 1 watt leds but more of them.

 

Nanobox and Ai have a very good reputation. Radions are considered the best by many.

Ai, kessil, radion, nanobox have all the same capabilities growth wise I think it comes down to preference and controllability IMO

[Clown79]

^ exactly. Radions are very powerful and expensive so most opt for other brands due to price, on a small tank it may be a little much.

 

I believe with kessil there is a controller that it requires which puts some off of purchasing it, although the lighting is really nice.

 

Out of the options given, I can't see you going wrong with any of them.

 

Look up videos, see the difference in look. Then check out the features of each you like, then decide how much $$$ you're willing to spend.

[Cencalfishguy56]

^ exactly. Radions are very powerful and expensive so most opt for other brands due to price, on a small tank it may be a little much.

 

I believe with kessil there is a controller that it requires which puts some off of purchasing it, although the lighting is really nice.

 

Out of the options given, I can't see you going wrong with any of them.

 

Look up videos, see the difference in look. Then check out the features of each you like, then decide how much $$$ you're willing to spend.

agreed! Love my kessil but was kind of a pain having to buy a separate controller, I'd like to try a prime but kessils shimmer tho

[Clown79]

In my personal opinion, the controller should come with the light. Just like hanging harnesses should come with them.

 

They are useless without these components..like buying a car for $40g's without a steering wheel

[anizato]

yeah why would anybody buy a car without a steering wheel?

[Cencalfishguy56]

yeah why would anybody buy a car without a steering wheel?

lol not a very good analogy, but still works I guess

[Clown79]

It was late. Lol.

 

Better example: when you buy a filter does it come with the pump and impeller? It would be useless without them.

 

My point, aquarium lighting is one of the only things I have ever seen sold on the market where you need to buy a necessary component for it to function.

 

Its simply a rip off to the consumer. Pay $300 for a light and then an additional $25-60 for the hanging harness or clamp.

[SouthFlorida_Tron]

Ai prime. Do it. ?

[Andreww]

Not sure if you got a fixture yet, but I have a perfect shape Kessil A160WE, comes with the Kessil controller, gooseneck and the 90 degree adaptor....pretty much the whole package.

You'll save yourself some money vs buying new. Let me know if interested, I can send you pictures.

 

I haven't gotten around posting it for sale on the forum but will do soon.

[Cencalfishguy56]

It was late. Lol.

 

Better example: when you buy a filter does it come with the pump and impeller? It would be useless without them.

 

My point, aquarium lighting is one of the only things I have ever seen sold on the market where you need to buy a necessary component for it to function.

 

Its simply a rip off to the consumer. Pay $300 for a light and then an additional $25-60 for the hanging harness or clamp.

lol true true I dropped $380 on my setup

[Nightstar]

 

It was late. Lol.

 

Better example: when you buy a filter does it come with the pump and impeller? It would be useless without them.

 

My point, aquarium lighting is one of the only things I have ever seen sold on the market where you need to buy a necessary component for it to function.

 

Its simply a rip off to the consumer. Pay $300 for a light and then an additional $25-60 for the hanging harness or clamp.

 

 

Wait just one minute. I have no controller but for a timer on my LED array and it works just fine. I use the same timer that regulated my MH pendant and my Fluorescents before that. What makes you think a "controller" is expected or required as an integrated component of a lighting system?

[Cencalfishguy56]

  

 

Wait just one minute. I have no controller but for a timer on my LED array and it works just fine. I use the same timer that regulated my MH pendant and my Fluorescents before that. What makes you think a "controller" is expected or required as an integrated component of a lighting system?

I suppose you're right! I used a timer when I had T5's

[anizato]

   

 

Wait just one minute. I have no controller but for a timer on my LED array and it works just fine. I use the same timer that regulated my MH pendant and my Fluorescents before that. What makes you think a "controller" is expected or required as an integrated component of a lighting system?

 

 

Well some LEDs, specially Kessil, have a very bright white spectrum, bleaching coral, so it is pretty necessary to have a controller, unless someone is willing to go the "manual" route, if you want ramp-up/ramp-down on your lighting schedule as well as dim the spectrum/intensity.

[Andreww]

Yeah I wouldn't even bother without a controller of some sort.

Makes life so much easier; literally..for you and the tank inhabitants.

[Clown79]

Kessil.