HarryPotter Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 5 minutes ago, Felicia said: You could always try to do a sunlit reef container if you can't get a light. Also, I believe you can get some pretty inexpensive PAR bulbs from Amazon. I believe @Gena mentioned she got hers from Amazon and that it was inexpensive. Florida is too hot for sunlit- my room is already 78 and that would easily take it to the mid to high 80s. Yes I am checking amazon, I just don't want to make corals suffer by getting an inadequate light. 2 Quote Link to comment
Felicia Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 15 minutes ago, HarryPotter said: Florida is too hot for sunlit- my room is already 78 and that would easily take it to the mid to high 80s. Yes I am checking amazon, I just don't want to make corals suffer by getting an inadequate light. These tanks are so tiny and shallow that you won't need anything super powerful in terms of lighting. I think this is one situation where you can get away with a pretty inexpensive light. If you check out natalia_la_loca's TOTM reef bowl, she's just using an ABI 12W Tuna Blue par38 LED bulb from Amazon ($24.95) and she has amazing coral growth and color. 3 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 1 hour ago, HarryPotter said: I ordered a 3 gallon beverage dispenser off amazon warehouse for $4. If anyone copies me we KILL them all @Felicia and @Christopher Marks will back me up! Built in easy water change functionality!!! Haha I been looking at these too since it was announced... Spoiler 4 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 No idea where you snatched one for $4 though... Quote Link to comment
gena Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 6 minutes ago, Tamberav said: No idea where you snatched one for $4 though... is it plastic or glass? Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 26 minutes ago, Tamberav said: No idea where you snatched one for $4 though... Amazon warehouse is great 1 Quote Link to comment
Nola Bear Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 31 minutes ago, Tamberav said: Haha I been looking at these too since it was announced... Reveal hidden contents These iced tea jugs have a tendency to leak from the spigot. Be careful~ 2 Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 2 minutes ago, Nola Bear said: These iced tea jugs have a tendency to leak from the spigot. Be careful~ I didn't think of that Shoot maybe simple vase is best I just don't want it to resemble a fish bowl Quote Link to comment
MrNanoReef Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 I'll play this one!! I've been wanting to set up one of these for a long time and this is just the perfect push! 3 Quote Link to comment
Felicia Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 7 minutes ago, MrNanoReef said: I'll play this one!! I've been wanting to set up one of these for a long time and this is just the perfect push! Awesome! We'd love to have you join the contest! 1 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 1 hour ago, HarryPotter said: I didn't think of that Shoot maybe simple vase is best I just don't want it to resemble a fish bowl Try and seal it somehow so its not a working spigot but just for looks? If it is glass, maybe just fill it with silicone. Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Do you guys think 50 oz would be enough for a reef? Quote Link to comment
Dprosser4 Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 I was thinking something like this:) 5 1 Quote Link to comment
Coral_chef Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 @Tamberav you trying to do a handle lol? 1 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 5 minutes ago, Coral_chef said: @Tamberav you trying to do a handle lol? Would like to do a tea pot but trying to decide if it is feasible. I want the corals to be healthy ofc! 5 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 7 hours ago, Felicia said: You are officially contestant #3! Love the condiment selection! Latte fixin's count as condiments right?! I'll add your name and a link to your build thread to the list at the end of the first post in this thread. Yay! Haha that's what I thought too! 7 hours ago, vlangel said: Oops you beat me to and already have a hedgehog plushie! Yep, hubby bought this for me shortly after we got married. It's one of my favorites. 3 Quote Link to comment
cfaye@Delaware Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 This looks exciting and lots of fun. I think I will enjoy every ones build. Such great ideas and more to come. 1 Quote Link to comment
TFish77 Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Ok I think I am gonna try this one but have a question about the lighting. I see limited to a single par led but wouldn't par be a measure of the total light and not just from a single diode? I just want a little clarification on what lighting we can and cannot use. I'm sorry if this has been asked already but I couldn't find any previous questions. 1 Quote Link to comment
Felicia Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 42 minutes ago, TFish77 said: Ok I think I am gonna try this one but have a question about the lighting. I see limited to a single par led but wouldn't par be a measure of the total light and not just from a single diode? I just want a little clarification on what lighting we can and cannot use. I'm sorry if this has been asked already but I couldn't find any previous questions. Glad you want to join in the contest! Par bulbs are just a specific type of reef LED light lighting and not the same thing as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (aka PAR), which is a measure of the amount of light usable by corals. Par bulbs look like this: They come in a variety of wattages (i.e. 14 watt, 24 watt) and color temperatures (i.e. 14000 K, 18000 K, 22000 K). They have a standard size bulb base so that they screw into standard light fixtures. Specific mounts are sold for them, but a lot of people just use inexpensive desk or task light fixtures for them. For example: They're an inexpensive lighting option that is great for really small tanks, such as the containers for this contest, which is why we selected these as the lighting. Basically, you are just limited to a single one of this type of bulb (in any wattage or color temperature you would like) instead of being able to use things like Radion, Kessil, AI, fluorescent, or metal halide fixtures. Hopefully this helps clarify! You can purchase PAR bulbs like this from the Nano-Reef sponsors Coral Compulsion or Bulk Reef Supply. They are also available on Amazon (example linked). 2 1 Quote Link to comment
Lisa166 Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Wish I could join! But being in the Netherlands makes it too difficult to order from these sites you all mention (most, if not all, don't even ship here) :(. Quote Link to comment
MainelyReefer Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 4 hours ago, Felicia said: Glad you want to join in the contest! Par bulbs are just a specific type of reef LED light lighting and not the same thing as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (aka PAR), which is a measure of the amount of light usable by corals. Par bulbs look like this: They come in a variety of wattages (i.e. 14 watt, 24 watt) and color temperatures (i.e. 14000 K, 18000 K, 22000 K). They have a standard size bulb base so that they screw into standard light fixtures. Specific mounts are sold for them, but a lot of people just use inexpensive desk or task light fixtures for them. For example: They're an inexpensive lighting option that is great for really small tanks, such as the containers for this contest, which is why we selected these as the lighting. Basically, you are just limited to a single one of this type of bulb (in any wattage or color temperature you would like) instead of being able to use things like Radion, Kessil, AI, fluorescent, or metal halide fixtures. Hopefully this helps clarify! You can purchase PAR bulbs like this from the Nano-Reef sponsors Coral Compulsion or Bulk Reef Supply. They are also available on Amazon (example linked). They go all the way up to 55w from what I can see which would be overkill but I guess for 6 months we can all live with low quality disco lights, any way we can get a kessil A80 added to the list it's a mere 15w and the shimmer haha. Also having trouble finding safety listings for the cheaper units, don't want to start a fire to save $, really trying to find any excuse not to buy a par Quote Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 4 hours ago, Lisa166 said: Wish I could join! But being in the Netherlands makes it too difficult to order from these sites you all mention (most, if not all, don't even ship here) :(. You could have it shipped to me and I will ship to you as long as you cover shipping costs. 3 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 2 hours ago, GraniteReefer said: They go all the way up to 55w from what I can see which would be overkill but I guess for 6 months we can all live with low quality disco lights, any way we can get a kessil A80 added to the list it's a mere 15w and the shimmer haha. Also having trouble finding safety listings for the cheaper units, don't want to start a fire to save $, really trying to find any excuse not to buy a par Have you seen Natalia's bowl (linked early on in the thread)? Low-quality lights don't grow corals that nicely. A 12W bulb would be more than sufficient for the tanks in this contest (Natalia has hers a good 18" above the water line). I'm not sure what sort of safety data you're looking for but...it's a light bulb, in a lamp. People have used these PAR bulbs for years with 0 issues, same as any other lamp. I think you'd be more in danger of knocking a Kessil into the water than having safety issues from a PAR bulb. Keep it out of the water and you'll be fine lol. Anyway, I think a $100+ light would kind of defeat the purpose of a contest focusing on simple, inexpensive equipment. My PAR bulbs are nice and shimmery, too, no disco effect at all! Quote Link to comment
Zorya Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 9 hours ago, Dprosser4 said: I was thinking something like this:) Haha, I was thinking of this because I work in a lab and I could buy one cheap from the university - it's definitely a cool idea Quote Link to comment
Christopher Marks Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 7 hours ago, Lisa166 said: Wish I could join! But being in the Netherlands makes it too difficult to order from these sites you all mention (most, if not all, don't even ship here) :(. As long as your equipment is similar, you can still participate! The container and heater and air pump or circulation pump can be any kind. Finding an appropriate LED bulb will be the hardest part, but I’m sure we could track down a European supplier for you! eBay is a possibility: https://m.ebay.nl/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m4084.l1313&_nkw=Par38+led+reef Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Posted by Christopher Marks,
The final contest results:
Recommended by Christopher Marks
7 reactions
Go to this post
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.