AGA 4 gallon lighting Q

[reefrancher]

The tank is an AGA 4 gallon tank. I think it's really more like 3.5 as the useable measurements are 12" tall by 8" wide and 8" deep.

 

Here's the tricky part:

 

The cover has a space of 7" by 4 2/3" and 2 1/4" deep for a light.

 

I'm new to nano's. What retrofit light rig can I fit in this tiny space that will give this tank enough watts/energy to thrive?

 

TIA,

Steve

[reefrancher]

Here's the pic.

[NaNO ReeFiN]

Dang.. almost all types of lighting you might plan on getting will hang over the sides of that tank..

[BCOrchidGuy]

Wow what an unusual shape for a tank, should be interesting once it is set up and running. I would say you may have to get a custom hood or make your own and put in a MH with the smallest actinic CF you can find. I would say your MH should be no more than 75 watts, and it should be as high as possible.

 

What I would do is probably build a cabinet and have shelves on either side of the tank, the the area above the tank could be made into a hood where you could fit in some lights and it would give you more room for standard length tubes. You could finish that area to look like a set of doors but have them as part of a swing open hood. If you go this way allow yourself room to get your arm in so you can touch the bottom AND allow room for moving/adding/removing rock, livestock etc.

[Korbin]

I found a 27 watt, 4 tube PC bulb at Home Depot that would fit perfectly. It looks like 2 13 watters stuck side-by-side to make a flat square of a bulb with the dimensions of a waffle. :| (I'm hungry). Its not make for aquariums, so its kind of yellowish. But it sounds hopeful. I think its made by Lights of America. Maybe if you talk to them, you can have a special combo bulb made or something.

 

http://electrical.aubuchonhardware.com/lig...bulb-530565.asp

[OxInYourBox]

You could go with two bookworm lights (Lowes Mernards and some online retailers have them ~$20) and swap one bulb for a 13w Actinic. Here's a pic of the Lowes version which comes with a 6400k bulb.

Also at Home Depot and Lowes there is a dual 13w unit for $25 dollars that would work but it is more of a shop light and has a long extended handle which might not work for most peoples applications.

[Twins Guy]

reefrancher-

go with 1 13W light over that tank. i would recommend the hellolights 13W 50/50 bulb. (http://www.hellolights.com/13w5010dayac.html ) i'd recommend the hellolights ballast to except (unless the design has changed already in the last 2 months) its an integrated ballst/lamp socket type so it will take up alot more spaqe in your hood and throw mad heat. i don't have experience with the ahsupply light kits but hear they're pretty good and designed with a remote ballast (definite +)

( http://www.ahsupply.com/twox.htm ) you'd be looking at the 1x13W Deluxe Bright Light Kit. it looks like its 8" in length but could prolly be cut down to fit your dimensions. hope that helps! BTW i have 13W of 50/50 light on my 5 hex and its plenty of light to keep my mushrooms, zooanthids, and colt coral frag happy! also BTW the bulb i recommended is listed at 71/8"plus 1/2" for the base, looks like AH suppuly now has a 50/50 bulb but its a lil bigger like 1/4", anyways maybe you can accomodate those, diagonally or something?

[NanoReefer53]

Originally posted by Korbin

I found a 27 watt, 4 tube PC bulb at Home Depot that would fit perfectly.  It looks like 2 13 watters stuck side-by-side to make a flat square of a bulb with the dimensions of a waffle. :| (I'm hungry).  Its not make for aquariums, so its kind of yellowish.  But it sounds hopeful.  I think its made by Lights of America.  Maybe if you talk to them, you can have a special combo bulb made or something.

 

http://electrical.aubuchonhardware.com/lig...bulb-530565.asp

 

My uncle bought one of those fixtures at HomeDepot for $30 which came with the ballast, bulb, and housing. The bulb is rated at 5000k so it's kinda yellow. You can replace it though if you want with a 6500k or actinic one made by CSL.

[tgrupert]

Originally posted by Korbin

I found a 27 watt, 4 tube PC bulb at Home Depot that would fit perfectly.  It looks like 2 13 watters stuck side-by-side to make a flat square of a bulb with the dimensions of a waffle. :| (I'm hungry).  Its not make for aquariums, so its kind of yellowish.  But it sounds hopeful.  I think its made by Lights of America.  Maybe if you talk to them, you can have a special combo bulb made or something.

 

http://electrical.aubuchonhardware.com/lig...bulb-530565.asp

 

 

that's an awsome light. somone emailed the manufacture and they said it was rated at 6500k. I recall reading it only costs 8 dollars at home depot.