18w 1 X Actinic 10k 1x White T5 Tube

[lgarvey]

Here's the spiel for the lamp: -

"REPLACEMENT LAMP FOR SOLARIS MARINE

18 watt for Cubo 30
Replacement lamp for Wave Solaris lighting system.
10.000°K + actinic Blue. Specific for marine aquarium. Special lamp with two colors: white and blue.
Optimal spectrum and colouration for the marine version."

Here's a picture of the lamp in action: -

http/www.stm-shop.co.uk/acatalog/CuboMarine.jpg

Do you think this would be sufficient to have some corals? Or would it need to be upgraded? The tank is 45L about 11.5 gallons, but I hear the WPG rule is not that useful, particularly on smaller tanks.

I have also noticed a clip on 150w halogen, which I could get. But it seems a bit overkill for such a small tank.

I'd like to add in future some: -

plate mushroom corals
ricordea
xenia
zoanthids

... and so basic stuff like that.

Cheers,
L

 

[AK77]

I have two 18W Solaris over my 65L nano. The light they provide is ok, but definitely nothing like metal halides. They aren't cheap either at £35+ a pop. I have been looking at 70w Metal Halides. My old MH lights were just two 150w MH flood lights that I bolted to my wall. They had an internal balast and were waterproof too.

I just saw the link below on ebay. All you need is an inline switch, some 3 core flex and a plug and you're ready to go. The only other thing you will need is to change the bulb to a 10'000k rating or higher. I had 14'000k's in my old ones. If you can mount these inside a canopy or bolt them to the wall, they make a very good aquarium light.

70w Metal Halide


They also do a 150w one for £2 more. Now that would make your tank glow!!

 

[lgarvey]

Hi Ak77,

Thanks. That's helpful. Would a 150w halide, or even a 70w H over a 45L tank be excessive? Fortunately the tank has a glass lid, so it shouldn't lead to tonnes of evaporation if I a hotter lamp.

L

 

[AK77]

Hi mate,

I wouldn't say 70w would be excessive. I had 300w over a 180L tank, which is roughly the same ratio. It certainly helped the soft corals I had grow very well.

Having a glass lid over the tank with MH lights, especially one that small, is probably not the best idea. You might not have a problem in the winter months but, come the summer you may very likely boil your corals. Evapouration is a means for the tank to cool down and if it cannot do so effciently, then it can spell trouble.

Its better to let the tank breathe and top up the water, than to prevent the ability to cool off.