Lighting Tanks Smaller Than 10g Aka "nanos"

[lljdma06]

Making lighting decisions were extremely easy in my larger tanks. I simply went less than 2WPG and I'm fine. In fact, I love the lack of work and worry, except the Pennywort. I have so much of that now, it's not even funny. The nano, however, is posing problems.

The tank is 15.5"L, 11"H, and 10"W. I have a PC 24W fixture (7100K, on for 10hrs a day), which is about 2-3 inches from the water's surface. This gives me 3WPG, but I'm not convinced I have a high-light tank. In fact, I think I'm closer a medium or even medium-low tank, based on what I've read, but I'm not certain and hearing confirmation would make me feel a lot better. Are my observations correct, or am I reading information wrong? The tank is stocked with hardy plants now (Except for a zosterfolia and some HM that's going to be moved tomorrow, not doing super well) and I'm adding CO2, but I don't want to add too much or pick the wrong plant and have it decay on me like some plants did last time, resulting in an algae bloom (greenwater). I'm not asking for a set of rules or guidelines, but a little clarification would be great. Perhaps this information can be updated in the pinned lighted article. A lot of nanos are getting started and it would help others avoid my mistakes.

Thanks for reading, I didn't make it too long this time! Go me!

llj

 

[George Farmer]

I've been meaning to update the lighting thread with re. more details on lighting nanos. I will try to once I get some time.

If there is anyone else out there who is willing to contribute something then I'd be very grateful. Just post a thread and make me aware of it via PM if I don't notice it.

What would be great is a pinned thread on a general guide to nanos encompassing lighting, CO2, plant and fish choice etc. Moody already has submitted some great work to me but it is specific on his set up (look out for a possible future PFK article!)

Anyway, if anyone is willing to take on such a task then I, and I'm sure many others would be most grateful.

 

[lljdma06]

Thanks for your quick response, George. Look forward to seeing the update soon. New advances in this hobby just keep popping up so quickly. That lighting article was written less than 2 years ago!

As for me, I hope somebody can answer my specific questions. Any additional ideas are always welcome.

llj

 

[George Farmer]

llj - Have you read this? http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=1329104

It doesn't answer your question directly but it may help.

 

[lljdma06]

llj - Have you read this? http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=1329104

It doesn't answer your question directly but it may help.

It really does help, but I lack a crucial bit of information. I read it when you first posted it and thought it fascinating. What I'm having a hard time doing is figuring out how to calculate lumens/watt. If I knew the output in lumens of 1 watt of a CF bulb, then I could just calculate using the formula and I'd be fine with the resulting estimate. I did, however, extract this bit of information from your journal that could be the key for me.

"The rating for the 18w PC T5 is 1000 lumens. Interestingly 1000 lumens is approx. the output of most 24" 18w T8 tubes. "

If your 18W PC T5 bulb, which is I think the same type of bulb I have (just mine is 24W), is rated 1000 lumens, then the lumen per watt rating is apprx. 55lumen/watt doing division, which is consistant with the ranges I get in websites. See, I have been trying to figure this out. Now, take my bulb 24W x 55lumen/W = 1333 total lumens. Applying your formula from the above thread, I get this result. Getting excited now.


1333lumens / 1064 square cm = 1.25 lumens per square cm at the water's surface.

Which is significantly lower than your nano and your Jewel Rio 125L. This is further reason for me to believe that my tank is indeed a lower light tank. What do you think? This is fascinating. I feel like Spock.

By the way in my quest for lumen ratings, I stumbled across this website.

http/www.aquabotanic.com/lightcompare.htm

I don't think there's a forum attached to it. Have you seen this before?

Again, thank you for being so helpful. I truely think that this will help nano specialists, especially if ranges could be established for High, Medium, and Low-light tanks.

llj

 

[voo]

What is the make of the Pc tube you are using?
Have a search on the manufacturers site and you might find the output level in lumens. I dont think you can use the watt/lumens.

 

[George Farmer]

Good stuff llj.

I have seen that AB link. The AB forum has now been merged with APC.

You may also find this interesting - http/www.fitchfamily.com/lighting.html

At the bottom of the page there is a calculator. This will give you watts required for any tank size to acheive very high lighting. Approx half this I would say is moderate-high lighting and suitable for growing most plants.

 

[Themuleous]

I don't know if I've got enough planted knowledge yet, but I'd like to have a stab at that pinned nano article George? I might need a bit of guidance re the fine details, but it would be a nice project for me for the next few weeks? And any advice you could give Llj I would greatly appreciate? Just a thought, I've learnt loads from my nano, and it would be good to give something back. I'll also contact Moody for tips

Might need to take a break from answering peoples threads, but I'd love to at least give it a try?

Sam

PS - George, can I be ultra cheeky (but with the 'community' in mind ) and ask that you make a very small adjustment to the EI article also? The EI dosing regime in the PFK article you did is different from the EI article on here and I think it's 'better' simpler and irons out the few problems I had when I first read the article. Wouldn't need much tinkering, mainly just changing the seven scheme to match that within the PFK article, thanks Think it would make it easier for newbie to understand.

 

[lljdma06]

What is the make of the Pc tube you are using?
Have a search on the manufacturers site and you might find the output level in lumens. I dont think you can use the watt/lumens.

It's lumens/watt, I agree, you certainly cannot use watt/lumens. If George said that the total lumens for his 18W lamp is 1000. Then if you perform this operation...

1000lumens / 18W = 55.56lumens/watt You get lumen output of a single watt of Compact Fluorescent light.

My calculation was not meant to be super accurate, it just told me what I already know, that I don't have enough light in my tank to be considered high light, or even medium light. In a website I looked at, Compact Fluorescents that roughly matched my size bulb have a lumen/watt range of between 50-69 depending on the brand. My tube is a Finnex brand, same as the tank, and searches for the manufacturer yielded nothing, so I have to estimate.

I saw that link, George, it was in Sam's thread! To match Amano's lighting for my size tank, according to the article, I need 59W, based on the calculator. When I did the same calculations in my previous post, using your lumen output as a model, I would need appr. 3lumens per square cm for Amano "high-light" tank in my 8g. The number for my nano is about 42% of this.

You can take a break from answering most threads, Sam, just not mine.

llj

 

[voo]

Being one of the current knowledgable posters on the planted forum i think you'll be able to knock up a good article
What about starting a thread asking for others input that could go into the article?

EDIT: Whilst on about pinned articles... what about updating the CO2 article with a few DIY recipies?

I don't know if I've got enough planted knowledge yet, but I'd like to have a stab at that pinned nano article George? I might need a bit of guidance re the fine details, but it would be a nice project for me for the next few weeks? And any advice you could give Llj I would greatly appreciate? Just a thought, I've learnt loads from my nano, and it would be good to give something back. I'll also contact Moody for tips

 

[George Farmer]

Sam - go for it mate. Thanks for offering.

 

[Themuleous]

Will do leave it with me.

Sam

PS - I'd never stop posting in your threads Llj

 

[Graeme Edwards]

I could ( help or ) write about nano's too, how about if i write about the details of composition and aquascaping in a tank this size??

 

[Themuleous]

Sounds like an excellent idea Moody could always combine the two so as not to overload the pinned section. Is it ok if I PM you some questions once Ive got going? Get your thoughts, etc This article might take a few weeks, as I need to do some research too.

Sam

 

[Graeme Edwards]

No probs, theres always MSN too!