First SW attempt - 5.5g Pico!

[andsoitgoes]

With our lighting as of right now, we've got 2 CF bulbs at 6700k - 1 running a 15w and the other running a 27w (total of 42) so not great, but I know I'm not going to do anything too much fancier than basic zoos and such.

My main goal is to not have this be so expensive that my wife divorces me She's put up with a lot of my buying, and I"m not sure the cost of a mini MH light, but something tells me it would involve my death

I would assume for what I have right now, I should be okay. If I want to do anything fancy, I may have to suck up BIG TIME... or just find a wicked deal ^_^

Anyone getting rid of any tanks?

Mr. Too-Excited

[dockrat]

you might want to switch your lighting to the little coralife 18w hood they alow you to get some Antic lighting in there. Zoos look much better under 10000 K and antic lighting then under 6700 k lighting IMO... Or better yet Gut the Coralife hood and try to fit the bulbs + 6700k 23w bulb into your hood thats what i did on my 5 G nano and my zoos grew like crazy with good color.... and the fixture is $30 or so

[andsoitgoes]

Originally Posted by dockrat

you might want to switch your lighting to the little coralife 18w hood they alow you to get some Antic lighting in there. Zoos look much better under 10000 K and antic lighting then under 6700 k lighting IMO... Or better yet Gut the Coralife hood and try to fit the bulbs + 6700k 23w bulb into your hood thats what i did on my 5 G nano and my zoos grew like crazy with good color.... and the fixture is $30 or so

Hrm... how the heck would I fit them into this hood?? =/

I think I might need to look at a DIY canopy before going that route, and I'm about as handy as a dead rat. Seriously.

But seriously - what would be the easiest solution to attach the lights onto the inside of my current fixture, would it be wise to get a mini-ballast system and use that? Or I guess I could get the hood and add that AS WELL as what I've got - The hood is only 9" though, does it come w/ legs?

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Another nano reefer told me that the 18w Coralife (2x9 w each) units burn out too quickly. He said the actinic is dead after 3 months & the 10000k is not looking so bright either. The Coralife screw in CFL actinics worked ok for me a few years ago. I'll see if they carry them in the LFS & let you know.

[Flusher]

The 10W and 20W Coralife 50/50 CFLs are still around. They work pretty good in nanos. Two 20W bulbs over a 5 gallon tank would work well. I have two over my 6 gallon nano, which is now my frag tank.
________
Old man nudist

[Matt]

Originally Posted by andsoitgoes

My main goal is to not have this be so expensive that my wife divorces me

Knowing what I know about how this is going to go... you might want to find a good lawyer now and put him or her on retainer. If spending is going to put you in divorce court - well, that's where you're headed.

[andsoitgoes]

Originally Posted by Matt

Knowing what I know about how this is going to go... you might want to find a good lawyer now and put him or her on retainer. If spending is going to put you in divorce court - well, that's where you're headed.

lol - well let's see...

10 freshwater tanks, mixed throughout a bizillion different species, about 5 aren't set up, but are grow-out angel tanks - 1 livebearer breeding tank, a livebearer grow out tank... wait a second here. how many tanks are mine.

I have my 20g planted FW tank with mixed cichlids, and my pico tank - The angels are hers, TECHNICALLY, and all the Livebearers are hers...

I AM LOSING HERE!! :P I have a fantastic argument, glad I could think about it like that!!

"Honey... I just need another tank, remember how many you have?"

Okay - next question, who lives in surrey and has a spare couch?