Debating a Pico-thoughts on lights?

[ahiggins]

Hey all!
While I’ve done many tanks over the years with a combination of live/dry starts-I’m looking for more challenge!
My last challenge was a 100% dry start nuvo 10. A year later (it’s going great) I’m ready to start my next challenge, something smaller

Looking to go ~3-4 gallon but the thing I’m stuck on most is lighting. It’s going to be a softie tank, mushrooms maybe some palys.
Any experience with smaller lights would be appreciated!!

 

[Plauri55]

Hey all!
While I’ve done many tanks over the years with a combination of live/dry starts-I’m looking for more challenge!
My last challenge was a 100% dry start nuvo 10. A year later (it’s going great) I’m ready to start my next challenge, something smaller

Looking to go ~3-4 gallon but the thing I’m stuck on most is lighting. It’s going to be a softie tank, mushrooms maybe some palys.
Any experience with smaller lights would be appreciated!!

I'm using this on my 5 gallon Jelly tank that I converted to a Rock Flower Anemone tank...
Fluval Sea Marine Bluetooth LED Nano Aquarium Light.

Really like it.

 

[hart24601]

The 12w and 23w bulbs are very popular with pico reef people and work well.

ABI 23W Tuna Blue LED Bulb Coral Reef Optimized Spectrum 11-Band PAR38 Amazon product

Test Results - ABI 23w Tuna Blue LED

As usual, I'm running hopelessly behind on lamp testing. I ordered an ABI 'Tuna Blue' LED lamp (about $35 on Amazon.) I've partially completed testing - in a nutshell, this lamp is blue, just as advertised. This a PAR38 lamp and contains 15 LEDs, ranging from *some* UV-A to 6500K White. More...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[ahiggins]

Thanks for the replies! I’m still not sure what I’m going to get but that gives me a good starting point
On a side note, huge rock nem fan lol that white outside guy you have is sooooo nice

 

[bacc2bacc]

Hipargero led

 

[Steven Garland]

-AquaKnight (Amazon)
-AquaKnight V2 (ReefBreeders)
-ABI Tuna Blue Par38 (Amazon)
-Pixie Led (Amazon)
-Used AI Prime
-Kessil A80

I also have some supplies you could use to build your own light for cheap.

 

[ahiggins]

So i decided on a Spec III, which has been set up with live rock and some crushed coral for sand.
I cant find a darn thing on spec III PAR/PUR values. Spec V has abysmal ratings at sand level. Im looking to do softies, undecided on leathers, mushrooms, palys, or some mix of all. Im concerned that the spec III light is too low for even low light corals.
Thoughts?

 

[count krunk]

I'm sure the lights it came with are garbage

 

[VKP01]

I have a 4g and use the ABI Tuna Blue in a tertial lamp from IKEA. It was under $35 and works very well for my mixed tank, but it is very bright and you’ll want to keep it raised high like it is in the pic for softies.

 

[ahiggins]

theyre really bright but only 7k or 20k, no in between....which sucks because im used to fully customizable AI primes. I liked the idea @Plauri55 had but not the way to mount it. it seems....haphazard. I want something in the 14000 during the day and 18000 at night. roughly.

 

[ahiggins]

I have a 4g and use the ABI Tuna Blue in a tertial lamp from IKEA. It was under $35 and works very well for my mixed tank, but it is very bright and you’ll want to keep it raised high like it is in the pic for softies.

i wouldnt mind that but i only have about a foot of clearance for lighting. so i couldnt do something like that.

 

[Devaji]

I hear pico peep using the aquaknight.
@Steven Garland gave one heck of a list.

 

[User1]

So I have a 5 gallon tall that I'm changing the lights out on. Right now it is just housing a Ora captive raised matted filefish with some rocks, sand from my main display. I put in some Xenia and random button polyps with some rocks with Xenia to see if he will eat it - he did.

Anyway once it grows I'm going to leave it has a pico tank. I have a mix of royal blue, blue, and natural white LED's with a mean well driver that I had used a while back. Going to move it over I think and make a small custom wood hood for it. Another option is Blue Acro has a small form factor LED that I'm eyeing. If you are DIY I think his new chip is worth while looking at.

If off the shelf I have no idea - sorry