Best Led For 10 Gal. Nano!

[Aquatic Dreams]

I've searched the forum and the internet and can't really find the info I'm looking for. Or perhaps more precisely the light I'm looking for.

I have a 10 gal. half moon tank that came with a light, small filter with some chemi-pure, small mag float and heater. I'd be lucky if the light that came with it could grow ALGAE!! I'd like to use this tank for a frag/quarantine tank. I'm trying to find a reasonably priced light for this tank. I haven't really gotten into SPS yet but that may come at some point. I would like to at least be able to grow low requirement SPS.

It seems that all the lights I find are either fairly cheap and not powerful enough or have great light but cost a small fortune. Obviously I don't mind spending a bit on a decent light but I don't want to break the bank for a 10 gal. tank. I was looking at the "Fluval "Halo" Nano Marine And Reef High Performance LED Fixture - 22 Watts 25,000K" but couldn't really find a ton of reviews on that exact light. (BTW - I research the hell out of EVERYTHING!! ) This light for me is definitely at the high end of the price range that I'd be willing to spend. Realistically I'd like to stay around the $100 mark or lower. I also can't seem to find many used Nano LEDs suitable for reef tanks for sale.

So any thoughts or suggestions any of you have would be appreciated. The tank isn't set up yet but I'd like to get it going within the next month if possible.

Dave.

 

[Luke.]

I personally had a fluval reef led light I think it was 25 wats not the one you mention above but a different fluval leds light and it was $199 I used it for a month and then switched because I believed it wasn't powerful enough and you only had the option of white and then blue , if I were you I'd look into a Chinese black box led they are really good from what I hear ( I run 2 kessils on my tank) but that might be to much $ compaird to a black box !

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

Yeah ... I've actually been looking into those PAR 38 bulbs. Although I'd prefer to get a dimmable one as it may be too powerful. And I would really like it to be able to do day/night ramping etc. Although I realize this option will bring the price up. Too bad they didn't make a smaller cheaper version of the AI Prime.

 

[Luke.]

Yeah I hear yA lol ! You could hang the light higher off your tank but that's a downfall when you have a shallower tank

 

[TORX]

I guess there are a lot more questions to ask. When you mean dimmable, do you mean through a aquarium controller such as Apex? There are also programmable lights out there as well. If you have an aquarium controller that can be tied in, then you can DIY a dimmable LED for less then $100. There is a kit on aquastyleonline.com that would be great for your size tank.

Other then that, the options will be over 100 for dimmable. I am looking for a PAR38 bulb right now for my pico frag tank. Just giving a few days in the Looking for section before I buy new.

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

No Apex or other controller at the moment. Just a 46 gal. bow and soon to be set up 10 gal. nano. By dimmable I meant that I thought some of the PAR 38 bulbs couldn't be dimmed. I checked out that link ... looks cool but I tend to stay away from DIY stuff that involves electrical current ... JUST IN CASE!!

I would like the lights to be programmable if possible ... similar to the AI Prime but doesn't need to be that complex. But I realize that the extra these would cost may not be a reasonable option IMO for a 10 gal. nano.

 

[Luke.]

What about a " mimic" kessil light with a controler ? Not sure how much what would run you but you can program the lights to come on low and slowly ramp up as the day goes on then back donwn (I need to get some some day haha )

 

[TORX]

Anything programmable is going to be around 200+ whether it is DIY or prebuilt. You can get a full spectrum par38 for $15 on amazon and a timer and you will be good to go.

If there is a cheaper option, I would be interested myself.

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

Yeah ... I thought programmable would be expensive. It's not a must have ... more of a would like to have.

REALLY!!! $15 ?? I always thought they were around $40-$80. I'll have to take a look on Amazon now!

So wait ... the gooseneck that fits on the tank is now going to be more than the bulb?

 

[TORX]

I like this one. Full spectrum is more then just blue and white, but I like the UV $31CAD shipped

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-12-LED-F...545670?hash=item210c325406:g:ppYAAOSwJQdXBH9W

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

Thanks for the link Torx. I was looking these up a while back and also preferred the full spectrum. I think the full spectrum dimmable was around $60-$80. Although it's coming from China so I'd better order one now so I can get it by summertime!