Lighting a 2.5g Zoanthid tank

mtfish · 10-29-2006, 01:22 PM

Long story short, I'm setting up a 2.5g tank @ work and was going to go with a all zoanthid tank. Would this 2 x 13w be enough light? Or should I go with this 2 x 18w?

Warnberg · 10-29-2006, 01:28 PM

I personally would go with the 18 watters however the 13 watters would probably suffice.

fidojoe · 10-29-2006, 02:12 PM

I'd say you could even get away with one of those Coralife 2x9w mini hoods, and if you need a retro, they are very easy to take apart and use as one.

mps9506 · 10-29-2006, 04:16 PM

I use a corallife 2x9 watt hood over a .75 gallon nano. It works great for mushrooms and polyps. I don't have any zoas in there though.

billyr98 · 10-29-2006, 07:32 PM

whatever you use.. I wanna see pics.. either should work fine!

fidojoe · 10-29-2006, 08:02 PM

I agree, pics are a must

I've used the 2x9w over 2 different 5g tanks, and zoos did fine. I think you'd probably have better results with the 2x13w and the 2x18w would just be overkill IMO.

mtfish · 10-30-2006, 02:25 AM

Thanks for your input, I'll see what the checkbook says but at least go with the 2x13w. I like the idea of mounting the ballasts away from the lights to help with heat issues. I'll get pics up when I have something better than a 2.5g tank with a black painted back.

Warnberg · 10-30-2006, 11:30 AM

Some of the more fancy Zoa's will fade over time without proper lighting, that is why I suggested the 18 watt fixture.

10-29-2006, 01:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
mtfish Fire Coral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 66 View Gallery Karma Komment	Lighting a 2.5g Zoanthid tank Long story short, I'm setting up a 2.5g tank @ work and was going to go with a all zoanthid tank. Would this 2 x 13w be enough light? Or should I go with this 2 x 18w?

10-29-2006, 01:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Warnberg Acropora Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 1,911 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting a 2.5g Zoanthid tank I personally would go with the 18 watters however the 13 watters would probably suffice. __________________ Dave 240 Gallon Tall Tencor (96"L x 30"T x 18"W) 4 250 Watt MH XM10K bulbs 2-54 Watt T5 Actinic Euro-Reef CS8-2-RC Jetstream 1 Calcium Reactor 4 Tunze Turbelle stream 6000 power heads 7095 Tunze controller

10-29-2006, 02:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
fidojoe Fish Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,584 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting a 2.5g Zoanthid tank I'd say you could even get away with one of those Coralife 2x9w mini hoods, and if you need a retro, they are very easy to take apart and use as one. __________________ *Member "Crabs Are Evil" Society* My Tank: 90g AGA, 18g tall sump, CSS 220 w/ meshmod impeller, 4x54w Tek T5 retro w/ IC reflectors, Kalk reactor w/ aquamedic niveaumat system, a few SPS, LPS, zoos, and a few softies, 2 Ocellaris Clowns (hosted by both a RBTA and GBTA), Yellow Watchman, Potter's angel, Yellow Tang, Foxface, Midas Blenny, Purple Pseudo, huge brittle star, 2 tigertail cukes, fire shrimp, snails, and unfortunately two emerald crabs (the bubble algae got out of control).

10-29-2006, 04:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting a 2.5g Zoanthid tank I use a corallife 2x9 watt hood over a .75 gallon nano. It works great for mushrooms and polyps. I don't have any zoas in there though. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

10-29-2006, 07:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,400 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting a 2.5g Zoanthid tank whatever you use.. I wanna see pics.. either should work fine! __________________ Billyr98 -=NJRC Treasurer=- My 450g Reef Tank ~~~ Its HERE!!!

10-29-2006, 08:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
fidojoe Fish Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,584 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting a 2.5g Zoanthid tank I agree, pics are a must I've used the 2x9w over 2 different 5g tanks, and zoos did fine. I think you'd probably have better results with the 2x13w and the 2x18w would just be overkill IMO. __________________ *Member "Crabs Are Evil" Society* My Tank: 90g AGA, 18g tall sump, CSS 220 w/ meshmod impeller, 4x54w Tek T5 retro w/ IC reflectors, Kalk reactor w/ aquamedic niveaumat system, a few SPS, LPS, zoos, and a few softies, 2 Ocellaris Clowns (hosted by both a RBTA and GBTA), Yellow Watchman, Potter's angel, Yellow Tang, Foxface, Midas Blenny, Purple Pseudo, huge brittle star, 2 tigertail cukes, fire shrimp, snails, and unfortunately two emerald crabs (the bubble algae got out of control).

10-30-2006, 02:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
mtfish Fire Coral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 66 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting a 2.5g Zoanthid tank Thanks for your input, I'll see what the checkbook says but at least go with the 2x13w. I like the idea of mounting the ballasts away from the lights to help with heat issues. I'll get pics up when I have something better than a 2.5g tank with a black painted back.

10-30-2006, 11:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Warnberg Acropora Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 1,911 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting a 2.5g Zoanthid tank Some of the more fancy Zoa's will fade over time without proper lighting, that is why I suggested the 18 watt fixture. __________________ Dave 240 Gallon Tall Tencor (96"L x 30"T x 18"W) 4 250 Watt MH XM10K bulbs 2-54 Watt T5 Actinic Euro-Reef CS8-2-RC Jetstream 1 Calcium Reactor 4 Tunze Turbelle stream 6000 power heads 7095 Tunze controller

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