How to light a small aquarium: What would you use for a pico light?

[Peace River]

How to light a small aquarium: What would you use for a pico light?

With all the recent interest in pico aquariums, I have been wondering what reef keepers with small tanks use for lighting. Most quality lights on the market have traditionally been designed for mid-size or larger tanks with a few lights that could be used for nano aquariums. Although there are no-name lights from online retailers that are an option, it seems like there have been limited options for tanks less than ten gallons. What would you use for a pico light? If you have a small tank, please share your recommendations and tips for lighting a small tank.

Photo by @WWC

If you are looking for a light for a small tank, R2R is hosting a giveaway for 54 winners of the Reef Breeder’s pico LED light. Feel free to click on the link and sign up now! Good luck!


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.worldwidecorals.com

“For some hobbyists buying live coral online can seem like a risky endeavor. At WWC our staff takes the worry out of the equation by culturing extremely healthy corals, giving you a hassle-free guarantee, and providing you with a full online customer service team to ensure you are completely satisfied with your purchase.”

 

[Tavero]

Option: I would build my own
is missing. Because I did.

 

[courtneywinter]

Can't seem to grow any sps with an AI prime. Anyone have a good template?

 

[Hooz]

I feel like the AI Prime 16HD is one of the most versatile lights out there. You can tune them down to light picos, turn them up for smaller SPS builds. Have a long nano? Just add a couple more.

They really do cover a very wide range of tank sizes.

If you step "back" to the older Prime HD and upgrade the LED puck, they get even better.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

There isn't a real "no name" light out there from online retailers.

I haven't found a single one that hasn't been thoroughly tested by hundreds of people. Whole threads here and other places that tear them apart and date back years all show progression and or problems with them.

"No name" isn't really a thing.

It really doesn't matter either about how small the tank is or how powerful the light is. With LED tech now you can turn almost any of them down or up.

I don't know why someone would chose a AI prime over a Nicrew. They have very similar review ratings. Nicrew actually beating them in some cases.

Tank smaller than that? Then people buy Lominie...

I personally got out of the brand name mess years ago.... I don't know why people still chase names in this hobby. With a little research there are plenty of alternatives out there and some are better.

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

Starting a pico at work, getting me a popbloom RS90. Love them on my display at home, and pretty cheap and quiet.

 

[Alexraptor]

I'd probably consider a single Kessil A160WE Tuna Blue. Sure its probably overpowered like hell, but it definitely is low profile enough for the job, and the shimmer is to die for.

 

[Red_Beard]

Uhuo man, those new reefbreeder pico lights look pretty nice. Either that or a DIY. I have a grundle of heatsinks waiting for a moment like this.

 

[Steven Garland]

Personally,I build my own lights. Smaller marketed light just dont have the spectra nor the power.

 

[JoJosReef]

Other! The ReefBreeders Pico light that I just won in an R2R giveaway!

 

[Narideth]

I'm personally hoping I also win a reefbreeder light for my pico, but for the moment I have seemingly very happy corals growing under a ridiculously cheap Nicrew light I wanted to test. Like $15 cheap, and it's putting out something like 160 par with a nice blue tint and fully programmable timer with ramp up and down.

It is admittedly not the light I intend to have later on in this build, but it's been great to get this pico up and running.

 

[danimal1211]

With full dimming capability There really are a lot of options out there. The limitations aren’t the the lights themselves but how to mount it. I’m currently building a pico and it’s nice to have options.

 

[KQuillan]

Other! The ReefBreeders Pico light that I just won in an R2R giveaway!

Yep, same here!

 

[Polymate3D]

Hello everyone

As the OP already knows, I am pursuing my own design and going with that for my Pico. I feel however it is a shame there aren't that many about.

TMC Illuminair nano comes to mind as the one which would make the most sense for the size and cost.

Looking forward to hearing of some more hopefully

- Paul

 

[reeftankdude]

I have two of these clip-on lights doing a great job for my 20G High. One would work for a 10G. I have soft and hard carols growing. Hard corals grow well with low phosphate in the water. You can get them at the Walmart website. Read the reviews.

 

[BubbleFett42079]

For my UNS 45L (3.8g), I use an old Kessil a80. The tank is primarily a Shroom tank, so no strong lighting needed. The light is 7” above the waterline.

Max is 15 watts, but I only do 50% intensity and 100% Actinic.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

How to light a small aquarium: What would you use for a pico light?

With all the recent interest in pico aquariums, I have been wondering what reef keepers with small tanks use for lighting. Most quality lights on the market have traditionally been designed for mid-size or larger tanks with a few lights that could be used for nano aquariums. Although there are no-name lights from online retailers that are an option, it seems like there have been limited options for tanks less than ten gallons. What would you use for a pico light? If you have a small tank, please share your recommendations and tips for lighting a small tank.

Photo by @WWC

If you are looking for a light for a small tank, R2R is hosting a giveaway for 54 winners of the Reef Breeder’s pico LED light. Feel free to click on the link and sign up now! Good luck!


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.worldwidecorals.com

“For some hobbyists buying live coral online can seem like a risky endeavor. At WWC our staff takes the worry out of the equation by culturing extremely healthy corals, giving you a hassle-free guarantee, and providing you with a full online customer service team to ensure you are completely satisfied with your purchase.”

I have a couple prime HDs that I thought about using for this, but this had started as a refuge for a mantis that hitched hiked in on some rock. Well, you know how the story goes. We put some KP rock in and a cheap filter and then my wife was like, can’t we have some flowy stuff in there. So I went and got the Fluval Nano Marine and I have to say, for the $50 it was well worth it. It’s growing stuff, albeit, this tuff would grow under a toilet seat at any NFL stadium. For kicks I checked it with my par meter.

 

[Shon]

I needed a light for my 10g qt project..
Nicrew 7w USB light

 

[GARRIGA]

Love the option to grow therefore easier to reduce the output for task at hand knowing a bigger footprint can use this light or the fact only the higher level lights provide the flexibility I desire. Placed an XR15 on my desktop 20H although anything over 50% seems to have induced a dino and cyano outbreak. dino being a first for me and cyano something that's been lingering in low flow areas and was of little concern. I knew better but wanted to test a Fuge concept and apparently not enough macroalgae to out-compete this mess, my best guess.

 

[hexcolor reef]

I wouldn’t use a brand name to light a pico tank. I think majority purchase name brand lights, reef lights in general for the complete reefing look.

I myself have been experimenting with non reefing lights and spend almost 80% less than what other spend on lighting.
My LFS has radions g6 on sale for 450 currently and I didn’t budge because I know reefing lights aren’t worth the price with unknown indirect competitors on the market