New need advice

[lovefisch]

Hello everyone, this is my first post, but I have read many on this forum over the last few months. I have decided on keeping a nano reef, unfortunalty it is all the space I have, so I cannot go bigger. I have narrowed it down to 2 different models both are 12g and I am wondering which lighting system will give me the most options and versatility as far as tank inhabitants goes:
1) the nano cube DX has two 24-watt 50/50 PC's- 48w total
OR,
2) the aquapod which has one 27w dual daylight 6700k/10000k daylight bulb and one 27w square pin dual actinic 420nm/460nm actinic bulb- 54w total
I appreciate the time taken to answer the question would like to thank you in advance.

 

[fedukeford]

Welcome.
With both fixtures you will be able to keep the same coral, since they are almost the same wattage, so it doesn't really matter which one you get. the coral that can be kept with those lights are: zoas, mushrooms, frogspawn, leathers, hammers, torches, ricordea, brains, and all the non-photosynthetic coral.
If you want to be able to keep more coral you could upgrade the lighting to one of the 70 or 150 watt Sunpaq unites (around $150-250), and you'd be able to keep softies, LPS, SPS , and clams (SPS might be difficult to keep though in such a small tank.
Feduke

 

[chuckcac]

cant answer your questions but... Welcome to the boards!!! :cheer:

 

[lovefisch]

Thanks for the quick response. Even though the wattages are close, do the other characterstics of the bulbs make one better or higher recommended than the other (the 50/50 v. the daylight and the actinic) or or those the same?

 

[lovefisch]

thank you chuck

 

[fedukeford]

Its pretty much the same, the 50/50 are 2 tubes each, one tube daylight on each bulb, and one tube actinic on each bulb, so 2 actinic tubes, and 2 daylight tubes.
the other set up, one is full daylight, one is full actinic, so 2 tubes actinic, 2 tubes daylight.
So in the end, pretty much the same thing. You might get a little better color from the 50/50's since it will be a little more blended than 1 daylight and 1 actinic bulb.
Feduke

 

[lovefisch]

I understand. Is one a more reliable brand then the other Nanocube or Aquapod, or has any system been known to be problematic (heat issues, etc...)? Any pro's or con's to one system over the other?

 

[fedukeford]

For the aquapod, i think there is an option for like $100 more you could upgrade to Metal Halides