7g minibow lighting

[surfn]

I have had a 7g minibow for quite some time, and within the last year and a half it has been the home to a tiny mantis and a little bit of live rock.

It has a HOB AC 110 converted to a fuge, and a 32w 50/50 PC light.

Most of the corals I have put in it, like xenia, some mushrooms, some majanos, and some chaeto have survived, but dont really look all that great as I dont think the light is bright enough for all of them to thrive.

What kind of lighting would you put over 7g minibow? It is 17" long, and 10" at the widest part of the bow.

I would be all about doing a 70w MH, but I'm worried about heat, and the fact thats really too much light for a mantis.

I've seen these at my LFS, and they look pretty neat. Nothing spectacular for corals on bigger tanks, but I would think plenty of light for a minibow. I dont think they are HO though, which sucks. I do realize it would hang over on the sides too.
http://www.hellolights.com/24aqt5dolist.html

or, theres this 96w PC quad light.
http://www.hellolights.com/201xcoaqcfho.html

which do you think would be more intense? do better with corals in a minibow, like GSP, xenia, majanos, tulip anemones, and other rock anemones.

thanks

 

[surfn]

If your place stays pretty cool you could probably get away with a 70Watt halide...

I think the 7 gallon minibows are pretty sweet. Lots of cool pics and setups over here...

http://www.oc-creative.com/reef/

yeah, seen that site.

the only prob besides heat is i think the mantis wouldnt come out that much if the light is too bright. if i didnt mind having a nocturnal mantis i would definitely go with a MH. but i'd like to encourage it to come out during the day as much as possible.

where do you find 70w MH retros now anyways? i know there was a guy from florida selling them off of nanoreef.com a year ago.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

I've run the quad 96 on a MB7. It's hecka bright. Nice :)

Don't have any pics though.

 

[Brandon]

i just got a minibow 7 with 70w MH and 28w PC
its been day 2 and so far no heat problems, but lots of evap....

 

[surfn]

i just got a minibow 7 with 70w MH and 28w PC
its been day 2 and so far no heat problems, but lots of evap....

got any pics? would love to see the setup of how the canopy is constructed. do you have fans blowing on it? about how much evap per day?

 

[Brandon]

sure, ill post some pics

well, the evap is about 1/2 a cup a day so far

there is a fan blowing on it

ill take pics now and post em for you :D

 

[Brandon]

heres the minibow 7 with custom canopy

heres the hood

heres the MH and CF, easy retro

heres the fan to the left, it sucks air in and does a great job of keeping the tank cool


on another note, i read about mantis shrimp and apparently, they do better in lower lighted tanks, something about shell disease was also mentioned