SPS Nano

[Hishman]

I have a 9 gal Nano that is slowly being transitioned into SPS now that it’s matured. Dimensions 24” x 9” x 9”.

Tank currently has 4 T5 with ATI reflectors inside a diy wooden fixture. I like T5 but the last ATI blue+ bulbs I ordered were much greener and I’d like a slimmer fixture. I’m also seeking a bluer look and miss shimmer I had with halides in the past.

I am between a couple choices and strongly leaning towards AP9X. I understand all these lights are overkill and will be run at the 10-20% power range. Money is not a big consideration for me on this.

Two Radion XR15 Blue (or 1 XR30)
- great spread, spectrum but lacking shimmer

Kessil AP9X
- decent spread with likely two hot spots that might actually be nice so there some variation for higher/lower light sps
- the rectangular light pattern fits my tank well
- great shimmer
- Option for a more simple spectrum dial which is great as I struggle with leaving the settings alone.

I also looked at a coupe others but was leaning away due to lack of spectrum

Blade Grow/Glow
- lacking spectrum and would require two with concerns over color mixing. Lack of shimmer also

3X A80s
- also seems much more limited on spectrum.

 

[Rocks reef]

I'd run with the Kessil personally

 

[Hooz]

3x A80s would be cool. I almost did that on a tank build several years ago myself. Same spectrum and shimmer as the AP9X.

Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but I'd also recommend 2x AI Primes. I run Primes on all my nano tanks, although I run the older Prime HDs (not the newer 16HDs) so that I can upgrade the LED pucks and lenses with options from @luxdium

 

[minus9]

Quanta Helix bar, just pick your preferred spectrum. A single bar that just works.

 

[Hishman]

I ended up going with the AP9X and am very happy with the results. I can honestly say I’ll never go back to T5 after seeing the colors. How it’s possible to get a deeper blue, more florescence AND better color rendition at the same time has me wishing I moved away from T5 years ago.

I got a 3D printed shade as I got good coverage around 8-9” but the wide lenses had a lot spilling over.

Will likely add some strips for fill lighting as needed when the colonies grow out

 

[slingfox]

I ended up going with the AP9X and am very happy with the results. I can honestly say I’ll never go back to T5 after seeing the colors. How it’s possible to get a deeper blue, more florescence AND better color rendition at the same time has me wishing I moved away from T5 years ago.

I got a 3D printed shade as I got good coverage around 8-9” but the wide lenses had a lot spilling over.

Will likely add some strips for fill lighting as needed when the colonies grow out

Looking forward to the future tank upgrade

 

[Hishman]

Looking forward to the future tank upgrade

I prefer nanos personally.

 

[Hooz]

I prefer nanos personally.

Some people just don't get it. Nanos are indeed a starting spot for a lot of people, but some of us actually prefer the little tanks.

 

[Science/G]

I love my 30 gallon!

 

[Faurek]

T5s provide a blanket of light that LEDs do not, but LEDs have a clean blue look because of narrow peaks spectrum. I'm doing a fixture for my 10 gallon that will have a white T5 and blue and violet LEDs and part of the cycle with just blues. For me this is the best of both worlds, T5s made whites the right way and LEDs do blues the right way and I prefer to have a whiter tank most of the time.

 

[oreo54]

T5s provide a blanket of light that LEDs do not, but LEDs have a clean blue look because of narrow peaks spectrum. I'm doing a fixture for my 10 gallon that will have a white T5 and blue and violet LEDs and part of the cycle with just blues. For me this is the best of both worlds, T5s made whites the right way and LEDs do blues the right way and I prefer to have a whiter tank most of the time.

T5 did whites using rgb phosphors.

Led does white right with high cri white LEDs.
Bridgelux high cri eb strips.

Unfortunately manuf have not followed suit.
Cheaper just to add r/g to the blues and call it a day. It has its advantages.

One could argue the lack of red in t5 is an advantage.
Heaviest "red" is 610nm
ATI aqua blue special.
There is an advantage to spiky narrow colors as to being more saturated over the really full natural spectrum of high cri LEDs.

Personal choices.