High Light And Co2 For Nano (7g)

My girlfriend is setting up a 7g planted shrimp tank and has decided that I'm the "expert" on lighting and CO2 because I have a high tech 75g.
Problem is I have no experience with a tank that small...
What are the forum favorites for high lighting in a nano? I use 2x Fluval 2.0 on my 75 gallon so naturally I looked at Fluval first but holy cow, $80 for a nano light?!
Also, does anyone have any experience with a paintball CO2 set up on a nano? Maybe a kit that's available?
She certainly has high aspirations for the plants (things like rotala macrandra, wallichi, etc.) So high light would almost certainly be required (preferably dimmable to help her reach a nice balance) and with high light comes CO2.
Considered one of the disposable kits from fluval or ista for CO2 but she expressed an interest in set and forget and that just won't happen with a disposable or DIY set up.
So far, it seems like things don't exactly scale down sensibly for nano tanks but she sees my tank and how it operates so she wants things to be similar for her: lights and CO2 on timers.
At least dirting it will be easy.

 

I have no idea on the Co2 (I will be following this thread myself because I want to set up Co2 in my 10g) For lighting you could do a clip on Finnex Planted+ light. It’s great for growing plants in a tank that size.

 

I have no idea on the Co2 (I will be following this thread myself because I want to set up Co2 in my 10g) For lighting you could do a clip on Finnex Planted+ light. It’s great for growing plants in a tank that size.

I did consider the Finnex clip-on I'm just not sure if it will have enough oomph par wise for the plants she wants. I mean, I'm sure it'll grow val, java fern, anubias etc. But wallichi, downoi, and some kind of carpeting plant might need more than the planted+. Still, the Fluval at $80 seems a bit much, there has to be something higher par for less money. Nicrew or chihiros(sp?) I'm just not familiar with their models.

 

Is the tank rimless? The chihiros A series has excellent PAR output for a nano tank and is dimmable, but I believe it only fits on rimless tanks. If not, you could find a way to suspend it.

 

Is the tank rimless? The chihiros A series has excellent PAR output for a nano tank and is dimmable, but I believe it only fits on rimless tanks. If not, you could find a way to suspend it.

It is rimless, thank you, I'll look that light up as soon as I get out of work!

 

I think I'm going to get her the Chihiros A-series. It's only 12" deep without substrate so I think it will work perfectly. Now I just have to figure out the CO2 thing and she needs to figure out what color shrimp she wants.

 

I think I'm going to get her the Chihiros A-series. It's only 12" deep without substrate so I think it will work perfectly. Now I just have to figure out the CO2 thing and she needs to figure out what color shrimp she wants.

Good luck! You'll be able to get really high PAR with that depth, be sure to start low in the beginning

 

Good luck! You'll be able to get really high PAR with that depth, be sure to start low in the beginning

Ha, yeah I learned that the hard way on the 75g!
Start low balance ferts and CO2 to that and then up the lights and balance to the new brightness is way easier than just starting high. Segments is key.