I have one laying around...

[timhook22]

I have two spare 10 gallon tanks so I am looking for a 20" light that would be good for starting a nano reef tank... Anyone have any suggestions that are cost effective? Also would a FW filter work or do I need a protein skimmer? How about powerheads? :help:

[timhook22]

Maybe this:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~SearchStr~power%20compact~action~view~ idProduct~ES53101~idCategory~FILTFIPCTW~category~C oralife_20_Inch_Aqualight_With_1_96W_50_50_4_Tube_ Square_Pin_Base_(with_fans)_Saltwater_Aquarium_Sup plies_Lighting_Fixtures_Power_Compact_20in_Units~v endor~.html

[timhook22]

Anybody?

[Reefscape]

I have two spare 10 gallon tanks so I am looking for a 20" light that would be good for starting a nano reef tank... Anyone have any suggestions that are cost effective? Also would a FW filter work or do I need a protein skimmer? How about powerheads? :help:

You could use the filter, yes, however, i would add new media before you cycle it....Would no really bother with a skimmer on a small tank like this unless you can fall on a good second hand nano skimmer cheap...rely on water changes....



Maybe this:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~SearchStr~power%20compact~action~view~ idProduct~ES53101~idCategory~FILTFIPCTW~category~C oralife_20_Inch_Aqualight_With_1_96W_50_50_4_Tube_ Square_Pin_Base_(with_fans)_Saltwater_Aquarium_Sup plies_Lighting_Fixtures_Power_Compact_20in_Units~v endor~.html


Light looks fine to me for some good basic corals like Zoa's, shrooms etc etc....

[timhook22]

What kind of lighting would I need for a 10gal in order to keep SPS?

[timhook22]

I found a 18" Nova Extreme t5 HO 2x20watt... Will that work for SPS?

[Ace25]

In a 10G tank, ya, it probably would work, although I would change out one of the bulbs to either be a 50/50, or switch both out to something like 2 12K bulbs to give you more good light for SPS. Now keeping the water chemistry correct in a tank that small is going to be the hardest problem if you try SPS corals, but you could fit in a bigger variety of SPS in that size than LPS.

[journey0820]

You could use your extra 10 gallon as a refugium. Would also add more total water so increased water stability.

[timhook22]

This is true but do they make HOB overflows/return pumps for 10gal aquariums?

[Ace25]

ya, they make "nano" overflows (http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html) and small return pumps. So ya, it is possible, but still expensive. Overflow costs around $120, which is rediculous to me for $5 in plastic, and $40 or so for a return pump. I was toying the the same idea at one point but it just got to me too expensive for such a small tank for me.

[timhook22]

I can stick with LPS and spend the money on some sweet zoos and duncans.... haha

[Ace25]

Ahhh.. don't mention duncans.. one coral I can't wait to get.. Next month when I get my new tank setup, I will get my duncans. :) I am so facinated by them at the moment for some reason..

[timhook22]

So out of the two lighting options I found, what would seem the best to you?

[Ace25]

Definately the T5HO without question. Night and day difference to your corals when compared to the compact fluorescent fixture.

[timhook22]

Imagine that, and its cheaper too! haha

[HiepNotik]

I use a 96w coralife 50/50 on my 10g tank, and I think it does pretty good. I have not kept any corals but many have under that light, even clams, but has to be pretty high up. ok for zoos and softies, sps are ok too I believe. Oh and certain nems too. lol

[Ace25]

Unless your talking about aiptasia anemones then I don't know of one that exists that will be ok in a 10g tank. Regardless, the T5HO puts out more PAR than the CFL light, even at only 20w compared to 96w. Not by much, it's pretty close, but a lot less power/heat to run the T5HOs for a little better light.

[timhook22]

Well you should know I had a 29gal SW setup for a few months and got discouraged and quit... well it turns out the reason I was having bad luck was because the light I had bought from a fellow reefer was bad... Im not buying used lighting unless I completely trust the person! So aptasia is going to be nonexistent haha I burn them off with hot water and then suck them off with a turkey baster! MUAHAHAHA I figured I wouldnt be able to keep nems but what about the pointless condy?

[Ace25]

The condy was what I had in my 29G.. and while it was small in the beginning, it definately outgrew my 29G and I had to give it away. They are smaller than other nems.. but not by much when full grown. Figure a 12" diameter reach.

[timhook22]

I meant in terms of lighting.... I hear mini BTAs are fun to keep and look awesome too... would they do ok?... I guess when it comes to lighting I'm not the brightest..... bulb.... ha ha ;) I guess I am confused as to what I am limited to with T-5HO's...

[Ace25]

I have never heard of a "mini" bta.. just small baby ones. Is that like a "mini" elephant? ;) They always grow fairly quickly under good lighting, so you may get 6 months with a baby before you have to replace it.

[timhook22]

So would the 18" T-5's cover anemone requirements? I think you are only talking about tank size issues...

[Reefscape]

I personaly dont think either are sufficient for a nem, light nor tank size....Just my opinion though..

[Ace25]

I personaly dont think either are sufficient for a nem, light nor tank size....Just my opinion though..

While I agree on the tank size.. the lighting.. personally I think it would work, heck, it is about the same light that I have now and I can grow SPS corals.

Think about it.. rough off the top of my head numbers for my 29G tank, 6x24w T5HO, -2 for Actinic.. 4x24w=280 PAR, so that is almost 10 PAR per gallon.. If he has 2x20w T5HOs, puts in 2 12K bulbs instead of 1 actinic, that will give him probably a little over 100 PAR for a 10Gallon tank, still = 10 PAR per gallon.

Regardless, I still wouldn't put any anemone in a 10G tank.

[timhook22]

So what about a clam? Ive seen them in a lot of nanos, but Im not sure about my lighting...

[timhook22]

Anyone have any ideas?

[nycsicktank]

if i was a newbie(still am) i wouldnt go get clam or anemone in the beginning due to high demanding. FOWLR is already high demanding enough for me, well not much now =)

as for effective cost, phew dont even wanna go there but let me tell you this it will be enough for you to get a decent car. :thumbsup:

p.s my tank costs me more than my ex-gf but im glad

[journey0820]

Hi there...there are lots of beautiful soft corals that would give you the look of a flowing anemone and work well in that size tank as long as you got decent lights...at least T5HOs (not just T5s).

I would stock with great live rock (Tampa Bay Salt Water is where I would go to get it...your tank is "made" with just your LR order) and slowly add a few corals. You can probably have two small fish...a clown and a firefish maybe.

There are corals that look just like anemones to me and clown fish are so weird about what they host with that they will host with these corals just as easily as they might to an anemone.

I would definitely do a refugium with a tank that small to add some stability to the water parameters.

[journey0820]

There are books out now specifically devoted to nano tanks...check em out for some really cool ideas.