Watts per gallon

Sobe203 said:
But just because a lot of people do it doesn't make it right ;)
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I like you already :D. I would advise against having an anemone in there, as well (there are quite a few well-founded reasons, but no need to go into that here). Try and see if you can't get the small halide fixture. That will give you many more options. But as Grins said, you will still have an okay selection with the "deluxe" setup for that tank.
 
Me and Grins differ a little on what the smallest tank you can have to house an anemone. I think you can have certain condy anemones in a tank as small as 24G, but not other types of anemones like bubble tips, carpets, etc. Even I wouldn't suggest any type of anemone in less than 24g, and even at 24g you better have ideal conditions, ie, good light and sump/refugium. Thats my opinion on anemones.

They also lose their appeal pretty quickly as well. When you want to add other corals you have to give the anemone a lot of room so it doesn't kill the corals. Even then, it may just get up and walk around one day, stinging all the way. Luckly mine doesn't walk around, but that definately isn't true for most.

Your tank will be a great fish only tank at first though. I would focus on that for the short time and research more to get a good idea on corals.
 
Thanks. I'll skip the anemone - too small of a tank, too difficult to maintain.

What sort of soft corals can I look into getting for 2 watts per gallon? (I will look into a clip-on light).

Also, the websites that sell coral (although I'll probably go to my LFS) list prices, but never indicate how much coral you're getting. How is coral even measured?
 
Coral is measured in many different ways in terms of pricing--actual length, area, number of polyps, color, etc. I wouldn't purchase anything if you don't have a reasonble idea of how big it is (most will list this somewhere), etc. Many of the soft corals and others would be fine. Mushrooms, most zoanthids, "clove" and "glove" polyps, star polyps, a good handful of leather corals (couple of exceptions). Once it is going strong and you get the hang of things, you may even be able to get away with some hardy stony corals, like bubble coral (aggressive).
 
Thanks amphiprion - looks like I have a big selection to pick from!!

I'm getting ahead of myself, though - I'm going to buy Saltwater For Dummies tomorrow and read the entire thing over the weekend so I can be prepared to set up the tank and take measurements before buying ANY coral or fish.
 
I agree with Grins on the book selection. You don't need a book for dummies, as there is no such thing as a dumb/stupid question so feel free to ask anything you don't understand. In my eyes, Bob Fenner (who wrote Conscientious Marine Aquarist) is a "the man" to listen to when it comes to everything marine.
 
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