20gal Questions.

JasonJ · #1 12-01-2005, 02:57 AM

i have an extra 20gal tank.
i was wondering if the 24" corallife aqualight 130 watts PC is good enough for it. im planning go get at least 25lbs of LR, couple of PHs, AC powerfilter, 1-2 inch sandbed, cleanup crew, a shrimp, 2 clowns, some zoos, softies, and a RBTA. just doing the basic stuff...still learnin and readin. goin to do everything reallllllllyyy slowww. for water changes i could buy pre mixed water from my LFS. i was wondering if this is a good idea? since i dont want to spend money on a R/O unit. the thing is the water is from their main system that holds cured LR. its $5 per 5gal of premixed water. do i need to run a skimmer? if so im goin with the remora brand..but that will be later on down the road...since money is tight coz of school. any other suggestions are welcome.
thanks in advance.

deacon hemp · #2 12-01-2005, 03:35 AM

I'd get MH's right off the bat,if you didnt already have that light.20 high tanks need MH in my opinion,especially if your planning an RBTA.Also find a small clone because they grow pretty big and quick!Its good your going to go slow,i wouldnt add the anemone for 4 months imo.The water acually seems like a good deal considering i pay 2-3 bucks just for a 5 gal of RO/DI water from safeway! Lastly you dont need a skimmer but again with an anemone in a small tank it will greatly help with water quality.

If your just going softies your original plan seems fine.Ive acually done the bta in a small tank (18g) with MH light and skimmer and it was happy and never moved.

Gizmo · #3 12-01-2005, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonJ

i have an extra 20gal tank.
i was wondering if the 24" corallife aqualight 130 watts PC is good enough for it. im planning go get at least 25lbs of LR, couple of PHs, AC powerfilter, 1-2 inch sandbed, cleanup crew, a shrimp, 2 clowns, some zoos, softies, and a RBTA. just doing the basic stuff...still learnin and readin. goin to do everything reallllllllyyy slowww. for water changes i could buy pre mixed water from my LFS. i was wondering if this is a good idea? since i dont want to spend money on a R/O unit. the thing is the water is from their main system that holds cured LR. its $5 per 5gal of premixed water. do i need to run a skimmer? if so im goin with the remora brand..but that will be later on down the road...since money is tight coz of school. any other suggestions are welcome.
thanks in advance.

I have a 20G using the 24" Coralife fixture. It is great for the zoo's shrooms, colt, etc. but I wouldn't keep an anemone in there under those PC's. I have it hooked into the larger system to keep the water param's under control, otherwise it was hard to top off etc. Skimmers are always a good idea in my mind, but I've seen some amazing BB systems that don't use a skimmer.

JasonJ · #4 12-01-2005, 08:36 AM

thanks for the replies.
well i just want an anemone cause i want the clowns to host it.
is there any softies that clowns host?
so PC lights are ok for softies?

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #5 12-01-2005, 08:39 AM

My clowns have hosted rhodactis mushrooms. I've seen them host frogspawns, toadstools & several other soft & LPS corals.

Anthony

Beermaster · #6 12-01-2005, 01:12 PM

My clowns host in my frogspawn, and before that they hosted on my open brian (which IMO was the cutest thing lol)

muck · #7 12-01-2005, 02:25 PM

My clowns host in both my xenia and one of my frogspawns corals.

Corey · #8 12-01-2005, 04:12 PM

IMO 135watts of PC lighting for 20 gal of water is enough to keep anything. I have been able to keep even acros under 72 watts in a 24 gal. with no colour loss.

Bob I · #9 12-01-2005, 04:58 PM

I have kept an anemone under PC lighting with no difficulties. Especially in a 20 gallon tank since it is relatively shallow. I won't get into the water thing since I don't know where you live. As far as skimmers go I think they are highly overrated. You can easily change water in a small tank, so a skimmer is overkill IMHO.

OCDP · #10 12-01-2005, 07:35 PM

A skimmer is not overkill IMO, I use a Remora on my 20g and am very happy with what it pulls out of my water plus the additional water changes I perform. It's nice to see all that unnoticed gunk being removed from your water.

FWIW, I kept many BTA's and an RBTA under 2x65w coralife fixtures... they all thrived ! Good luck.