Starting a 20gal

[gqlmao]

Hey heres an image of just the t-5s on my cube, my other light isn't on, just to give you an image of the intensity of the light. The tanks 30x30x24.




Stanley,

[Midknight]

Nice looking tank, but you may want to get someone that mixes your sand up a bit.

[gqlmao]

ahaha Thats a deceptive picture lol. Its actually barebottom :P Heres a better pic when its clean and with my sets of light on! My mh and t-5s mix quite well together Although I think mh + t-5 on a 20 gal a little over kill

[skabooya]

so then would it be better to go with 2x24 T5 for my tank? I dont want to keep sps or clams but i want nice bright corals. I want my zoas and shrooms to pop and i may want to keep some lps like a brain but really im more interested in my softies.
Ive been recommended PC's but ive read they are not cost efficient, however they are in my price range. Im gonna keep looking around but i would like your opinions about what you think would be the best lighting for my situation. I really dont want MH. just for an FYI.

Oh and thanks for all the responses it really helped me out quite a bit.
PS that is a good looking tank

[gqlmao]

I guess 2 t-5 would work depending on how wide the tank will be, pretty sure its 12 inches if standard correct me if im wrong? the fixture itself is around 10 inches wide. If you want bright coloured zoas and lps and softies I'm sure you can get away from 2 t-5s however you wouldnt get much of a choice with spectrum because of the minimiumness of bulbs. Just make sure they are HO and not regular t-5s. I think 4 would be even better for corals however 2 will definitely be sufficient as long as they got individual reflectors. Stay away from PCs IMO they are expensive to replace bulbs. Also they produce a lot of heat and definitely lacks in bulb selection and life compared to t-5s. Thanks


Stanley,

[skabooya]

Yea thats what ive been reading about PC's. Theyre not very energy efficient either. Im gonna need to look around for a 2-24w T5 with individual reflectors then. Anyone else with opinions on 2x24 being okay for a 20 gal High. and yes its just the standard 20 gal L24xW12xH16.5.

[skabooya]

Well i just found it went to ocean aquatics and found the nova extreme 4x24w HO T5 with taxes and everything it will come out to $209.43
Comes with bulbs and 2 moonlights, etc.
Aparently this fixture is the same as having 130watt PC over a 20gal but with the MH shimmer. So even though it does not have individual reflectors that makes me happy.
I think this is what i will go for. Im gonna talk to my hubby again when he gets home.

Let me know what you think about this fixture. I am both excited i found something and excited at the prospect of putting in an order, but i am also freaked out because of the negative stuff ive read about it and just starting saltwater all together. *bites nails*

[hockey nut]

Welcome to Canreef.

Seems to me you've done your homework Keep up the good work. Both T5 and PC will give you the light you need for zoas and mushrooms, ( which happen to be my favorite as well ). On the buy/sell forum you can post "looking for" t5 or pc light source for your 20gal etc and see what kind of response you get. You never know what may fall into your lap.

Live rock imo is almost the coolest thing in your tank. If you buy from a store and let it cure in your tank, you will see all kinds of neet stuff growing and crawling off it. First day there won't be much but by day 30 there is usually some pretty cool things happening. Small snails, little feather dusters, etc etc. Before and after pics are great for that.

Don't be freaked out about starting the tank. There is lots of help hear on Canreef and as a teacher you should know we learn from our mistakes. LOL.... Aptasia and flat worms etc happen in this hobby but there are ways to take care of it all. So don't worry too much about what might happen with regards to that stuff. Take your time and ask lots of questions. Hey wait a sec, that's what your doing. :/ Make a list of what you need / want and start from there and have fun.

I'd say your on the right track.

Cheers

[skabooya]

Right so i clicked on the link to Big Als online from this site and was checking out the Nova extreme HO fixtures. I got all excited because of the sale and I saw one i would have totally ordered asap because it was $161 or something like that. Regular price 179 or something along those lines. Anyway then i went to talk to my hubby and he said i could get it then i went back on the computer and typed in bigalsonline.ca and the same fixture showed up as $229.99. I was like wtf? then i checked out the link from this forum again and discoverd that it was to the american site and not the canadian one.
I was excited for nothing. And, even with the regular price why is it still cheaper in the USA than it is here in Canada? I dont get it. Booo.
Anyone know where i can get a T5 striplight in Canada for $200 or less?

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by gqlmao

ahaha Thats a deceptive picture lol. Its actually barebottom :P Heres a better pic when its clean and with my sets of light on! My mh and t-5s mix quite well together Although I think mh + t-5 on a 20 gal a little over kill

How small are those fish if thats a 20G??? hahaa..