How big can I go while keeping the same light?

OCDP · #1 03-07-2006, 05:39 PM

Hmm, well I am not too sure of the height of my 20g. I do know it's just a standard 20g, but I still don't know the dimensions

The height.. I'd like to make a little higher than what I have now.. maybe a few inches higher.. that's about it.

Funds are not so much an issue if I can do this without the light upgrade haha. I just wanted to keep most of what I have for the most part...

Can you guys help me out in deciding where to go to get the cube built? Quality and price.. and does anyone know how much the cost goes up if I wanted to use starfire on the front pane??

Sorry for all the questions

digital-audiophile · #2 03-07-2006, 05:44 PM

Scott, talk to Dennis when you decide what size you want. I think they are backed up a bit in tank building though. (We were talking to Albert about tanks the other week)

TheReefGeek · #3 03-07-2006, 08:32 PM

If you are doing this primarily for fish, I would suggest a longer tank, because your fish will be much happier with more swimming length before having to turn around. Say a 4 footer. Then Put your HQI in the middle, and have a large rock pile in the middle with your SPS corals on it, right under the MH.

Then just run cheap fluorescents over the rest of the tank, like a FOWLR. This way you only have to spend a little cash on some strip lites, and you will utilize your MH for your light demanding corals in the middle of the tank.

This would be a good setup for future expansion too, you could add a second MH bulb anytime, and make the fluorescents actinics.

But it depends on how much room you have, maybe you dont have 4 feet of space. Just an idea for you.

StirCrazy · #4 03-07-2006, 11:22 PM

size wise you could do 24" x 24" with a 150 HQI but max depth I would go with that bulb is 18"

Steve

OCDP · #5 03-08-2006, 03:03 PM

Okay, perhaps scratch the cube idea .... grr. I am being informed that angels need lots of swimming space (which I didn't know) .. so I am being advised to do a longer tank. I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do here... size is an issue. Length wouldn't be good for two reasons A) I have a modded PVC light fixture made that is only as wide as my 20g tank stand. And B) I don't really have that much space in my bedroom.

Now.. I do want to make the tank more suitable for the Flame... but I just don't know what to do. I'm pretty confused, I am very unfamiliar with tank dimensions and sizes.. I really just want something pretty basic and standard, I'm not too picky. I just need to make the tank a little longer now to make more swimming room for the Flame..

I need some help! haha, thank you.

Scott

TheReefGeek · #6 03-08-2006, 03:19 PM

Do you have any pictures of this modded light fixture, maybe we can figure out how to mod it again to fit a different tank.

If you want to upgrade your lighting let me know, I have various size used fixtures and MH and fluorescent setups right now.

OCDP · #7 03-08-2006, 03:25 PM

Can't have anything hanging from my ceiling unfortunately, hence why I have the PVC mod built.

Hah, of course someone asks me to post a picture of the mod just after I delete all my old photos on my photobucket account . Haha... this is the only thing I have that can show you somewhat what it looks like. It comes off the ground , straight up, then the flood lamp is in the middle.. it's pretty basic.

(you can see the PVC on the sides coming up... its not too hard to picture the rest.)

Perhaps I could just make the PVC longer.. but in turn that makes it heavier in the middle, which would eventually lead to a bend in the PVC wouldn't it? Also, the coverage is going to be pretty crappy with this flood lamp mod over a long tank.. I think it will anyways.

mr_alberta · #8 03-08-2006, 03:20 PM

Do a 24x24x20 cube-ish tank for now and use less rock. That'll give the angel more swimming room for the time being.

OCDP · #9 03-08-2006, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_alberta

Do a 24x24x20 cube-ish tank for now and use less rock. That'll give the angel more swimming room for the time being.

I like this idea... obviously because a cube is what I want... and have wanted one for a while now. If I did just a big island in the middle and left the sides alone it would have fairly good swimming space.. and if I were to make caves and other various hiding spots, etc... what do you guys think?

I realize I've walked into this a little unprepared, tonight I will take measurements of what kind of space I have to work with, although I know it wont be too much... again, why a cube would be better for me.

Sorry.. haha guess it's logic to find out what kind of space I have to work with haha

Beverly · #10 03-08-2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_alberta

Do a 24x24x20 cube-ish tank for now and use less rock. That'll give the angel more swimming room for the time being.

A 24" long tank isn't going to do it for the dwarf angel, unless the other horizontal measurement is 36"

A 24"x24" footprint is going to make the fish swim in circles, possibly stunting/deforming its normal physiological needs (from a thread on RC), even though he/she has rockwork caves to swim through/explore.

My rusty dwarf angel is in a 48"x24"x24" high 120g. The tank has less rock than most similar tanks I've seen. The tank has lots of open space and a maze of open rockwork for the angel and other two larger fish to utilize. Having watched the angel's movements throughout the tank, I really wouldn't recommend anything less than 36" long.

Just my 2 cents.