Starting a 20gal

[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*

[skabooya]

So shopping list would be:
nova extreme 2x24 24" T5 HO fixture
25lbs LR (Fiji, Tonga, Jakarta, Vantau ? HELP i have no idea)
15lbs sand (Caribsea Aragamax Suger sand for a shallow sandbed)
2 Koralia 1's
1 hydrometer (i know refractometer is better but i cant afford one right now)
1 bucket of Instant ocean salt
I have a few heaters from previous fw setups so i will use one of them.
I will also invest in a glass lid to cut down on evaporation, stabalize temps, keep stuff from jumping out, keeping salt creep/spray to a minimum, and from stuff getting into the tank.


2 gal water change weekly or maybe biweekly? because i plan on having a low bioload (mostly inverts and 1 or 2 fish max)
Should i think about getting an HOB fuge with a skimmer attachment? Or maybe just a cheap skimmer.

Let me know how this sounds and if i am forgetting anything or if i should change anything.

Thank you in advance.

[Kronk]

-I would get a single 150w MH there are some decent priced ones online sunpod?
-Fiji is going to be the best in terms of porosity
--2 koralia 1's would be 800gph of flow might want to look into the koralia nanos at -240gph
-hydrometer works fine for me
-i would go with better salt, kent or even tropic marin with a 20g it will last a long time
-reusing heater is a good idea
-the glass lid i would recommend against, it will rise your temperature evaporation is really the only way the water can cool down
-I do a weekly 3 gallon water change in my 20g
definatly get a skimmer, seriously
i know it complicates things but i would look at setting it up with a 10g sump you wont regret it just google it and you will see its not that much more work to setup and it will make things a lot easier in the long run

Best of Luck

[skabooya]

Kronk: Thank you for your very informative post. It really helped me out.

In response, I cant afford MH. And i was going for PC's until i found out that t5 is more energy efficient, runs cooler, has better light output, and the colour just looks awsome.
So im going for 4x24 T5 HO nova extreme fixture. I will only have softies like zoas and shrooms and maybe a couple lps but really im not a fan of them.

I did more reading about the koralia's and i agree 2 k1's would be too much flow so now im looking at just getting 1 k1 and placing it at the back of the tank so if there are any dead spots it will be at the front of the tank where i can clean any build up easier. And having 1 less thing in the tank will help it to look a bit cleaner.

As for salt i have no selection unless i order online in which case then i am also paying double. We have instant ocean here and so thats why im going for that. I figure i can get a bag instead of a bucket since salt lasts a while and a bag is easier to hide than a big 160gal bucket.

As for a skimmer i was looking at the rio nano skimmer for $30. Ive read for a cheap skimmer it works pretty good after it breaks in. For larger tanks or for tanks that have more lps or sps a better skimmer is needed but if you have a low bioload with mainly softies and just a couple of fish and your tank is 20gal or under than a rio is pretty good. A remora is better but again thats too rich for my blood at this time.

I wouldnt mind setting up a sump but i have no room for it. This tank will be going into my office on my bookself. I have tons and tons of books from teaching and as a teacher i am always adding more.

3 gals sounds good. I was thinking of doing 2 gals a week for starters until i get more stuff in the tank then i would move up to 3 gals a week. Although i see a lot of people doing 2 or 3 gals every other week.

and yes im getting 25lbs of fiji LR and 20lbs of caribsea live sand. Its what most people seem to be using.

Im going to have baking soda on hand for each water change because our tap water here is perfect for saltwater or any tank. And i mean its awsome water. But we have soft water with either a neutral PH or a ph of 6 depending on the season. So i will need the baking soda to raise alk so the ph is right on.

[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?