20g Hex lighting and stocking QUESTIONS

[mattheuw1]

I recently got a 20g hex and I want to turn it into a reef. I'm somewhat new to saltwater and want to take it slow. I've had my tank up and running for 3 weeks with about 3 lbs of live rock (extremely cured, purple and full of featherduster worms, will be getting at least 20 more lbs) and 35 pounds of cured sand (about 3 years old). I have 2 small hermits in there now.

What lighting would you suggest for soft coral and the possibility of having hard coral towards the top? I was interested in the:

Nova Extreme SLR T-5 Fixtures 18" 2x20watt (1-actinic 1-10k) for $50, would this be enough light to grow soft coral and hard towards the top? Watts/gallon rule is old!!! Give me some opinions MFK!

tank is 16" wide, 19" deep until hits sand bed. Not willing to go bigger than an 18" light and Metal halide is not an option (budget is low).

Also what unique fish can I put in here? How many? I want at least one shrimp. I know a 20g hex is not a very good SW tank but it will have to do.

 

[BIGgourami]

for $160 you could get this:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquar...ting_metal_halide_jbj_k2_viper_hqi_clamp.html

a great little lamp that would be perfect on the tank

though the T5 would probably work fine.. LPS anyway i wouldn't really keep SPS under a 2 bulb

i wouldn probably take out some of the sand 35 pounds seems like a lot for a tall narrow tank

for fish you actually have a few options

i'd go with a yelloe or pink spotted watchman goby (pistol shrimp is optional)
and some sort of dottyback, and orchid, neon, springeri, flavivertex, splendid or redhead would be my pick
or maybe a royal gramma or 2-3 bangaii cards

 

[mattheuw1]

You don't think 2 t5s could grow SPS? I ended up going with an 18" nova extreme 40watt fixture with a 10k T5 and actinic T5 bulb. I looks great! Much brighter than any PC bulb! I did end up taking out 10lbs of sand for a nano project. So for the stock list...
-15 lbs of really cured live rock
-25lbs sand
-1.5" Blue Damsil
-2 astrea snails and 4 regular tiny snails
-2 small hermits
-2 peppermint shrimps
LPS:
-5 different zoanthid colonies
-4" kenya tree
-5" cabbage leather
-2" green star polyp colony.
SPS:
-3" piece of of pink birds nest
-3" Orange Monti Cap
......everything is looking great. Had it running for for about a month. Only time will tell. The LPS appears to be thriving. Just added the SPS frags towards the top so I will keep you updated on how well it does.

 

[BIGgourami]

i really dont think 2 T5's could grow SPS.. it's worth a try though..

"regular snails"?

and just for the record.. your LPS's are all softies

birdsnest is nice.. if the lights turn out to be enough you're really going to like that frag

 

[mattheuw1]

i really dont think 2 T5's could grow SPS.. it's worth a try though..

"regular snails"?

and just for the record.. your LPS's are all softies

birdsnest is nice.. if the lights turn out to be enough you're really going to like that frag

What do you mean softies? Like I said I'm new to SW. I only know of 2 different groups: LPS and SPS. So all of my "LPS" coral are softies? Soft as in not hard like a rock? please clarify.
....and I say regular snail because their just the cheap .99 ones. Not sure of scientific name and don't care. I think my T5s are pretty bright. They are Slimpaq brand with indiviual reflectors.

 

[BIGgourami]

ther are three kinds of coral

soft: does not make ANY calcium based skeleton
LPS: skeleton building but with large, obvious, fleshy polyps
SPS: stony with small polyps that you have to look closely at

 

[mattheuw1]

Thanks for the clarification BIGgourami. That helps a lot. I had no idea, I thought there was only 2 categories. But all of the coral seems to be adjusting great to the T5s. I glues everything down yesterday and must've got bit 50 times by this mean damsel I have. I also have the 2 peppermints and he has a good time trying to eat them! Anyone looking for a FREE blue damsel?

Why do I have to get PWNED!?!?!?!

 

[BIGgourami]

my clownfish is the same way