I really want a reef tank...

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Mudslinger14

Candiru
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Jul 17, 2010
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A couple of you may remember, I came here a few months ago asking about my little black balls and corals...

For about 2 months now, I've had a 36 gallon saltwater FOWLR tank running. I currently have 1 four striped damsel....No, I didn't just start with one :grinno: I've realised the cost of setting up a reef tank...And if I was going to set one up, I would want a larger tank where I could have some nicer fish, (tangs/angels etc.).

Now, I did come asking about corals a couple months ago, and I didn't progress any further than asking questions...
Now im serious about it. I was doing some research, and I don't fully understand the whole lighting procedure.

The tank I would have this reef tank in is a 300 gallon (68" long 36" high and 28" deep). I came across this, http://www.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-48in-4x54W-T5-HO-Light-Fixture-Extendable-p/52305.htm , again, please go easy on me. I have no idea what im talking about :ROFL: but, this can hold 4 individual lights. It says it comes with:

1x 48" T5 Quad fixture
2x 54W T5 HO lamps 10000K (Free Item)
2x 54W T5 HO lamps Actinic Blue (Free Item)
4x LED(Free Item)



So my question is....What corals could these support, if any...In a 36" deep tank? Go easy on me! :ROFL:




 
I was thinking softies...I also wanted some Zoanthus...Could I?
 
I would say no...there is very little power in that based on your tank size, and it wont penetrate very well.

For a setup like yours, Im going to recommend a MH fixture, or a TON of VHO/HO/PC whatever.
 
Alright...The tank comes with a MH fixture, but I heard they aren't the best lights for overheating problems?
 
For that deep of tank and dimensions you will need at least 3x400 watt metal halides. I would also do 6 x96watt PC bulbs for actinic lighting. I run a 96x24x30 and have 4x 400 watt metal halides and the pc actinic 96 watt bulbs. I can tell you now, my reef has over 35,000 invested to make it what is has become. If will be a money pit costing aprox $450 a month to maintain. This includes food, salt, electricity,and not every reef tank but mine I have to change out the gfo, calcium reactor, and charcol media every so often. It all adds up. I hope you do set it up as it becomes such a amazing ecosystem and you become the mad scientist lol. It takes alot of hard work and dedication along with tank crashes to get that beautiful reef many invision. I hope this doesnt turn you away and just informs you about what you are about to start. MAny reef tanks run anywhere from $70-$200 per gallon once fully stocked. This includes equpipment and livestock. I will help you with any questions you may have.
 
Also MH fixtures do create alot of heat but you can easily cool the water. I use a cooler. If I opted to go with out a cooler I would run a fan over my sump and also a fans inside and on the sides of my canopy. For the light MH fixtures give you it is well worth the extra money to cool the tank!
 
That is...Uhm, a lot. Haha. As a working 14 year old, I would only be bringing in around 7-8k annually.
Do you think you could give me a link to the type of lighting I would need?
 
And those odyssea lights are junk! If you are trying to budget to $100 lighting maybe you need to start with a smaller reef tank say 55-125 gallons.
 
Haha....Ok. So, I could start out with 125 gallons. I could still keep various tangs...Blue hepatus/Yellow, and maybe some larger angels?

For a standard 125g...Lighting. How much?
 
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