Need some light

[regalt]

Since i cant have any of my big tanks at my apartment i wanna set up a 20long, here was planning on doing a FOWLR but i'm kinda thinking id like to try a mini reef set up in the future once the tanks been up for a while, just need some recommendations on what lighting would be good for me.

 

[xEchOx]

Lighting really depends on what types of corals you want. If you want SPS, you'll want a high powered fixture something in the order of a 150 watt MH, or a 4 bulb T5HO fixture. If you are looking to keep mostly softies or some of the less demanding LPS a 2 bulb T5HO or even a larger Power compact fixture would work. I know for mushrooms and low light corals PC lights will do the job.

A 20g long will probably work to your advantage too since it is only 12 inches deep. Makes it easier for light to penetrate to the sand bed if you put corals there.

Do you have any corals in mind?

 

[FLESHY]

+1 to the above posts.

Some sites for budget lighting for you to poke around on right away.

www.aquatraders.com
www.fishneedit.com
www.rapidled.com

Rapid is not "budget" but it is DIY and you could go that route if you wanted to do LED's on a setup like this.

 

[regalt]

Lighting really depends on what types of corals you want. If you want SPS, you'll want a high powered fixture something in the order of a 150 watt MH, or a 4 bulb T5HO fixture. If you are looking to keep mostly softies or some of the less demanding LPS a 2 bulb T5HO or even a larger Power compact fixture would work. I know for mushrooms and low light corals PC lights will do the job.

A 20g long will probably work to your advantage too since it is only 12 inches deep. Makes it easier for light to penetrate to the sand bed if you put corals there.

Do you have any corals in mind?

No not yet thats why i'm just going to start out with a FOWLR set up first.

 

[regalt]

Well i have aqueon 30" T5 dual lamp fixture, was wondering if this would work for a FOWLR tank or maybe a fish only tank if i were to get some different bulbs for it.

 

[jworth]

If your not planning on getting corals, then it doesn't even matter what bulbs are in it. Hello Rafael!

 

[regalt]

If your not planning on getting corals, then it doesn't even matter what bulbs are in it. Hello Rafael!

Hey josh, so will the coralline algae still grow with regular lighting?

 

[BigCountry]

20 long you might want to try LEDs? They are new school but definitely affordable on a 20 long for sure. The bigger tanks we cannot afford them

 

[regalt]

20 long you might want to try LEDs? They are new school but definitely affordable on a 20 long for sure. The bigger tanks we cannot afford them

The ones i was looking at today for a 30" set up was like 260 but this thing was insane looking, you could control everything on it.

 

[BigCountry]

Yeah they are insane. I was at the LFS today picking up some things and was looking at them. Very impressive. Put it this way, I walked away like I had starred at the sun for a few seconds, super bright lol