Hi everyone, I'm new, so let me apologize in advance if I ask any obvious questions. I posted this on another reef forum, but no one will respond to me, so I'm looking for a more newbie friendly place. I have a lot of experience with high tech freshwater planted aquariums, but am interested in branching out into reef tanks. I know that they say it's better to start with a larger aquarium, but I never like to go the easy way, and I have a 10 gallon sitting around. Cost wise, it's possible for me to turn this into a reef tank, but turning one of my larger tanks into one isn't going to happen at this point. I've been doing a lot of research, and I think I can pull this off, but I want to run my plan past some experienced people and see what they think. I haven't set anything up yet, this is just my planned setup.
Standard 10 gallon tank 20x10x12
Lighting to be determined
10-15 lbs of live sand
10 lbs live rock
Aquaclear 70 or 110 converted to refugium
Heater hopefully small enough to fit in the AC
RO/DI water will be used
I have two main questions at this point. I'd like to mostly focus on soft corals, and maybe some LPS. This brings me to the lighting question, since I have a few options, and I'm not sure which one would be the best.
Option 1: My LFS sells a 20" compact flourescent fixture that is 2x36 watts. It looks very similar to a Coralife fixture to me, but it's not labeled as one. Pros: It's the right size for the tank, if we go by the WPG rule (I know it's inaccurate, but it's the best I have to work with ATM) then I have a good mid range at 7.2 WPG. It's also only $100, and I could get it locally. Cons: My bulb selection would basically be limited to 10K and whatever the particular bulb manufacturer thinks is "actinic." Also, I suspect it might get hot, as I've used CFL fixtures before.
Option 2: A 20" T5 fixture. As far as I can find, there are only two brands that make these, Current and Aquatic Life. Current only makes two vareties - a 2 bulb and a 6 bulb. I've seen some good examples of reef tanks using only the 2 bulb fixture, some even growing SPS at the top. I know from my experience with planted aquariums that T5 lights give off a lot more light than their watts would suggest. I definitely feel that 6 bulbs would be way too much for this size tank, am I wrong in that? If I got the two bulb fixture, pros would be cost and low heat, cons would be only 2 bulbs to play with (color combo wise) and limited selection of bulbs that will fit a 20" T5 fixture, because only Current and Aquatic Life make replacement bulbs. For the Aquatic Life fixture, pros would be 4 bulbs to play with and a built in timer, cons would again be the limited bulb brand selection, cost (doable, but definitely more expensive than any other option), and concerns over whether or not 4 T5 bulbs would be too much light for my needs.
Option 3: A 24" T5 light fixture. These are much more common, and if I went this route I'd probably go with a 4 bulb fixture. Although 2 bulbs are available in most brands, if I was going 2 bulb I'd probably just go with the 20" Current fixture since I wouldn't have many bulbs to experiment with anyway. I could again go for an Aquatic Life fixture with a built in timer for only about $10 more than their 20" fixture, but I would also have several other brand options. Pros: Infinitely greater bulb selection, low heat, etc. Cons: Questions about too much light again, and whether or not the fact that the fixture would be 4" longer than the tank would cause problems.
Option 4: Coralife CFL 96 watt fixture. Pros: The perfect size for the tank, good cost, also seen many examples of this being used on 10 gallon tanks. Cons: Questions about heat issues and the potential for too much light for what I'm growing, being forever limited to Coralife's 50/50 combo bulb.
Any thoughts or advice on my lighting dillemma?
My next question is about the Aquaclear refugium. I've seen examples of both AC 70's and 110's being used on 10 gallon tanks. I was going to post a link to an example, but I can't post links yet. Whichever I use, I hope to use it as the only source of circulation in the tank and that I can fit the heater in it, like in many of the examples I've seen. My LFS owner thinks a 110 would be overkill, but recommends a 70, but I've learned not to necessarily listen to his advice in all things. Is there much of a notable difference between using the 70 and the 110? Does the 70 provide enough room and flow? I know that people who mode the 70 often switch out the impeller for a smaller model, but people who use the 110 can't and don't yet still have success, so I'm a little confused. I can do either one, I'm just not sure which is better for my situation. Also, is chaeto the only thing I should put in this kind of refugium, or should I also put live rock rubble or refugium mud in it?
Thanks for any help you can give to a confused reef newbie!
Standard 10 gallon tank 20x10x12
Lighting to be determined
10-15 lbs of live sand
10 lbs live rock
Aquaclear 70 or 110 converted to refugium
Heater hopefully small enough to fit in the AC
RO/DI water will be used
I have two main questions at this point. I'd like to mostly focus on soft corals, and maybe some LPS. This brings me to the lighting question, since I have a few options, and I'm not sure which one would be the best.
Option 1: My LFS sells a 20" compact flourescent fixture that is 2x36 watts. It looks very similar to a Coralife fixture to me, but it's not labeled as one. Pros: It's the right size for the tank, if we go by the WPG rule (I know it's inaccurate, but it's the best I have to work with ATM) then I have a good mid range at 7.2 WPG. It's also only $100, and I could get it locally. Cons: My bulb selection would basically be limited to 10K and whatever the particular bulb manufacturer thinks is "actinic." Also, I suspect it might get hot, as I've used CFL fixtures before.
Option 2: A 20" T5 fixture. As far as I can find, there are only two brands that make these, Current and Aquatic Life. Current only makes two vareties - a 2 bulb and a 6 bulb. I've seen some good examples of reef tanks using only the 2 bulb fixture, some even growing SPS at the top. I know from my experience with planted aquariums that T5 lights give off a lot more light than their watts would suggest. I definitely feel that 6 bulbs would be way too much for this size tank, am I wrong in that? If I got the two bulb fixture, pros would be cost and low heat, cons would be only 2 bulbs to play with (color combo wise) and limited selection of bulbs that will fit a 20" T5 fixture, because only Current and Aquatic Life make replacement bulbs. For the Aquatic Life fixture, pros would be 4 bulbs to play with and a built in timer, cons would again be the limited bulb brand selection, cost (doable, but definitely more expensive than any other option), and concerns over whether or not 4 T5 bulbs would be too much light for my needs.
Option 3: A 24" T5 light fixture. These are much more common, and if I went this route I'd probably go with a 4 bulb fixture. Although 2 bulbs are available in most brands, if I was going 2 bulb I'd probably just go with the 20" Current fixture since I wouldn't have many bulbs to experiment with anyway. I could again go for an Aquatic Life fixture with a built in timer for only about $10 more than their 20" fixture, but I would also have several other brand options. Pros: Infinitely greater bulb selection, low heat, etc. Cons: Questions about too much light again, and whether or not the fact that the fixture would be 4" longer than the tank would cause problems.
Option 4: Coralife CFL 96 watt fixture. Pros: The perfect size for the tank, good cost, also seen many examples of this being used on 10 gallon tanks. Cons: Questions about heat issues and the potential for too much light for what I'm growing, being forever limited to Coralife's 50/50 combo bulb.
Any thoughts or advice on my lighting dillemma?
My next question is about the Aquaclear refugium. I've seen examples of both AC 70's and 110's being used on 10 gallon tanks. I was going to post a link to an example, but I can't post links yet. Whichever I use, I hope to use it as the only source of circulation in the tank and that I can fit the heater in it, like in many of the examples I've seen. My LFS owner thinks a 110 would be overkill, but recommends a 70, but I've learned not to necessarily listen to his advice in all things. Is there much of a notable difference between using the 70 and the 110? Does the 70 provide enough room and flow? I know that people who mode the 70 often switch out the impeller for a smaller model, but people who use the 110 can't and don't yet still have success, so I'm a little confused. I can do either one, I'm just not sure which is better for my situation. Also, is chaeto the only thing I should put in this kind of refugium, or should I also put live rock rubble or refugium mud in it?
Thanks for any help you can give to a confused reef newbie!
If you haven't found them, there's a pretty decent DIY section in the equipment forum, and it always helps to read over other people's chronicles to see what they did, or are doing. Either way, the search function here is your friend. If you don't get the results you want, I've found that you can google your keywords and add "reef sanctuary" at the end. I've found that there's not a whole lot that hasn't been covered on here, but by all means, don't be afraid to come right out and ask(I think you've got that part down though). And finally, not that this should be moved, but there is a beginner's forum, and it's usually patrolled by some of our more experienced minds available here, so you might get better answers for questions like this there. Good luck!