New Set-Up

[bbatis]

Hi all:

I am interested in clams and soft colorful corals with very few fish and of course some inverts (janitors). I understand that I have to start off slowly but this is one of my goals to achieve and I want to make sure I purchase the right set-up.

I found out today via JBJ's email response to me that their new 28g Nano-Cube HQ1 won't be coming out til March or April. This is one sweet all-in-one set-up but I'm guessing the price tag is going to be around $600. Not sure if I'm looking to spend that much as a beginner. May change my mind though if I have the space for it.

What I'm looking at now is the JBJ 12g nano-cube. I know that with clams and certain corals you need intense and good lighting. The stock hood on that baby is only 48W of lighting. I read that you should have at least 5W per gallon for those types of specimens. So this won't cut it.

The two ways that I have discovered so far are these:

1) Go with the topless set-up combo by Nanotuners with the KV70-Viper MH (70W) for $250.

2) Go with the mod-hood that gives you the 70W but with the moonlights for $330.

Now I've been reading a little about light spectrum. Would I be best going with the mod-hood MH 70W with the moonlights for clams and those pretty soft corals, or just the topless set-up with no moonlights?

One reason I was looking at the topless is because of heat problems during the summer. I would hate to have to invest hundreds of more $'s for an expensive chiller.

If there is another way of doing this, please enlighten me. No pun intended. Smile!

Thanks.

Brian

[KMP]

if you have no prefrence for an open or closed top, i would recommend you go w/the topless w/Viper MH for $250. bottom line MH is best way to go. you can buy aftermarket moon lights if you have to have them.

[lcstorc]

Welcome to RS!
If you go topless then I highly recommend eggcrate on the top of the tank to help prevent jumpers. It is not foolproof and I have had fish get through but it greatly reduces the risk.
Best of luck with your new system, but hold off on the clams for a bit. They really like a well established stable system.

[billyr98]

Great Advice already... I would go with the viper also on a open top.. with that little amount of water, topless will help with the temp swing..

[PhilOlsen]

Originally Posted by bbatis

I read that you should have at least 5W per gallon for those types of specimens. So this won't cut it.
Brian

This is a VERY deceiving and inaccurate standard, 5 w per gallon from a PC light would not be sufficent but could (depending on liestock) be accurate for MH. There are a lot of old standards that get changed as technology advances, at one time undergravel filters were thought to be the best, old water was better than water changes etc etc etc.