10 gallon or 20 gallon long

G

guitareefs

Premium Member
So I'm in Austin at the moment and got to visit some nice LFSs.

I have been set on getting a 20 long up and running. Lighting has sorta gotten me thinking about what I want to do.

Here is my plan:
Softie/Some LPS

That's it. That's the plan. Small reef.

So, back to Austin. Went to a store and loved the dry goods there. I'm not used to seeing Tunze, T5 fixtures, and nice MH setups. So of course I'm wanting to buy everything for a nano. But with lighting, I may be getting my self stuck here, but I really can't see myself spending $250-$300 on lighting just for a 20 gallon tank. I want to go T5s. So my thinking was, what if I just settle for a 10 gallon reef. Cheaper lighting setup (2 bulbs) instead of the more costly (4 bulbs). Is this wrong thinking? I was gonna go ahead and buy 2 Geismann 24" T5 bulbs here in Austin, but am still debating on what I want to do.


Now, off of equipment, here is my fish list...
2 Percs
1 Goby (either Randall or Pink Striped)
How is this for a fish list?

My skimmer will be a Tunze Nano

Now flow? Koralia 2?

THANKS EVERYONE for any input
 
I vote Koralia 1 for flow or two nanos. I think a Koralia 2 would create great flow, but in one direction. If it is a long, I would honestly get two nanos and aim them complete opposites.
 
I think you will really limit yourself on a 10 gallon not to mention it will be harder to maintain the parameters when you do water changes or such. Plus it will be easier to foul a smaller tank with food or spills.

I haven't seen many lights for a 10 gallon except PCs. You might be able to slowly grow some zoas or other softies. If you had the T-5s you might open the door a bit. There are people selling lights all the time so you might get lucky.

The fish sound good except the percs will run out of room in a few years but they don't stray around much but in a bigger tank there are more 'reef bugs' for them along with their food.

If you're going to have it for over a year I think you will always feel you 'settled' :?

Good luck.
 
Could I house a fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, and peppermint shrimp in the tank?

Can I keep rics with acans and other few LPS with maybe 1 SPS in a 20 gallon? I love rics and acans, and would like to keep a frogspawn and maybe a birdnest SPS? Is this ok? Will I run into a problem with the rics spreading?
 
You think I could keep a clam in a 20 gallon? Will I have too much coral in the tank for one or will my tank be too small for a clam? What clam would you suggest if it's a go for a clam?
 
The only T5 HO fixture I've seen is the Current 20" Nova Extreme. It takes 18" bulbs and Current is the only one to make those, so your choices are limited. If you want to go small reef, I've got my mind on making a 36" long tank about 15" tall and deep. A two bulb t5 HO would light that pretty well and you have a much better bulb choice at 36". I'd perhaps make my own fixture with a retro kit to save some green on that part.
 
I now have a four bulb T5 fixture for my nano.

Going with a 20 gallon tank, I'm wondering about chemical warfare for corals I've been thinking of keeping.

Would keeping an all acan tank be ok?

Or what about rics mixed with acans?

Or would you stay with my original plan of frogspawn, birdnest, rics, acans?

Also, what about keeping a bonsai insead of the birdnest? Would it be ok to add an encrusting SPS in that small of a reef?

My reason for asking about an all acan tank or rics mixed with acans is my thinking is letting them take over the tank. Would they fight off each other if I let them overgrow in the tank? That's why I asked because I plan on letting either the acan tank completely cover itself in acans or letting rics mix with acans and letting them take over as well. Would I have to keep them trimmed back?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top