starting a new 20L

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chrismikea

New Member
hello everyone. I'm kinda new here i stop in and read alot of the post and I love all the great info i can get from here. well I have a 14g biocube set up just to house all the corals that I ended up keeping when i broke down my 58 reef. so now I'm on to building my 20 gallon long. I'm not the words best when it comes to building things but here is what i got done to for the stand.




I made the door larger then the solid panel. dont know why i did it but i liked it. I'm going to stain it black to match the rest of my stuff. I plan to use another 20L as my sump and a mag 5 as my return pump.

Now here is my question. I want to use T5's im just lost on what brand to go with and what bulbs.Also i cant decide if i want to use a retro fit and a canopy or a all in one fixture? can someone help me out there
 
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funkngroovy

New Member
I think that is a decision you have to make based on what you think looks good.

As long as you use a good reflective product in a retrofitted hood, the corals will still get the light they need.

As for brands, well I usually pick something middle of the price range. I have bought really cheap and really expensive. At the end of the day, it seems to come down to luck, with a leaning of course to more reliablility for the expensive stuff.

Personally I reallly like a tank that can be viewed from the top down so I would go with a strip type light that can be suspended above or uses brackets. The other advantage is being able to keep the tank temp. down during hot days.

Depending on the corals you want to keep, there are some great PC lights around now that are inexpensive. I have a 20L over at my parents with 2x36W PC's and the LPS are loving it.

Good luck, take lots of pics of the tank build and keep us updated :!:
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Looks like a nice start!

These bulbs work quite nicely:
Geisemann Actinic Plus
Geisemann Aquablue Plus
UV Lighting 75/25
UV Lighting Aquasun
UV Lighting Super Actinic

A lot of people like the Icecap ballasts, but for my 90 gallon I went with the hello lights retrofit kit and they did well enough (Although I did wish I went with the better bulbs in order to get a better coloration).

+1 on deciding which corals you want BEFORE buying lights.

By the way....

:welcome to Nanotank.com!
 
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chrismikea

New Member
well i plan to keep softies maybe a clam or maybe a rose bulb for my clown. got any good links to t5 all in ones that are nice?
 
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chrismikea

New Member
noting really to new, I painted the stand black and got my display tank. here is some more bad pics. I think im going to order my pump and light today or tomorrow.


 
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chrismikea

New Member
Thanks for the nice comments. I changed my plans on useing a 20 long for the sump. Instead I'm going to have a friend build me a custom sump. I think I'm going to go to a lfs and pick up a mag 5 and maybe a korline nano or a number 1. I would rather spend my money at a lfs then online. I might even see if they can get me my light
 
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chrismikea

New Member
Thanks for the nice comments. I changed my plans on useing a 20 long for the sump. Instead I'm going to have a friend build me a custom sump. I think I'm going to go to a lfs and pick up a mag 5 and maybe a korline nano or a number 1. I would rather spend my money at a lfs then online. I might even see if they can get me my light
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
For a tank that size I would use the 1 as the nanos are nice but for a tank that size it may not give the flow you'll want/need.
 
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chrismikea

New Member
TimSchmidt said:
For a tank that size I would use the 1 as the nanos are nice but for a tank that size it may not give the flow you'll want/need.
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thats what i was thinking to. maybe i will just stick with the number 1.
 
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chrismikea

New Member
update, should be picking up my sump and my drilled tank on tuesday and my light on friday. I did pick up my mag 5 and k1 today.

 
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chrismikea

New Member
funkngroovy said:
Awsome, What will be your total system volume?
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are you talking gallons? if so the tank is the 20 long and the sump im not sure on how many gallons. it will be 28 long 12 wide and 12 high.

Anyone got any macro they would be willing to part with. I can store it now in my cube untill this one is up and running
 
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chrismikea

New Member
well got good news and bad news, bad news first. while drilling my tank my friend cracked it :cry: but he is getting me a new one and going to drill it again for me so i should have that thursday maybe friday :mrgreen: along with my lights :mrgreen: . The good new is i got my sump and the plumbing for my return :mrgreen: anyone got any macro they would be willing to send me? i could pay shipping on it. any kind you got would be nice. I promise to send some back once it grows out


 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Actually I have a TON of chaetomorpha (spaghetti algae) send me your info in a PM and I will send you as much as you want. (I have about a cantaloupe sized ball)
 
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chrismikea

New Member
TimSchmidt said:
Actually I have a TON of chaetomorpha (spaghetti algae) send me your info in a PM and I will send you as much as you want. (I have about a cantaloupe sized ball)
Click to expand...
PM sent thanks
 
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chrismikea

New Member
UPDATES !!!

ok i got my tank drilled my overflow built and my light. i started plumbing my tank and sealing everything together. I also painted the back black. here are some pics of my work


again sorry for the bad pics they are from my cell phone.
 
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