8 gallon desktop tank

[jamestown478]

I started this 8 gallon tank in September,

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I have about 8lbs of live rock, 1 inch of live sand, and 1 inch of crushed coral on top of that. I installed a hang on heater and filter and a little air wall thing for the fish. There is currently one clown fish, 3 snails, a hermit crab and a peppermint shrimp in it. I also have 2 small corals on each side of the live rock but I forgot what they are called. lol. I am hoping to add one more clown and another 6 or so lbs of live rock to be happy with it. For lighting I have a 13" odyssea compact fluorescent 24w light 50/50 combo. Will this be enough lighting for my tank?

 

[Bifferwine]

That light is probably okay for very low light corals, such as mushrooms, leathers and zoanthids. But any other type of coral will need something stronger. It looks good so far!

 

[jamestown478]

what else can I add for lighting that would fit such a small tank? The light I have now does seem really bright, how much more light do they need?

 

[Bifferwine]

The light you have now may seem bright, but it's actually very weak lighting for a reef tank.

This would be a great choice and would allow you to keep anything you wanted:

70W Metal Halide Pendant Lights

 

[jamestown478]

so will my coral die? :(

 

[Bifferwine]

No. The light you have is okay for low light corals. You have low light corals right now. So they are fine. But you will be limited to low light corals if you stay with that light. If that's okay, and all you are interested in keeping are softies, then by all means, stick with that light.

 

[jamestown478]

ok thanks, any other suggestions you have? any other fish or creatures I should get or maybe some soft corals?

 

[Bifferwine]

Zoanthids do great in small tanks because you can keep so many different types in a small area. I also like ricordeas for that same reason. Since you already have a clown, you could put one more fish in there, but it'd have to be small, like a yellow or green clown goby.

 

[andersoned14]

Jamestown what part of WI do you live, and where is your LFS. I live near Milwaukee, so we could share info on sales and what store has what fish. I like the small tank. Looking good.

 

[jamestown478]

Im from west allis. I usually go to the fish store on hwy100

 

[jamestown478]

well I got my clean up crew from reefcleaners.com and added them to the tank yesturday. It consists of:

13 dwarf ceriths
3 nassarius
3 florida ceriths
3 blue leg hermits
3 small to medium nerites.

 

[BL1]

Wow it's been a long time, any other additions since?

 

[jamestown478]

my kenya tree thing seems to have died but everything else is going good with the tank.

 

[jamestown478]

Wow it's been a long time, any other additions since?

I now have 2 clowns in there. I added a goby and pepermint shrimp but they both jumped together :(

 

[Bifferwine]

Must've been a suicide pact. :( That's odd that the shrimp would jump -- sorry to hear about that.

 

[andersoned14]

BTW there is a LFS on MLK DR/Old world 3rd, that have good prices. Northstar turned me on to them. They are acrossed the street from the Time Warner building. It is worth the trip down. You got new pics?

 

[jamestown478]

i will post more pics once i clean up some algae :) do you know the name of that fish store? I am always near that area.

 

[andersoned14]

The LFS is called Best Fish address is 1335 N. 3rd open from 10a-6p I just found the card.

 

[AmberSunrise]

Yes ricordias are my favorites they are awesome