I went all out!

[WannaRace]

Well, it got to me...

I like the look of the slim and long 30 gallon tanks rather than the taller 29 gallon tanks. I went out and bought a 30 gallon tank, stand, CPR Bak Pak 2, 2 Maxi Jet 600 powerheads, 32 lbs. live rock, 30 lbs. live sand and created my underwater world! It looks amazing and I have some pictures that I will post in the next few upcoming days... Can't wait to show you guys!

 

[hibye]

if you are gonna make it a reef thats a mistake because its really hard to find a good light for a 30

 

[RigoSharon]

i like 30g too...sounds like you had a lot of fun!! post pics soon

 

[WannaRace]

The length on the tank is 36" and I have found many, many powerful lights that can turn this into a reef tank. However, at this time I am not looking to do that. I have a 30" 36W T-5 Coralife Aqualight 10K day/actinic (RIGO) + 1W lunar aqualight all on a timer... I am very happy with the way it looks right now

 

[RigoSharon]

i agree with you wannarace..30 is a good tank to handle..plus a lot of ligth fixtures to choose..ive seen some awsome reefs in a 30g..good luck ..keep us updated..

 

[yote]

Congrats.
You'll love the 30 gallon,plus when you decide to up grade you can use the 30 for what ever.
My wife took over mine for a sea horse.

 

[reeffreak]

I agree...there are alot of different lights to choose from.
Congrats.

 

[bobby]

I have a 30 gal reef and they sell tons of 36" fixtures so that wont be a problem at all. BTW if your like me you will love the 30. I love the 3 foot and yet still small for small places. Good luck and send some pics.

 

[WannaRace]

Thanks guys! I just tested some parameters today, they are as follows:

PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10ppm
Salinity: 1.0225ppm

Are there possibly any softies that I could keep with these lights?

 

[fishbait]

i'm looking forward to seeing the pics.

 

[bobby]

I highly doubt it. I tried PSP in my 55 and it slowly died. Looked good for quit a awhile then started looking bad and died. You can pick up a light real cheap for that size tank. Do you have a canopy on your tank? If so you can save even more by buying a reotfit kit. I have the 2x 96 watt pcs on my 30 and since I only have softys I run only one bulb and everything is growing and doing great, and I have several corals in my tank. You could even find a used one for 50.00 or under. Since I got the t-5s for my 55 I have been considering selling the lights on the 30, but not sure yet because it will take time to get the coral used to the extra bright t-5s.

 

[WannaRace]

All I have over the tank is a piece of 36" glass the size of my aqualight that my light sits on top. Otherwise, the top is completely open.

 

[reeffreak]

I think you said earlier that you have a 36w T-5.I would stick with mushrooms,zoas, and maybe a few other softies like leather toadies.No guarantee though,a little low on light even for t5"s.

 

[yote]

Mushrooms,Zoanthids,Buttons,Xenia,Kenya weeds(I mean trees).
I'd think that you'd be alright with most of the softies.
Good luck with it.

 

[d.french]

i should have got a 30 L instead of 29 gallon but i have 36" t5 nova xtreme and i can keep sps and lps and clams just fine in there. Couldn't find a 30" light for the tank so had to go 36 inch. The are other lights but nova extreme was good price and works great tons of corraline algae since february when i set it up. As long as you can keep calcium up sps will do fine under t5's.

 

[WannaRace]

Want to trade lights plus cash? :)

 

[WannaRace]

On another note, does anyone know if I can replace the daylight and actinic bulb with higher wattage bulbs? Anyone with these lights or experience/knowledge here? Rigo?

 

[RigoSharon]

sorry i cant tell..ive allways used the same wattage when replacing..but thats a good question, i dont know if the ballast can keep up??

 

[WannaRace]

Thanks Rigo.. I just want to make sure that I can keep these corals healthy. I know they are hardy, but I want to take no chances.

My live rock seems to be growing some white looking algae on it??? It looks like snow.. what is this?

 

[reeffreak]

Your going to have to use the same wattage bulbs.The ballast won't be able to handle a higher wattage bulb.Other words,what Rigo said.

Not sure of the white stuff on the rocks though.All I can think of is coralline that has bleach or died off.Common when live rock is cycling a tank or when first introduce.If thats the case,it will come back.