A few newbies' question

braytag · 03/13/2006, 10:21 AM

Hi guys, I've had a 55 Gal FOWLR tank for over a year now, it had 3 demsels and a few hermits in it. While moving in the freezing cold of Canada, I lost 2 demsels. That was about 2 months ago. Since I've been restocking slowly, about 1 fish a week. My current setup is:

fluval 204 canister filter
-an aquaclear 70 power head
-an aquaclear 30 power head
-a seaclone 150 (yeah I know it suck :/ Should have researched it)
-about 35lbs of live-rock
-about 30 lbs of baserock
-and 4-strip fluorescent lighting unit 36", 30W each so 120W total

my livestock is:

4x chromis
1x 3-convic demsel
1x blue demsel
2x peppermint shrimps
2x cleaner shrimps
1x cleaner wrass
1x clown fish
1x red scoooter gobi
and a few hermits/snails

Question 1:
I was thinking about putting a brittle-star and a hippo tang what do you guys think?

Question 2:
Also you guys talk about t5 lighting, I looked around in my LFS, all I can find are normal fluorescent like mine (wich are t-8) or t-10, it seems that the T-n rating indicate the diameter of the bulb, I'm I correct?

BTW I'm expecting to upgrade to a 90Gal in about 6 month.

MCary · 03/13/2006, 10:36 AM

Just as well be the first to say this and get it out of the way. Your tank is too small for a Hippo. Sorry.

A T5 is a VHO light which makes it different than your NO flourescents beside the smaller diameter. Your right T-5 is the diameter of the tube so a better nominclature would be T5 VHO lights. The main reason the have brighter output is the reflectors (I think).

Local fish stores get most of there money from selling lots of crap and a couple of goldfish to, less than commited, individuals. This is best illistrated by the particle board stands and the little castles and bubbling scuba divers. Serious hobbiest's are few and their special equipment requirments provide a small niche market. Unless the owner of the store is a serious hobbiest themselves, or your particular area has a large following, it is doubtful that you will find T5 lights. Or VHO, or MH, or quality skimmers, calcium reactors, pH monitors etc.

Mike

dhoch · 03/13/2006, 10:39 AM

I would hold off on the hippos tank at least until you get your bigger tank... Your 55 is pretty stocked allready.

As for the brittle-star what kind? (I don't really like the green ones as they are know small fish/shrimp eaters).

I know the T-n rating is related to the diameter but not 100% sure...

Dave

braytag · 03/13/2006, 10:57 AM

I shall then hold on the tang.

For the brittle star, it seen like a normal brown one. They're not really specific on the exact species...
look like this one
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4

dhoch · 03/13/2006, 11:02 AM

I would just caution you.... If your fish start disapearing look to him as a culprit.

Dave

PoukieBear · 03/13/2006, 11:09 AM

Where in Canada are you located? I might be able to point you in the dirrection of some good fish stores.

braytag · 03/13/2006, 11:24 AM

I'm one the the frogs

Montreal Quebec

braytag · 03/13/2006, 11:26 AM

and I found my lighting info on this thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=550860

PoukieBear · 03/13/2006, 11:36 AM

Quebec? Too bad. There are a few good stores here in the Toronto area.

*leeinengland* · 03/13/2006, 12:29 PM

stocking levels are 1 inch of fish to ten gallon of water as a safty measure so i agrea with the rest hold on the tang
t5 lights are in abundence here in the uk and its rating goes by diamiter but the intesity is 2x as much giving better punch threw om light to depth try ebay.co.uk im sure youll find a seller that will post to you

i also find t5s to be more economical on the enery consumtion and dont heat the water up as much as mhlds

PoukieBear · 03/13/2006, 12:32 PM

The inch per gallon rule doesn't realy apply to saltwater. I still wouldn't put a 7 inch naso tang in a 70 gallon tank...

MCary · 03/13/2006, 01:08 PM

Actually it doesnt work for anything. Its a standard for those newbies that buy a 20 gallon or smaller tank and some guppies. Freshwater is an inch per gallon. I wouldn't put a 70 inch fish in a 70 gallon either.

03/13/2006, 10:21 AM	#1
braytag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 19	A few newbies' question Hi guys, I've had a 55 Gal FOWLR tank for over a year now, it had 3 demsels and a few hermits in it. While moving in the freezing cold of Canada, I lost 2 demsels. That was about 2 months ago. Since I've been restocking slowly, about 1 fish a week. My current setup is: fluval 204 canister filter -an aquaclear 70 power head -an aquaclear 30 power head -a seaclone 150 (yeah I know it suck :/ Should have researched it) -about 35lbs of live-rock -about 30 lbs of baserock -and 4-strip fluorescent lighting unit 36", 30W each so 120W total my livestock is: 4x chromis 1x 3-convic demsel 1x blue demsel 2x peppermint shrimps 2x cleaner shrimps 1x cleaner wrass 1x clown fish 1x red scoooter gobi and a few hermits/snails Question 1: I was thinking about putting a brittle-star and a hippo tang what do you guys think? Question 2: Also you guys talk about t5 lighting, I looked around in my LFS, all I can find are normal fluorescent like mine (wich are t-8) or t-10, it seems that the T-n rating indicate the diameter of the bulb, I'm I correct? BTW I'm expecting to upgrade to a 90Gal in about 6 month.

03/13/2006, 10:39 AM	#3
dhoch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,762	I would hold off on the hippos tank at least until you get your bigger tank... Your 55 is pretty stocked allready. As for the brittle-star what kind? (I don't really like the green ones as they are know small fish/shrimp eaters). I know the T-n rating is related to the diameter but not 100% sure... Dave __________________ Check out my tanks website... click the red box above my post Current Tank Info: 180 gal Acrylic, 29 gal refugium, 40 gal sump, Mag 18 -> 2 Sea Swirls, Tunze 6100, 8 x 80W overdriven T5 Lights, ASM G4 skimmer

03/13/2006, 11:02 AM	#5
dhoch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,762	I would just caution you.... If your fish start disapearing look to him as a culprit. Dave __________________ Check out my tanks website... click the red box above my post Current Tank Info: 180 gal Acrylic, 29 gal refugium, 40 gal sump, Mag 18 -> 2 Sea Swirls, Tunze 6100, 8 x 80W overdriven T5 Lights, ASM G4 skimmer

03/13/2006, 11:09 AM	#6
PoukieBear Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 2,067	Where in Canada are you located? I might be able to point you in the dirrection of some good fish stores. __________________ Michelle ~Poukie, I'm proud of you for throwing up that cake. ~~Mikey~~ ~You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on. ~Save the earth, there are no princesses on Mars.

03/13/2006, 11:36 AM	#9
PoukieBear Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 2,067	Quebec? Too bad. There are a few good stores here in the Toronto area. __________________ Michelle ~Poukie, I'm proud of you for throwing up that cake. ~~Mikey~~ ~You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on. ~Save the earth, there are no princesses on Mars.

03/13/2006, 10:36 AM	#2
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	Just as well be the first to say this and get it out of the way. Your tank is too small for a Hippo. Sorry. A T5 is a VHO light which makes it different than your NO flourescents beside the smaller diameter. Your right T-5 is the diameter of the tube so a better nominclature would be T5 VHO lights. The main reason the have brighter output is the reflectors (I think). Local fish stores get most of there money from selling lots of crap and a couple of goldfish to, less than commited, individuals. This is best illistrated by the particle board stands and the little castles and bubbling scuba divers. Serious hobbiest's are few and their special equipment requirments provide a small niche market. Unless the owner of the store is a serious hobbiest themselves, or your particular area has a large following, it is doubtful that you will find T5 lights. Or VHO, or MH, or quality skimmers, calcium reactors, pH monitors etc. Mike

03/13/2006, 10:57 AM	#4
braytag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 19	I shall then hold on the tang. For the brittle star, it seen like a normal brown one. They're not really specific on the exact species... look like this one http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4

03/13/2006, 11:24 AM	#7
braytag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 19	I'm one the the frogs Montreal Quebec

03/13/2006, 11:26 AM	#8
braytag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 19	and I found my lighting info on this thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=550860

03/13/2006, 12:29 PM	#10
leeinengland Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: yorkshire uk Posts: 109	stocking levels are 1 inch of fish to ten gallon of water as a safty measure so i agrea with the rest hold on the tang t5 lights are in abundence here in the uk and its rating goes by diamiter but the intesity is 2x as much giving better punch threw om light to depth try ebay.co.uk im sure youll find a seller that will post to you i also find t5s to be more economical on the enery consumtion and dont heat the water up as much as mhlds __________________ dont die you will reef longer Current Tank Info: 7x2.4x2.4

03/13/2006, 12:32 PM	#11
PoukieBear Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 2,067	The inch per gallon rule doesn't realy apply to saltwater. I still wouldn't put a 7 inch naso tang in a 70 gallon tank... __________________ Michelle ~Poukie, I'm proud of you for throwing up that cake. ~~Mikey~~ ~You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on. ~Save the earth, there are no princesses on Mars.

03/13/2006, 01:08 PM	#12
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	Actually it doesnt work for anything. Its a standard for those newbies that buy a 20 gallon or smaller tank and some guppies. Freshwater is an inch per gallon. I wouldn't put a 70 inch fish in a 70 gallon either.