2.5g & 10g builds and stocking

bsagecko · 08/15/2008, 02:52 PM

ok i plan on making a 2.5g and a 10g pico/nano tanks

I was thinking for the 10g tank i would use the new nova 20" t5 setup ( i am not sure if i would use 1 or 2)

what would be the limitations on the coral i could keep if i only had 1 t5 2x fixture?

then for the 2.5g tank i am thinking about using a 20W screw on coralife mini 50/50 bulb

for stocking in the 10g i was thinking my

true perc
4" leather toadstool

small amount of pulsing xenia
gsp
frogspawn
hammer
trumpet coral
zoas rare (blue tubs)

then for the 2.5g i was thinking a pom-pom crab/ sexy shrimp

and some sun coral (orange/red and black varitey)

and maybe some low light mushrooms for texture?

both tanks will have built in fuges

whaty you guys think about this?

egdevilboy · 08/15/2008, 06:26 PM

i ran a 2.5 gallon and found that the 13" 18w coralife power compacts run alot better on that system then the screw in bulbs they sell. Plus it gives you a night-view light

bsagecko · 08/15/2008, 07:00 PM

that is also a price difference of $12 for the 10W~20W coralife mini to $62 for the light you recommend

when the coral i am keeping doesn't require light..............

I cant see the justification for the money difference when i am keeping sun coral which don't require any light since they are not photosynthetic

thanks for the suggestion though

GPhiAce · 08/15/2008, 08:40 PM

For my 2.5 I used a retrokit from hellolights. 18watts pcs and a moonlight. Total it costed me about $35 for the lights. Mine is zoas only, but is still young.

limitations with the 10g. I am not sure if I am understanding , but you want to use 1 bulb in a 2 bulb setup???? I would go with 2 bulbs just to have the actinics and the 10, 12, or 14k bulb. Limitations with the depth of the 10g and 1 bulb- IMO many of the sps. if you use 2 bulbs, you could pretty much do anything. if you want clams try a crocea high up. Sps would be good middle to high, lps and softies low-- all depending on your flow.

Good luck. make sure this is posted in the lighting and other stuff forum.

bsagecko · 08/16/2008, 06:14 AM

no i want to use both bulbs but should i have 1 or 2 fixtures

so should i have only 1 fixture with 2 bulbs or 2 fixtures for a total of 4 bulbs..........sorry about that

I will check out the hellolights retro.......thanks for the info

the only sps i really like right now are monti caps and stuff like that for a more shelf look...........

harleychic · 08/18/2008, 10:18 AM

If you want to have a sun coral in a 2.5, you are going to have to make sure you really keep up on water changes and syphon out whatever it doesn't eat after you feed. I have thought of this for my 3 gal, but just thought it wasn't worth the effort. Let us know how it goes if you do it.

bsagecko · 08/18/2008, 04:28 PM

actually i am not really worried about the sun coral in the 2.5g as a 1g water change would fix everything........i will just do it like twice a week but i will also be dosing small amount of phyto as well.....................

Moonstream · 08/18/2008, 04:39 PM

remember that you are feeding the sun coral EVERY DAY, not once a week. I would use a turkey baster to suck out whatever isnt eaten after every feeding, and replace with clean water.

08/15/2008, 02:52 PM	#1
bsagecko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,752	2.5g & 10g builds and stocking ok i plan on making a 2.5g and a 10g pico/nano tanks I was thinking for the 10g tank i would use the new nova 20" t5 setup ( i am not sure if i would use 1 or 2) what would be the limitations on the coral i could keep if i only had 1 t5 2x fixture? then for the 2.5g tank i am thinking about using a 20W screw on coralife mini 50/50 bulb for stocking in the 10g i was thinking my true perc 4" leather toadstool small amount of pulsing xenia gsp frogspawn hammer trumpet coral zoas rare (blue tubs) then for the 2.5g i was thinking a pom-pom crab/ sexy shrimp and some sun coral (orange/red and black varitey) and maybe some low light mushrooms for texture? both tanks will have built in fuges whaty you guys think about this?

08/15/2008, 07:00 PM	#3
bsagecko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,752	that is also a price difference of $12 for the 10W~20W coralife mini to $62 for the light you recommend when the coral i am keeping doesn't require light.............. I cant see the justification for the money difference when i am keeping sun coral which don't require any light since they are not photosynthetic thanks for the suggestion though __________________ There are three things that will never be believed- the true, the probable, the logical (Steinbeck) Obey little, Resist much Current Tank Info: 24g AIO

08/15/2008, 08:40 PM	#4
GPhiAce Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CoMo Posts: 1,615	For my 2.5 I used a retrokit from hellolights. 18watts pcs and a moonlight. Total it costed me about $35 for the lights. Mine is zoas only, but is still young. limitations with the 10g. I am not sure if I am understanding , but you want to use 1 bulb in a 2 bulb setup???? I would go with 2 bulbs just to have the actinics and the 10, 12, or 14k bulb. Limitations with the depth of the 10g and 1 bulb- IMO many of the sps. if you use 2 bulbs, you could pretty much do anything. if you want clams try a crocea high up. Sps would be good middle to high, lps and softies low-- all depending on your flow. Good luck. make sure this is posted in the lighting and other stuff forum. __________________ Paul Professional Bum Current Tank Info: empty 120 gallon glass box. wanna help fill it? sps and palys please

08/16/2008, 06:14 AM	#5
bsagecko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,752	no i want to use both bulbs but should i have 1 or 2 fixtures so should i have only 1 fixture with 2 bulbs or 2 fixtures for a total of 4 bulbs..........sorry about that I will check out the hellolights retro.......thanks for the info the only sps i really like right now are monti caps and stuff like that for a more shelf look........... __________________ There are three things that will never be believed- the true, the probable, the logical (Steinbeck) Obey little, Resist much Current Tank Info: 24g AIO

08/18/2008, 04:28 PM	#7
bsagecko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,752	actually i am not really worried about the sun coral in the 2.5g as a 1g water change would fix everything........i will just do it like twice a week but i will also be dosing small amount of phyto as well..................... __________________ There are three things that will never be believed- the true, the probable, the logical (Steinbeck) Obey little, Resist much Current Tank Info: 24g AIO

08/15/2008, 06:26 PM	#2
egdevilboy Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southern Florida Posts: 620	i ran a 2.5 gallon and found that the 13" 18w coralife power compacts run alot better on that system then the screw in bulbs they sell. Plus it gives you a night-view light

08/18/2008, 10:18 AM	#6
harleychic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 371	If you want to have a sun coral in a 2.5, you are going to have to make sure you really keep up on water changes and syphon out whatever it doesn't eat after you feed. I have thought of this for my 3 gal, but just thought it wasn't worth the effort. Let us know how it goes if you do it.

08/18/2008, 04:39 PM	#8
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	remember that you are feeding the sun coral EVERY DAY, not once a week. I would use a turkey baster to suck out whatever isnt eaten after every feeding, and replace with clean water.