Reef noob need help

[tjchan]

Seems like no one is helping me at the newbie forum.... so I'll ask this here since it's gonna be a nano tank.

Planning to setup a 2ft or 20" tank. roughly 10-15G.

Need help on the following:

Lights: It's either a 4xT5 24W tube config from NA for the 2ft or 2x36W PL 10000k tube config for the 22" tank.

are these either one enough for keeping easy to keep soft corals and maybe some hard corals? Also, is 2x55W PL better than 4x24W T5HO?

Filtration/skimmer: I plan to use either an Eheim 2215 cannister or Jebo 912 cannister filled with ceramic rings and biohome only for bio filtration. No sponge or cotton. And a cheap Hang On Back filter for increased filtration.

Do you think I will need a skimmer and if yes, any cheap one to recomment less than S$100.

Also, what flowrate Powerhead should I add for optimum water flow. I do not want a bulky one as limited for space. Any brand recommendations? My budget is less than S$30 for this one.

Lastly, what brand of sea salt is good and do I really need RO or distilled water for SW tanks? Can normal tap water with antichlorine be used as well?

I have been in FW tanks for 7-8yrs now but got no clue on SW tanks.

Planning to start soon and hopefully some kind lau jiaos in SW will be able to help.

[alex826768]

for lightings i vote t5 HO , for salt marine environment , a skimmer is veri important ..... possible get a 2nd hand macro.....

[c0ol]

Seems like no one is helping me at the newbie forum.... so I'll ask this here since it's gonna be a nano tank.

Planning to setup a 2ft or 20" tank. roughly 10-15G.

Need help on the following:

Lights: It's either a 4xT5 24W tube config from NA for the 2ft or 2x36W PL 10000k tube config for the 22" tank.

are these either one enough for keeping easy to keep soft corals and maybe some hard corals? Also, is 2x55W PL better than 4x24W T5HO?

Filtration/skimmer: I plan to use either an Eheim 2215 cannister or Jebo 912 cannister filled with ceramic rings and biohome only for bio filtration. No sponge or cotton. And a cheap Hang On Back filter for increased filtration.

Do you think I will need a skimmer and if yes, any cheap one to recomment less than S$100.

Also, what flowrate Powerhead should I add for optimum water flow. I do not want a bulky one as limited for space. Any brand recommendations? My budget is less than S$30 for this one.

Lastly, what brand of sea salt is good and do I really need RO or distilled water for SW tanks? Can normal tap water with antichlorine be used as well?

I have been in FW tanks for 7-8yrs now but got no clue on SW tanks.

Planning to start soon and hopefully some kind lau jiaos in SW will be able to help.

hi bro,firstly..welcome to SRC

A 4x24W T5HO will be sufficent to keep both soft corals and LPS.T5s are a better choice than PL lightings as they dont not give out as much heat as the PL lights do.

its alright to use canister filters and they work good too for the skimmer,would recommend u the red sea prizm skimmer which is a hang-on and is less than $100 if u get it second hand from the pasar malam section.U can also use thoose air-stone skimmers which are about $10 n requires a air pump,but regular water changes are recommended.As for the powerhead/wavemaker,if u r lucky u get get seio620 or 820 second hand at the pasar malam section for about $30,if not maxijet powerhead are a gd choice too

u can try coralife salt as its not expensive and will do great for ur tank as u r only keeping soft corals n LPS.Yes,its good to also use distilled or DI/RO water for water changes or top-up as our tap water contains silicates n phosphates which causes aglea bloom and can harm corals n fishes too.

Hope this helps,cheers

[hammy]

4 x 24watts T5 is definately better than PLC in term of heat load and tube availability. i use 4 x 24watts T5 with ATI and deltec tubes and can keep all my LPS and softies happy in my 2 feet cube tank.

use the eheim 2215 will be enough. dun waste money on c.ring, go straight for biohomes

of course a skimmer is great . try pasam malam. a prizm and above will be great.

and as for wavemaker , use seio 620. u can get it at C328 for amazing price according to some bro

use tapwater is fine. add antichlorine and i rec marine environment .

[tjchan]

finally some replies. thanks for the response. hmm... means i'll have to be patient and stake out the buy/sell area for good buys.

If i decide to go T5HO lighting, means I need to get a 2ft tank at least, cos i know they dun make it less than 2ft. If i go less than 2 ft, means the best I can go will be 2x36W PL unless I custom make my own hood which will cost more. Do you think it is a good idea to get a Resun CL85 chiller or just go fan-cool for the time being...

[tjchan]

4 x 24watts T5 is definately better than PLC in term of heat load and tube availability. i use 4 x 24watts T5 with ATI and deltec tubes and can keep all my LPS and softies happy in my 2 feet cube tank.

use the eheim 2215 will be enough. dun waste money on c.ring, go straight for biohomes

of course a skimmer is great . try pasam malam. a prizm and above will be great.

and as for wavemaker , use seio 620. u can get it at C328 for amazing price according to some bro

use tapwater is fine. add antichlorine and i rec marine environment .

hi, I already have spare CRs and a litre of Biohome red for the cannister. Maybe I'll go dual cannister and increase my water volume as well. :

[c0ol]

finally some replies. thanks for the response. hmm... means i'll have to be patient and stake out the buy/sell area for good buys.

If i decide to go T5HO lighting, means I need to get a 2ft tank at least, cos i know they dun make it less than 2ft. If i go less than 2 ft, means the best I can go will be 2x36W PL unless I custom make my own hood which will cost more. Do you think it is a good idea to get a Resun CL85 chiller or just go fan-cool for the time being...

If u r using a fan to cool ur tank,ur evaporation rate will be high.If using chiller,the evaporation rate will decrease n lower temperatures can be acheived

[hammy]

hi, I already have spare CRs and a litre of Biohome red for the cannister. Maybe I'll go dual cannister and increase my water volume as well. :

not to mention a canister will eventually become a nitrate factory unless u clean both of them regularly

i use to have one 2215. cleaning is like hell.

even now with my 2026 , i still dread the idea of cleaning canister

[tjchan]

not to mention a canister will eventually become a nitrate factory unless u clean both of them regularly

i use to have one 2215. cleaning is like hell.

even now with my 2026 , i still dread the idea of cleaning canister

bo pian.... i got no space for sump and canister is the next best thing to have for a 2 footer. Saves space and increases water area.

[little bull]

As long you keep up bi-weekly maintanance of your canister, it shouldn't have any big prob. for that. I have been using Jebo brand for many years. (Cheap ma )hahaah

p/s: maintanance means : change the spoange (if you are using), rinse your media with water to clear away all the dirts. etc

[tjchan]

hi... any recommendations for a value-for-money T5 4x24W fixture?

[Alvin Tan]

hi... any recommendations for a value-for-money T5 4x24W fixture?

hmmzz.....u can go for solite or dymax....however.....i prefer the retrofits....u can check on my thread n see how is it lyk..

[tjchan]

hmmzz.....u can go for solite or dymax....however.....i prefer the retrofits....u can check on my thread n see how is it lyk..

how do you set the retrofits on a tank w/o hood. just lay it on top? does it fit nicely?

[tjchan]

ok.... thanks for all help by bros (and sis?) here.

I've bought a Dymax Starlight 4x24WT5HO, ordered a 24x16x16 tank and purchased a 2nd hand macro venturi skimmer and a red sea prizm (gonna test which one works better). Now awaiting the tank to arrive before I can start on setting it up....

Quetions on filter media:

1)can i use rowaphos in my canister and how long do I need to change it?

2)should I use carbon or is it optional as I heard carbon absords metals and chemicals in the water.... wouldn't any beneficial chemicals be absorbed as well?

3) any recommendations on a cheap small FR which I can place rowaphos in or is placing it in my eheim 2215 cannister good enuff?