I was at my lfs today checking on prices of SW stuff, I was asking the owner about what lighting I'd need. I asked if the one (light) that comes with the aquariun would be sufficient for Live Rock and sone fish he said I'd probley need to go with a different light, a brighter one. He quoted it to me for $300, now I know close to nothing about SW tanks but that price sounded a little LARGE to me. So I ask you would I need a different one? What is it, just a different bulb? Does it have to be one for fish aquariums or could I just buy on from lowes (same watts)? There is alot of heat put out by these, so I assume I need a different hood, so how much more is a SW hood than a FW hood?
Lighting
- Thread starter sic0198
- Start date
Mr Miagi
Veins are flowing with SW, now going back to FW!
You need to get alot more specific. Read up about the different types of marine aquarium lighting on the interent. There are 3 main types, T8, T5 and MH (Metal Halide).
$300 doesnt sound excesive, but that depends on what he offered, so we cant help you there unless we know what he planned to do.
For Fish, and Live rock ONLY, you dont need anywhere near as much lighting, and a few "marine glo" tubes fro yor LFS would do (T8's).
If you want to get corals eventually (again, more research there) you need to get T5's or MH's, and thats when you need a new hood and thats when it does get expensive.
Yes there is a difference between FW and SW goods, in that SW hoods require alot more construction, fans (if you go MH) and they are larger.
$300 doesnt sound excesive, but that depends on what he offered, so we cant help you there unless we know what he planned to do.
For Fish, and Live rock ONLY, you dont need anywhere near as much lighting, and a few "marine glo" tubes fro yor LFS would do (T8's).
If you want to get corals eventually (again, more research there) you need to get T5's or MH's, and thats when you need a new hood and thats when it does get expensive.
Yes there is a difference between FW and SW goods, in that SW hoods require alot more construction, fans (if you go MH) and they are larger.
Siamese Fighter05
Fish Herder
Tell us what size tank you have and what kind of setup you're after (FO, FOWLR,Reef) and we can try and help you choose which lighting setup you need 
Tell us what size tank you have and what kind of setup you're after (FO, FOWLR,Reef) and we can try and help you choose which lighting setup you need
Like I said in another thread I plan to get a 75 gallon. But could you guys help me with both a 29 gallon and a 75 gallon.
What I want to do is start off with a FOWLR tank then go to a reef later on.
Would someone make me a list of all the stuff I'd need, just the basics.
Here's what I'm thinking I need:
FOWLR Aquarium
Tank (obviously)..........I'm gonna use a 29 gallom possibly, which I already have.
Secial Lighting (suggest for me what I need)
Water
Salt
R/O unit (do I hook this up to my aquarius, if so what do I hook it to?)
Skimmer
Live Rock
A few fish
What else do I need?
I am under the impression I don't need a filter if I have Live Rock, is this accurate? So would another filter be beneficial like a canister filter. I have ample time to do research but I'd like your input as well, if you don't care.
Well, if memory serves, a 29g is 30" long. If you want corals in the future Id suggest a lighting fixture that is either 4 T5 tubes spanning the tank length, 2 Power Compact tubes spanning the tank length, or a single 175watt metal halide over the center of the tank. Under no circumstances would I ever purchase lighting from an LFS because you can usually get WAY cheaper prices buying used or getting some online from one of this sites sponsors or elsewhere (ebay). If you want to get really advanced with corals in the future I'd suggest either the T5 or the metal halide option. If you just want to get your feet wet, power compacts would be just fine too.
A canister filter is NOT required, nor are any man-made filtration. Instead as you've read, you use live rock and powerheads to push water around the tank. Usually 20-30 times tank turnover per hour. So for a 29g you'd want 600-900 gph worth of powerheads in your tank.
Dont forget a heater, test kits, aragonite sand, and either a refractometer or hydrometer to measure salinity.
A canister filter is NOT required, nor are any man-made filtration. Instead as you've read, you use live rock and powerheads to push water around the tank. Usually 20-30 times tank turnover per hour. So for a 29g you'd want 600-900 gph worth of powerheads in your tank.
Dont forget a heater, test kits, aragonite sand, and either a refractometer or hydrometer to measure salinity.
Well, if memory serves, a 29g is 30" long. If you want corals in the future Id suggest a lighting fixture that is either 4 T5 tubes spanning the tank length, 2 Power Compact tubes spanning the tank length, or a single 175watt metal halide over the center of the tank. Under no circumstances would I ever purchase lighting from an LFS because you can usually get WAY cheaper prices buying used or getting some online from one of this sites sponsors or elsewhere (ebay). If you want to get really advanced with corals in the future I'd suggest either the T5 or the metal halide option. If you just want to get your feet wet, power compacts would be just fine too.
A canister filter is NOT required, nor are any man-made filtration. Instead as you've read, you use live rock and powerheads to push water around the tank. Usually 20-30 times tank turnover per hour. So for a 29g you'd want 600-900 gph worth of powerheads in your tank.
Dont forget a heater, test kits, aragonite sand, and either a refractometer or hydrometer to measure salinity.
How many powerheads would I need?
Well, as I mentioned, you want enough powerheads to equal 600-900 gph total worth of flow. I'd probably use a single Seio M820 if that were my tank.
For lighting, what you linked to is just a bulb. To properly operate, a metal halide system consists of bulb, ballast, socket, and reflector. There are LOTS of options when considering installing a metal halide system as well as many hurdles. If you reallyl want to go that way, first thing to consider is room in your hood
For lighting, what you linked to is just a bulb. To properly operate, a metal halide system consists of bulb, ballast, socket, and reflector. There are LOTS of options when considering installing a metal halide system as well as many hurdles. If you reallyl want to go that way, first thing to consider is room in your hood
Well, at 30g you're right on the line of whether I'd reccomend a skimmer or not. If you plan to keep mostly corals and few fish, I wouldnt use a skimmer. If you want to go fish heavy on the stocking, get one. And if you want to grow SPS corals get one as well. If you do decide that your stocking warrants a skimmer, your best bet in the states for a hang on is the smallest coralife superskimmer (pretty sure they're rated up to 60 gallons)
Wow, thats like mega super overkill lighting If you're a US resident (and I'll assume you are since you're linking US sites) I'd reccomend shopping around hellolights.com or ebay.
I'd still love to know what you'd like to keep in the future cause I'd rather steer you in the right direction for what livestock you'd like to keep. Lighting is very much livestock and individual aquarium specific. Its not just like everyone should have the same thing. You've really gotta consider how much room you have in your hood and heat issues as well with lighting.
Also, if you are a US resident, where are you from? I might be able to point you to a good local reef club where you could find a lot of this stuff used for a fraction of the price if that interests you.
If you're a US resident (and I'll assume you are since you're linking US sites) I'd reccomend shopping around hellolights.com or ebay.I'd still love to know what you'd like to keep in the future cause I'd rather steer you in the right direction for what livestock you'd like to keep. Lighting is very much livestock and individual aquarium specific. Its not just like everyone should have the same thing. You've really gotta consider how much room you have in your hood and heat issues as well with lighting.
Also, if you are a US resident, where are you from? I might be able to point you to a good local reef club where you could find a lot of this stuff used for a fraction of the price if that interests you.
Wow, thats like mega super overkill lighting
I'd still love to know what you'd like to keep in the future cause I'd rather steer you in the right direction for what livestock you'd like to keep. Lighting is very much livestock and individual aquarium specific. Its not just like everyone should have the same thing. You've really gotta consider how much room you have in your hood and heat issues as well with lighting.
Also, if you are a US resident, where are you from? I might be able to point you to a good local reef club where you could find a lot of this stuff used for a fraction of the price if that interests you.
I live in NE Kentucky. Right now I'm wanting a FOWLR tank. I wanting a few community fish like maybe a few like a little clown fish and some others, ya know gentle community stuff. Maybe in time I will try to make a reef aquarium out of it. So I want some reef compatible stuff. I'm trying but I need some help trying to learn what I need.
So is this more like what I need?
If you're looking at corals in 6 months to a year (when it'll be time to replace bulbs anyways) I'd consider just buying some basic lighting for now and upgrading later. That type of fixture you quoted would suffice for just about any corals and would be overkill for fish only. I'd consider something like this to start with. Heck, thats even enough light to keep most soft corals and LPS if you decide to do so.
Off the top of my head, I dont know of any louisville or lexington reef clubs. A google search might turn up more help for you. Closest thing I can find is the Chemical Valley Reef Club which apparently has members from southern ohio, west VA, and eastern KY
Off the top of my head, I dont know of any louisville or lexington reef clubs. A google search might turn up more help for you. Closest thing I can find is the Chemical Valley Reef Club which apparently has members from southern ohio, west VA, and eastern KY
That's more my budget thanks dude. This just slides over the clear rectangular piece that's on the piece that covers my aquarium right? Do I need anything else?
The pet shop girl told me that the flourescent light that comes with the aquarium would be enough for this, I don't believe this but I'll ask anyway is this true?
Also what is a sump and will I need one?
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