10 gal setup

cmof29

cmof29

New member
I hope to set up a 10 gallon tank soon and put zoas and mushrooms in it. I was thinkin a aquaclear HOB filter. About 10 lbs of sand and 10-15 lbs of lr. My big worry is lighting. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.
 
With just mushrooms and zoas you should be able to get buy with just a 2 bulb T5 HO set up. I had a 4 bulb power compact on a 30 gal and it worked fine for mushrooms and other soft corals.
 
FishNeedIt sells 70W metal halide fixtures for about $100. I have one hanging over my 10gal nano and it works great. I've got zoas, some LPS, a kenya tree and a tube anemone in it, and everything is growing nicely. My recommendation, if you decide to go this route, is to order it with a 20k bulb, because the small bulbs don't seem to hold that nice white/blue color like the bigger bulbs do.
 
i was looking at current usa's nova extreme t5 ho but my 10gal is 20in long and they only have 18in and 24in
 
Personally, I'd go with a 24" fixture and just have a bit of overhang on each side...at least the whole tank will be covered. If you have a canopy over it, go with the 18 in fixture.

Here's a few options if you definitely want a 20" fixture...I just google searched for it. I have no idea how good these fixtures might be, as I have no experience with any of them.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/253907/product.web
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/240912/product.web
http://www.aquacave.com/aquatic-life-20-4-lampbr-4-x18w-t5-ho-light-brfixture-3306.html
 
Thank you all for your help. I will look at those links. I also was looking at FishNeedIt and i like their lighting. How many k's should i get?
 
I will admit, for the cost, fishneedit definitely is a good option. I have two of their T5 4 bulb fixtures.

If you go metal halide, I'd recommend getting the 20k bulbs just because they're not the best bulb out there.

If you go T5, either 10k or 14k would work. I believe I ordered 2 10k and 2 actinic bulbs with my 2ft fixture. I replaced the bulbs with Giesemann bulbs shortly after I bought the fixture and now just keep the original bulbs as spares in case a bulb blows and I can't get to the LFS.
 
On FishNeedIt I like the 24in t5 HO 2 bulb fixture. I think I would go 1 white 1 blue. 10000k. For only $65 it's pretty nice.
 
Just be sure the 2' fixture hanging over the sides wouldn't bother you. Even though you think it would be 2" on both sides it's a bit more because of the fixture itself.
 
Im pretty sure it wouldn't bother me. I wouldn't really like the 18 becuase it would be too small. I was thinking of trying to put something against the rim of the tank, to set the light on so it wouldn't hang over.
 
Ive got a current sunpod that Id like to get rid of...actually I have an entire ten gallon set up drilled/overflow/light/return pump/sump that I've been looking to offload.
 
I am not trying to highjack this thread at all but I am in the process of setting up an almost identical setup!! I like the idea of a nano and my current 20 gallon is just about full of coral.

I will be going with the Marineland biowheel filter because I am a huge fan of the biowheel plus, like the aquaclears, I can stuff it with filtration to my liking. I am concerned with lighting as well and I was actually thinking of going LED for my 10 gallon setup. Any suggestions as to where to begin sourcing a LED fixture? Depending on the price of a LED fixture I may just go 4 bulb T5 again too though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Seahorse Macro Setup Question
Replies
4
Views
306
vlangel
vlangel
jeryl
Free Equipment - Parkland
Replies
1
Views
304
jeryl
jeryl
S
Back up power supply
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
Reefing102
Reefing102
B
10 gal Sump for 54 gal Corner tank?
Replies
3
Views
432
BarneyPSU
B
F
COMPLETE 150 Gallon Setup FOR SALE
Replies
0
Views
329
floridasaltwaterjunkie
F
Back
Top