20 Gallons for Clowns and Anemones?

[saknick16]

Is a 20 gallon tank large enough to house a pair of clowns and a few anemones? If so, what kind if any anemones would do ok with only fluorescent lights? If this does not sound like a good idea, I would like to hear suggestions as to what to do with a 20 gallon saltwater tank.

Thank you

 

[shred5]

A 20 gallon would be ok for 1 bubble tip and a pair of percs, false percs, onyx or some of the other small clowns.

I had raised green bubble tips under N.O. for years but it would be better to have a few pc's or a couple t-5 over the tank instead. The green is the only anemone I would even attempt to keep under N.O.

Dave

 

[MimicTang]

I have GSMs, Clarkii, ocellaris and B&W clowns all in 20L. You'll be fine with most of the common species. Smaller would be better but GSMs and clarkii's would be fin in a 20L.

Also 1 BTA will fit too

 

[Phong33]

NO lights will not be sufficient. I'd highly recommend going with at least 2x24w T5 with individual reflectors.

 

[bigdaddyadam]

NO one a BTA will kill it, that is simply not enough light...you see fish stores do it and their BTA's look like death... I don't recommend a BTA in a 20 gallon due to the possibility of spawning, but if you must you should get something like a coralife striplight with 2x65 watt PC's, also take out the actinic bulb and replace it with another 10k since actinic is not much of a usable light source for BTA's.

what else can you do with a 20? have you not seen the gorgeous nano reefs that people are doing in small tanks? I have seen nano's in tanks as small as 5 gallons that put my tank to shame. small compact corals like shrooms, zoos, very small LPS, and one or two very small fish...because you have less space you don't have to go crazy buying massively expensive giant lighting and skimmer systems and thus you can get a few choice corals and makea really cool nano.

 

[saknick16]

I was given a 10 gallon with an incandescent hood for free and I figure I will use it instead. I found that they sell 10 watt PC bulbs that include ballasts so I can screw them right into the incandescent sockets. Is 20 watts in a 10 gallon sufficient for any coral? Do they make more powerful PC self ballast lights for the incandescent hood?

 

[shred5]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10046662#post10046662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigdaddyadam
NO one a BTA will kill it, that is simply not enough light...you see fish stores do it and their BTA's look like death...

I have kept a bta under N.O lamps for 6 years + .. If enough lamps are used with good reflectors you can do it. The reason fish stores do not is most have one or two lamps of the wrong spectrum that have not been changed in two years. W

When I first got in this hobby we did not have all the fancy stuff we have now. Now I would not suggest most people try this but it can be done. I have also kept my current bta under 1 65 watt compact fluorescent in a 20 gallon till just this past month when I changed to t-5 lighting. It has been doing good in there for 3 years, But the anemone was situated right under the lamp.

The only anemone I would suggest this with is a green bta and never a rose. It seems to prefer less light, It did not like my 250 watt hallide over my 40 breeder. It did nothing but hide in the shade.

Dave

 

[Slakker]

IMO, no, 20watts of PC in a 10g will not be enough. Particularly if it's the self-ballast screw in bulbs. You and your anemones will be happier in the end if you spend the money now to buy the proper lights.

Also, stay away from the 10g, even the 20 is a little on the small side for an anemone, but the 10 is just a terrible idea.

As a college student, I can appreciate trying to save some money, but this is one hobby where you'll be happier making the initial investment to get the equipment you really need to keep what you want to keep.