20g long reef setup advice needed

[crazedartist]

I've been out of the reef loop for a while now. Want to get back into it!

I have a 55 acrylic but since I expect I can't afford the money and space for a chiller, sump, and full-on lighting system at that size, I'm probably going to go FOWLR for that one. I posted for advice on that separately here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1246388

Anyway, I'm thinking of setting up a 20 gallon long tank for micro reefishness. Not sure if I want a display tank or if I'm going to be fragging things garden-style, or what... but presumably the set-up is the same for both, eh?

I'm not too interested in SPS. Trying to keep this relatively easy by sticking with what I've kept in the past... soft corals, mushrooms, yadda.

The 20 wouldn't have a sump because it'll be in a weird location, but I was thinking I could carve off a section for an internal sump with overflow. It'd give me a place to stick a DIY skimmer with a return pump or something... dunno... or should I just do that inside the main tank? But then bubbles are much more likely to be everywhere...

Lighting suggestions? HO lights were brand new when I last had a reef tank!

Also, I hear people are finding success with sand beds these days. As I understand it, it should be sugar-fine not-necessarily-calcareous sand. Don't you need something to stir it up? Or is the idea to allow anaerobic zones beneath?

Thanks for ANY advice. I've been reading threads for two weeks now and getting information overload... a few get-started tips would go a long way.

 

[barbra]

Re: 20g long reef setup advice needed

<<I was thinking I could carve off a section for an internal sump with overflow. It'd give me a place to stick a DIY skimmer with a return pump or something... dunno... or should I just do that inside the main tank?>>

I think that's a great idea if you don't mind the space it will take up. You will have to make at least wide enough to get the equipment and your hand in there.


<<Lighting suggestions? HO lights were brand new when I last had a reef tank!>>

Try T5, it's the latest and sized perfectly for your tank.


<<Also, I hear people are finding success with sand beds these days. As I understand it, it should be sugar-fine not-necessarily-calcareous sand. Don't you need something to stir it up? Or is the idea to allow anaerobic zones beneath? >>

Sand beds are great IMO. Sugar fine or a bit larger is good, stay away from crushed coral or rubble bottoms though. There are snails, gobies, and sandstars that will stir it for you. You want it to be stirred, but just a bit. You do want the anaerobic bottom layers to form.

 

[pledosophy]

I ditch sectioning it out and go for a HOB style refugium. Some of them come with skimmers and you could use the reguoum section for a sump.

T5's would be gret, however you will have to get the 24" bulbs as I do not believe there are HO T5's in 30" yet.

HTH

 

[crazedartist]

Thanks for the replies! Based on my reading elsewhere in this forum, I'm sure I'll end up with the T5s.

The LFS has Coralife ones at a reasonable rate, too. They're two-lamp fixtures... would I need two or three of those, you think?

I admit I don't entirely understand the hang-on refugium concept. Couldn't you build a protected "refugium" area inside of a tank and let fish pick off the ones who foolishly venture out, rather than getting an expensive hang-on version with its own lighting and stuff?

Is it so you can pick out copepods and direct them as food to specific corals or somesuch?

Or is it more like... you need the sump aspects of the hang-on so you can run a skimmer, so you might as well use the rest of the area for a protected refugium?

 

[barbra]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11145634#post11145634 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crazedartist
Thanks for the replies! Based on my reading elsewhere in this forum, I'm sure I'll end up with the T5s.

The LFS has Coralife ones at a reasonable rate, too. They're two-lamp fixtures... would I need two or three of those, you think?

I admit I don't entirely understand the hang-on refugium concept. Couldn't you build a protected "refugium" area inside of a tank and let fish pick off the ones who foolishly venture out, rather than getting an expensive hang-on version with its own lighting and stuff?

Is it so you can pick out copepods and direct them as food to specific corals or somesuch?

Or is it more like... you need the sump aspects of the hang-on so you can run a skimmer, so you might as well use the rest of the area for a protected refugium?

When I recommended the lighting I figured on part of the tank being gone by partitioning, hence 24" will work well. You will need 3 IMO, for a 6 light array.

You can build the 'fuge inside the tank. Hang-ons are good if you have no sump, or no room in the sump. It also keeps the pods from going through a blender called the return pump. Most don't seem to survive that.
The skimmer and the 'fuge aren't related. The hang on 'fuge is not designed with a skimmer in mind.

 

[crazedartist]

Hmmmm. A 6-light array for a 20 long is the same price as a 4-foot version... which makes me think of my old 33 long... which also makes me wonder if I could put it on my 55 instead.

Decisions, decisions! See how this escalates??

 

[young_Skywalker]

I would not use just sugar grained sand. It's best to mix the grain sizes, everyone I've delt with that used strictly sugar grain have had problems with it (unless it's a really shallow bed). There are also several HOB refugiums that come with skimmers built in

 

[dendro982]

Here is a thread with 20g long tank build, with internal partition, just as you planned. Partition could be made from black plastic.

I have the smallest Tunze DOC nano skimmer in my 20g long, it takes very little space, reasonably quiet, looking good, and produces no microbubbles - like it.

You will need closed loop or a couple of powerheads for a such long tank. I have 2 Mini-Jets 606 on the back wall, roughly marking tank in thirds. Reflected from the glass flow gently washes corals.

I had PC light, but now trying DIY 70W MH, that will require only once an year bulb changes, and they can be bought at $16 on E-Bay (the $7 one has yellow cast). PC should be changed every 6 months and this is costly.

If this will be fishless tank, it will be refugium by itself.

Small detail - aquascaping should be scaled down, like big tank in miniature. Otherwise it looks strange, out of place.

Good luck!

 

[phenom5]

I have a 55 acrylic but since I expect I can't afford the money and space for a chiller, sump, and full-on lighting system at that size, I'm probably going to go FOWLR for that one. I posted for advice on that separately here:

IMO...and this is just my opinion, so take it FWIW...the cost of 55g FOWLR + 20g reef = the cost of a 55g reef. maybe not exactly the same cost, but pretty close. if it were me, i'd use the 20 as a sump for the 55g. you should be able to get away without a chiller. i don't know...that's what i would do.

GL :thumbsup: