A few newbies' question

braytag

New member
Hi guys, I've had a 55 Gal FOWLR tank for over a year now, it had 3 demsels and a few hermits in it. While moving in the freezing cold of Canada, I lost 2 demsels. That was about 2 months ago. Since I've been restocking slowly, about 1 fish a week. My current setup is:

fluval 204 canister filter
-an aquaclear 70 power head
-an aquaclear 30 power head
-a seaclone 150 (yeah I know it suck :/ Should have researched it)
-about 35lbs of live-rock
-about 30 lbs of baserock
-and 4-strip fluorescent lighting unit 36", 30W each so 120W total

my livestock is:

4x chromis
1x 3-convic demsel
1x blue demsel
2x peppermint shrimps
2x cleaner shrimps
1x cleaner wrass
1x clown fish
1x red scoooter gobi
and a few hermits/snails

Question 1:
I was thinking about putting a brittle-star and a hippo tang what do you guys think?

Question 2:
Also you guys talk about t5 lighting, I looked around in my LFS, all I can find are normal fluorescent like mine (wich are t-8) or t-10, it seems that the T-n rating indicate the diameter of the bulb, I'm I correct?

BTW I'm expecting to upgrade to a 90Gal in about 6 month.
 
Just as well be the first to say this and get it out of the way. Your tank is too small for a Hippo. Sorry.

A T5 is a VHO light which makes it different than your NO flourescents beside the smaller diameter. Your right T-5 is the diameter of the tube so a better nominclature would be T5 VHO lights. The main reason the have brighter output is the reflectors (I think).

Local fish stores get most of there money from selling lots of crap and a couple of goldfish to, less than commited, individuals. This is best illistrated by the particle board stands and the little castles and bubbling scuba divers. Serious hobbiest's are few and their special equipment requirments provide a small niche market. Unless the owner of the store is a serious hobbiest themselves, or your particular area has a large following, it is doubtful that you will find T5 lights. Or VHO, or MH, or quality skimmers, calcium reactors, pH monitors etc.

Mike
 
I would hold off on the hippos tank at least until you get your bigger tank... Your 55 is pretty stocked allready.

As for the brittle-star what kind? (I don't really like the green ones as they are know small fish/shrimp eaters).

I know the T-n rating is related to the diameter but not 100% sure...

Dave
 
I would just caution you.... If your fish start disapearing look to him as a culprit.

Dave
 
stocking levels are 1 inch of fish to ten gallon of water as a safty measure so i agrea with the rest hold on the tang
t5 lights are in abundence here in the uk and its rating goes by diamiter but the intesity is 2x as much giving better punch threw om light to depth try ebay.co.uk im sure youll find a seller that will post to you

i also find t5s to be more economical on the enery consumtion and dont heat the water up as much as mhlds
 
The inch per gallon rule doesn't realy apply to saltwater. I still wouldn't put a 7 inch naso tang in a 70 gallon tank...
 
Actually it doesnt work for anything. Its a standard for those newbies that buy a 20 gallon or smaller tank and some guppies. Freshwater is an inch per gallon. I wouldn't put a 70 inch fish in a 70 gallon either.
 
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