K9s 20g Reef - Warning: Image Intense!

[leaffish75]

nice setup. I have a 20L but im running 4 vhos

 

[Brewen]

Great tank, even better pics. Best of luck Brewen

 

[K9]

Thanks for the compliments everyone! I'm a bit of a shutterbug when it comes to my reef, so you can expect lots of pictures whenever I add a new coral or critter to my tank.

K9, that 3rd pic of your first post in this thread is really good. I like the spread out look of your reef.

Thanks alot. I thought about buying a few more lbs of live rock, which I still may do, but I'm happy with the low-lying design of the rocks. I didn't just want the live rock to be covered with low-profile corals like zoas and ricordea, so that's why I left plenty of room corals that grow upwards.

I'm eventually going to put in some taller-growing things like a toadstool leather, a green finger leather, a hammer or frogspawn, or I might even try a Montipora capricornis. I plan to fill some real estate on the sand bed with two of my favorite LPS: a short-tentacled plate and an open brain (wellsophyllia). You can definitely expect new pictures as soon as I put in anything new. Thanks again for the generous compliments! :thumbsup:

 

[vanmo92]

very nice pics.

 

[WarEagleNR88]

Can you go into further detail about your lights? Ballasts, where'd you get them, for how much? They're pretty sweet and they light your tank very well. I just wonder if they'll really benefit SPS when you start putting them into your tank. I've been wondering about the differences between VHO and PC. I'm running 3x96W PCs about 4" off the water and I have to use a couple of PC fans inside the canopy blowing over the fans and out of the canopy to keep the water around 80-82 degs. Are VHOs that hot as well?

But good job again going with the 20L instead of the 10G. They're pretty sweet and I like the wide angled look of the 20L. It's similar to the look of a widescreen TV compared to a normal sized screen. I kind of want my next tank to be either a 20L or a 40 breeder and if so I've got to wonder about the whole MH/PC/VHO question of lighting.

 

[K9]

Can you go into further detail about your lights? Ballasts, where'd you get them, for how much? They're pretty sweet and they light your tank very well. I just wonder if they'll really benefit SPS when you start putting them into your tank. I've been wondering about the differences between VHO and PC. I'm running 3x96W PCs about 4" off the water and I have to use a couple of PC fans inside the canopy blowing over the fans and out of the canopy to keep the water around 80-82 degs. Are VHOs that hot as well?

OK, here's the lowdown on the lights. I bought this ballast from HelloLights.com: http://www.hellolights.com/22elarovhoba.html and added the options of two pairs of endcaps, a power cord, no reflector, and two 24" URI bulbs. It was $95.50 w/o shipping and I chose 3-day UPS ($18.00 more), so the total was $113.50 with shipping. I got one actinic bulb and one 50/50 bulb. It was a VERY cheap route to go in order to get 150w of light. Plus, VHOs are more intense per watt than PCs. As far as heating is concerned, my canopy is totally enclosed except for about 1/2" in the back for the wires to come out, and the top has a little hinged door about 3" wide (and runs the length of the tank) that I leave open during the day when the lights are on. The temp goes no higher than 80F during the day and drops to about 77 or 78 at night. I don't even have a heater on this tank. I asked a question in the SPS forum about keeping SPS corals under VHOs and got some very positive responses. That thread is located here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=663369 if you'd like to read it. Oh, one last thing, the bulbs are 3" above the surface of the water.

But good job again going with the 20L instead of the 10G. They're pretty sweet and I like the wide angled look of the 20L. It's similar to the look of a widescreen TV compared to a normal sized screen. I kind of want my next tank to be either a 20L or a 40 breeder and if so I've got to wonder about the whole MH/PC/VHO question of lighting.

I really like the low-and-wide look as well. It's funny you compare it to widescreen TVs because when I buy a DVD, I only get the widescreen version and my TV is a Hitachi 46" widescreen HDTV as well. It really is the ONLY way to watch a movie . As mentioned above, I don't have any heating issues whatsoever, and I only spent $113.50 on 150w of light when a 150w MH retrofit would have cost me closer to $200 and no doubt caused some water temperature issues. So, for my money, VHOs were definitely the way to go. Also, if I ever need to, I have room in my canopy to add two more 24" bulbs, giving me a total of 300w of light for just over $200 after I ordered another one of those ballasts and the options I mentioned to go with it. A very good bargain indeed. I had 190w of VHOs on my old 30g tank and absolutely just loved them. For the money, you can't go wrong, and they're brighter and run cooler than PCs. Rest assured WarEagle, when I get that first SPS, I will post pics of it and keep you all up to date on it's progress under VHOs. :thumbsup: Thanks again for the compliments and feel free to ask any other questions.

 

[WarEagleNR88]

Sweet! Glad to see the details K9. Sounds as though VHOs rock. I can tell from the pics they are pretty bright and you've just confirmed they're cooler and cheaper than PCs--but not by much because I got 288W of light for a little over twice the price.

I went the AH Supply way and got three bulbs for $99, a 3x96W bulb kit for $170 and I think there was like $30 bucks of shipping for it too. Oh and they sent me some very good water heaters all in the same box. Can you believe that? I was like, if you guys can just leave out the heaters, I'd really appreciate it. Needless to say they sent them anyway. Really great reflectors though. Amazingly bright when they're clean

VHOs may be my route to take next. They look nice.

 

[crazyboutnemo]

I am also starting up a new 20g long. Just set it up yesterday. It has 20lbs of live rock and branch with 20lbs of live sand. I am going to do the same trick as you with my lights. You seem to have a really great idea and I am a big DIYer. I currently have a 40 watt total 50/50 double light strip above the tank. Do you think that will be ok for the time being. I also have a Emporer 280 running just to cycle the water but will add a skimmer later on. I am real excited about the lighting system that you have set up. Are there anymore great websites like that for us DIYers. Here is a picture of mine. I will add more rock and branch later one but spent my limit yesterday so I have to wait for a little bit. I also have a 45g tank that I have been working on for the past 6 months. I am only 6 months old to the hobby so any information you have is really helpful. I am going to follow your tank because it is exactly what I want in mine.

 

[K9]

Thanks again WarEagle. If you go the VHO route, definitely let me see some pictures! crazyboutnemo, looks like you're off to a nice start. Once you start putting some real corals in there, I'd paint the back a nice jet black or deep blue color and do away with the fake background, but that's just me . Some other lighting sites you may want to check out are:

www.hellolights.com (bought from them, highly recommend)
www.bigalsonline.com (bought from them, highly recommend)
www.diyreef.com
www.premiumaquatics.com
www.marinedepot.com (bought from them, highly recommend)
www.ah-supply.com

Best of luck with your tank. When you get some new lights and more pictures, start up your very own thread to keep us updated on the progress! :thumbsup:

Unfortunately, I have some rather ill news to report. Last night, after looking completely normal in the morning when I left for work, my Pygmy Angel and Six-Line Wrasse were COVERED with white spots (Ich). The angel was on his side on the sand and barely moving/breathing, so I euthanized him first. I've read about different methods, but I've always immersed the fish in a Zip-Loc baggie with some rubbing alcohol in it. Death is instantaneous. Then, the Six-Line was next since he was swimming, but just barely and having difficulty even staying upright. Sadly, this now means that I will have to leave my tank fish-free for at least 4 weeks (I'm doing 6 just to be sure). However, in the meantime, I will still be adding corals and inverts, so the pictures will keep coming. Take care.

 

[viveros1231]

i love the 20l tanks . i want to set one up next. i like how your tank is coming along. please keep the pics coming.

 

[crazyboutnemo]

my wife likes the fake background but I agree with you and will probably wind up doing that, but for now while nothing is in there I'll comply with her wishes and keep the background. I will definately start a new thread and keep updated. Thanks for the help and websites

 

[WarEagleNR88]

Damn, sorry to hear that K9. Ich is bad, grrrr.

Where was that cleaner shrimp at?!? Probably jazzing around the side of the tank like a retard.

Good luck dude.

 

[K9]

Damn, sorry to hear that K9. Ich is bad, grrrr.

Where was that cleaner shrimp at?!? Probably jazzing around the side of the tank like a retard.

Good luck dude.

Yeah, Ich is an evil SOB, isn't it? I don't mind waiting 6 weeks though because when I'm ready to add a fish to my tank again, it will be just that much more mature and have many more corals in it by then. I've already marked the day on my calendar too .

The Skunk Cleaner Shrimp was probably hiding away because coincidentally, he just molted last night. They don't show themselves much just before, during, and right after a molt. It would have been too late already though, because I'm sure some of the parasites had made it into my sand bed by then .

 

[K9]

UPDATE: September 20, 2005

UPDATE: September 20, 2005

Well, as the winds and rain of Hurricane Rita whirl around outside, I unfortunately don't have much more to report at this time. I bought a Toadstool Leather just over a week ago, but have been too busy with work and classes to take any pictures. I will post some as soon as I can. One of my Ricordea split as well, so I have three purple/green polyps now.

The tank remains fishless (treating for Ich) as I wait for the 6-week mark to get here. Unfortunately, that won't be until October 18th. In the meantime, my Skunk Cleaner Shrimp never ceases to entertain me by immediately pouncing on my hand to clean it the minute it goes into the tank.

I'm still debating whether I should add a protein skimmer or a refugium to this tank. I'd like some additional filtration as opposed to just 15lbs of live rock. I'm leaning towards the skimmer because I'm sick of seeing that scummy film on top of my water.

If anything new happens, or I take some new pictures, I'll be sure to update this thread. Take care.

 

[GunMoto]

Looking good! Can't go wrong with the VHO's, good choice....

 

[vanmo92]

looks good

 

[jcopp24]

Awesome setup... I have a couple of questions...

Awesome setup... I have a couple of questions...

Awesome setup I have just recently bought a 20 gallon to make into a nano reef after seeing the results some of you have had.
I have a 50 Gallon SW Predator tank currently that has been up and running for about 2 and a half years, what I am wondering is if I take water out of the 50 gallon for water changed and add that water to fill the 20 gallon would that get me better results in water faster than if I were to mix up salt and water and start new? I took about 10 or so lbs of LR from the large tank and added that into the 20 gallon, along with 1 bag of Live Fiji Pink Sand. I just want to obtain my water quality as fast as possible, my Undulated Trigger has the 50 gallon to himself and a couple other tank mates... now I want some coral : )
Thanks for the help
Jay
PS how do I put a photo of my undulate as my icon to the left of the post... all I can find is the avatars.

 

[K9]

Re: Awesome setup... I have a couple of questions...

Re: Awesome setup... I have a couple of questions...

Hi Jay,

Thanks for the compliments. I feel honored that at least a couple people now have vowed to start nanos based on my humble little setup . BTW, did you buy a 20g regular, or a 20g long tank? Mine's a 20 long because I wanted the shallower water and longer swimming distance for fish.

You will speed up the cycle by using water and live rock from your existing tank. I can't guarantee how quickly the tank will cycle, but if your ammonia stays at 0 for a couple weeks, it's safe to say you won't see a cycle and you can start S-L-O-W-L-Y stocking the tank.

PS how do I put a photo of my undulate as my icon to the left of the post... all I can find is the avatars.

Unfortunately, you can't have a custom avatar until you reach 100 posts. Also, you need 500 posts to change the "Registered Member" text to something else. So just ask lots of good questions and you'll be there in no time. Thanks again.

-Ted

 

[jcopp24]

Critters...

Critters...

I bought a 20 Gallon Long because the coffe table I want it on is longer and I thought I could put more into it... I dont really like the talls.

Are there any beneficial snails, crabs ect... to help cycle the tank?

I have a spotted pink lobster in my predator tank that I would like to rescue and put in my coral tank. Would you happen to know if this is a reef safe buddy? He is the only crestation that I could find that the trigger wouldnt kill it is wierd they actually share the same sleeping space. But I never see him because the tank is so small.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=89654&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

 

[K9]

No, anything you put into the tank during the cycle will not have a good chance at living. I wouldn't put the pink lobster in your reef either. I've read too many stories of those lobsters eating fish and other crustaceans.