planning on getting a 40 gallon tank, need ideas/help with a stocking list!

[OrQidz]

That sounds like an all in one system (AIO), that's great! I think AIOs are perfect because you don't have to deal a sump and all that plumbing.

There is even an RC thread about these tanks http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2435353

LEDs can cost more up front but use WAY less electricity and last for years. Your next best bet would be T5s, which use more electricity and you have to replace the bulbs every 6-12 months. People also use halides, which are very powerful, and I think most people are moving to LEDs these days. Of course there are as many opinions about lights as there is sand on a beach!

Lights are not cheap, but with an anemone you will need decent ones. I'm not sure of the dimensions of your tank, but common lights that seem to be good are Kessils, Hydras, Radions...to name a few. There are also the "cheap Chinese lights from ebay" that I see mentioned but I have no experience with. I have a softy tank so I have a Fluval Sea light, cost about $130 or so. I would go better than that if you want to keep nems.

I have completely forgotten if bubble tips host clowns; I think they do! Some nems do and some don't. I think it's the condys that don't host clowns. But I am no expert on that.

 

[meganallison88]

yes it is all in one! this is the link to the tank http://innovative-marine.com/nuvo-aquarium/mini40.html

I haven't gotten it yet but I've gone and looked a few times and even though its more expensive than getting a used one (way more expensive lol) I would really like to just save up and have an amazing tank like that!

$150CAD on lights would be an ideal price for me I think! might splurge a little more if I can! my landlord is the one worried about electricity haha.

are your lights LED?
also how much sand should I have in my tank?

 

[meganallison88]

would something like this work? http://www.ebay.ca/itm/FLUVAL-SEA-M...766782?hash=item4d3dd3b67e:g:KVQAAOSwgQ9Vxk0x

 

[OrQidz]

I think I have that exact light! It works well enough for my softies. I wish it was a bit more blue - it really looks like white light. If you look at different tank pics you'll see many have a bluish look. You won't get that with this light. Honestly I plan on upgrading fairly soon...what to, I'm not sure.

Check out the link I posted - I started looking in there and the folks seem to say what equipment they are running, that might give you an idea. Now I want one of these tanks, lol.

The one thing with this hobby is that if you go cheap initially, you will regret it eventually and spend the money anyway. Although there is nothing wrong with starting with a basic set up and upgrading later! You will probably end up with multiple tanks at some point anyway, one is never enough. I think my tanks are breeding in the garage when I'm not looking! (not fancy ones though, sadly. I really don't remember buying all these 10 and 20H tanks but there they are).

 

[A.Astore]

I bought a Reefbreeders light. I think they have some cheaper light systems but can't remember because I needed a 60" so I didn't look at some of the smaller options. I love the options it has and the fact I can make it go through a typical day cycle for the corals and fish rather than a timer that simply turns them on and off. Yeah it was not cheap up front BUT you will save on electricity and bulb longevity with an LED unit (and that is even saying you go with a high end LED fixture in terms of upfront cost). I don't have extended proof of how well coral does with the specific one I have but so far it has done the job desired.

The company is also a sponsor on here and Logan (the owner) was super fast to get the light to me in amazing packing. Keep in mind you don't need anything fancy even initially so if you went with a very basic light initially while the tank is only FOWLR you could switch out the light after a bit for a light that will support your anemone and coral.

It looks like the snowflake clowns will host a bubble tip so you should be okay in terms of them possibly accepting it as a host. I had to look though because there are some anemones that simply will not be hosted by clowns. There are even some LPS that clowns will host.

 

[A.Astore]

I think I have that exact light! It works well enough for my softies. I wish it was a bit more blue - it really looks like white light. If you look at different tank pics you'll see many have a bluish look. You won't get that with this light. Honestly I plan on upgrading fairly soon...what to, I'm not sure.

Check out the link I posted - I started looking in there and the folks seem to say what equipment they are running, that might give you an idea. Now I want one of these tanks, lol.

The one thing with this hobby is that if you go cheap initially, you will regret it eventually and spend the money anyway. Although there is nothing wrong with starting with a basic set up and upgrading later! You will probably end up with multiple tanks at some point anyway, one is never enough. I think my tanks are breeding in the garage when I'm not looking! (not fancy ones though, sadly. I really don't remember buying all these 10 and 20H tanks but there they are).

This is very true! No matter how happy you think you are going to be with a tank there is always something you can't have in it or something more you want in it. We have realized this with our choice to go reef with our 150... our 4 year old is not helping the need for another tank with his choice in fish :facepalm: Sadly the 150 initially started as a 90 in planning and we upgraded not once, but twice in just the planning stage. Then once the actual planning was about to wrap up we started a plan for a second for all the stuff we couldn't have. It is a never ending cycle it seems!

 

[meganallison88]

this is another light I was looking at http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Full-Spectru...id=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=111477963308

(sorry for the very long link!) I do like the look of the more blue hue for sure!!
so maybe I will up my budget to around $200-$250 cause you guys are right, it'll probably save me in the long run! and if I'm planning on doing corals I might as well get a light that can grow them, rather than buying a semi expensive one and then upgrading, might as well go big or go home lol!!

how many watts would I want? that's where I am confused! I'm not sure what I should be looking for lights! some are 125W some are 165W .. .bigger the better? lol

oh I know I am a tank collector already (freshwater) I had one time 5 freshwater tanks and a saltwater running in my bedroom lol!! unfortunately my new landlord was only okay with one tank haha! she said I could have it "as long as its not huge" but she didn't specify what huge was.... my idea of huge is like a 180! but I settled on the 40 just to be safe lol!

I was looking at that forum about the IM fusion 40 last night! these people have so much cool stuff on their tank!!
would you recommend a skimmer? I never ran one before honestly because I didn't understand what it did....

 

[meganallison88]

so I'm thinking about not having the black cap basslet as it's about $90 at my nearest store! yikes.. any other suggestions? maybe a banggai cardinal ? or maybe a royal gramma basslet?