Small tank lighting problem

[ocellaris06]

I setup my 20g tank (LS + LR) for almost 2 months and everything is fine. I want to have some coral and crown fish (ocellaris). Any lighting suggestion please (my tank is 24" long only and wonder T5 will be too long)? Moreover, what kind of coral can "match" with ocellaris.

 

[UnderCoverDork]

I have a 20 g tall as well...i am using a coralife fixture with
1 150w 10k MH
2 65w antinics
2 1w led moon lights

it is larger that the top of the 20g but if you turn the mounting legs it comws with inside it will fit...love the light..though it set me back 360+shipping

it is hard to find a host for OC clowns...true percs do much better. my OC clowns hosted in a leather coral but at night had to sleep on top of a poweer head...they might like a BTA but its hit or miss with OC clowns

 

[Jocko]

The smallest T5s fit perfectly over a 20H. Personally, I would suggest you save yourself some time and just go right for the MH. Personally, I think a single 150W 14k bulb would be all that you'd need. You could either get a retro kit and make your own hood with just the MH, or get one of the smaller MH/PC fixtures on the market. If you get a fixture with flourescent lights, then you could do a 10K MH bulb since you'd have the actinic supplements.

As far as the clowns... good luck. Over time, my ocellaris have hosted with a powerhead, a rock, a piece of eggcrate, and an oyster. This is the same pair of fish BTW. They have ignored the BTA and other LPS like torch.

 

[papagimp]

just to add to the information you're recieving. T5's will run alot cooler than the Metal halides and do just as good of a job with that size tank. If you have any difficulties keeping the tank cool, than I would avoid the halides. My 42g with a 250mh bulb is impossible to keep cool without a chiller and I'm forced to run it opposite day/night cycle from my other tank, a 55g with 6 x 54watt T5's. The 55 stays around 78 with room temp at 72. The 42g with halides stays around 85 with room temp at 72.

Your call though, both will work fine. Even PC's would do well on that size tank. If you had enough and researched coral placment ahead of any new coral purchases.

 

[Teknagen]

I have a 20g aswell and I picked T5 over MH. I didn't want to have to deal with the excessive heat and evaporation.