Lighting for 20g Long Tank

[Sarah88]

so i am in the process of setting up a 20g long reef tank and as i am a student am trying to do so as cheaply as possible. i am looking into keeping different kinds of corals (mainly soft corals and LPS) and would also like to keep a tridacna or maximus clam, so i was wondering what you guys thought would be the best type of lighting im looking into T5 HO but then found this LED light with 4x1w 10,000K bulbs would maybe 2 of these be enough light for my small tank or maybe one plus a lower watt T5 strip? and also was looking at a CF fixture 2x65w for 120, the price is right but i know CF are kind of outdated tech and was wondering how much heat they would produce vs a T5 system of the same wattage? any advice would be greatly appreciated or if anyone knows a website where i can get T5 lighting (30in) for around 100?

[crvz]

A maxima clam is a Tridacna maxima, so saying "tridacna or maximus" doesnt quite make sense. In any case, if you're looking at a maxima clam, you'll need a light with a good amount of power. I would not consider and power compact (or compact fluorescent). The 1W LEDs are not going to put out any usable light, so I wouldnt recommend those either.

I would recommend 4x24W T5 fixture (or retrofit) with individual reflectors. This is out of your price range, so you may consider something used. I do not recommend you skimp on lighting for some of the things you're consider keeping. Save up a bit and get the right lighting for the animals you want.

[Sarah88]

oh yeah you can tell im new lol i was just going by what the online fish stores say and they have them listed as 2 different clams (thats a store for you) but yeah i want to get the one with the bright blue mantles. n yeah thats what i was figuring i found one for about 150 (would get 2x Current USA Nova Extreme 2x24w fixture for 65.5 each plus shipping) so i will probably be going with that, i am also going to go with dry rock and just buy like 2lb live rock to jumpstart bacteria so that will save me alot as well, but yeah thanks for the advice and that should be plenty of light for a clam and mainly soft corals with some lps thrown in right?

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT! also!

[quader94]

welcome to TRT!

[Sarah88]

Thanks guys!!

[Sarah88]

Hey do any of you know whether the nova extreme T5s have individual reflectors it wasnt very clear on the site? but it didnt look like they did so i will probably stick with the Current USAs (does anyone have any experience with these lights? how good are they?)

[mxracer19]

Just a thought and I'm all about promoting these...but DirtCheapLights on eBay sells MH fixtures from less than $100. I think 175W's go for like $85 including shipping. I have a 250 on my 20L....its way overkill but I planned for expansion

[Sarah88]

yeah i mean i plan on eventually converting my 125 so would be awesome if i could get something that i could eventually use on that as well, thanks for the advice i will definitely look into them, is there anything less than 150 so i could still add an actinic without complete light overkill? wont it bleach the lower light corals? (only plan on having soft corals and a few lps but i have heard that clams do better under MH.... and what about cooling i definitely dont have the funds to have to buy a chiller, wont the MH make the tank too hot? or could i counteract this by just putting it higher above the aquarium (since its only 12in deep) that would be awesome though if that would work cus that would even be cheaper than the T5HO fixture i was planning on getting!!!

[Sarah88]

hey i cant find that store on ebay are they still in business?

[mxracer19]

Like I said I have that 250 on mine with a sump. daytime temps hover around 81-82, nighttime is maybe 2 degrees cooler. I have mine in a hood that I built and theres a 1" gap all around the top of the tank for ventilation. So far so good. Lower light corals in my tank prefer shadows so thats where Ive got them. Clams absolutly do best under high intensity lights. One word of caution...the lights listed on DCL's areny UL approved...or at least I dont think so. The search params are "175 Metal halide w new bulb". The link is http://cgi.ebay.com/New-175-Watt-Met...d=p3286.c0.m14

[Sarah88]

OOOOHHHH ok yeah thanks alot for the advice but i think im just gona stick with the T5 set up then i think that clam should be fine under them in such a shallow tank