| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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02-25-2008, 04:40 PM
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#1
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squid
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 3
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Tank Size
Currently I have a fish only 49 gallon tall aquarium. I also have a Bak-Pak 2r+ protein skimmer, current chiller, and a fluval 405 canister filter. My question is this: is this tank to tall for a reef tank?
Thanks,
Sean
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02-25-2008, 05:05 PM
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#2
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HOW MUCH!Ok I will take 2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Toronto canada
Posts: 685
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How tall is how tall?
How tall is the tank,
How are you planning on lighting it?
And what kinds of corals were you planning on keeping?
Anything else someone will chime in
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Working on the 65g reef
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02-25-2008, 05:11 PM
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#3
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squid
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 3
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30" Tall. Don't know about lighting, that was going to be my next question. As far as what types of corals, I am wide open to suggestions and still doing some research.
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02-25-2008, 07:06 PM
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#4
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Duper Mod !
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 14,013
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Welcome to TRT Seanh
I'm moving your question to the General Reef discussion forum for more exposure
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Kelli
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02-25-2008, 08:01 PM
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#5
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: plainsboro, new jersey
Posts: 303
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Since you have a chiller, Metal Halides(MH) would be good. Are you planing to build a canopy or have a pendant over the tank?
As far as filtration the cannister is ok to start tank but it will become a storage container for nitrates. Consider Live Rock with a sump and skimmer if possible.
Read as much as you can. There are many good topics in the archives of this site. Check with some of the Moderators for good book titles.
HTH
Doug
BTW Welcome!! 
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 The solution to tank pollution is dilution.
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02-25-2008, 08:13 PM
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#6
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Shark
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Jax FL
Posts: 4,265
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Seanh
30" Tall. Don't know about lighting, that was going to be my next question. As far as what types of corals, I am wide open to suggestions and still doing some research.
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No, that is not too tall. The only thing you have to remember is that the taller the tank, the more powerful the lights have to be to reach the bottom. Metal Hallides would be about the only light that you could use.
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Randy
Chance Favors The Prepared Mind.
"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with BS" - Spanky
"One word: CLAMS" - tdwyatt
There are 10 kinds of people. Those who know Base 2 and those who don't.
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02-26-2008, 03:24 PM
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#7
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squid
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 3
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I have spent quite a while looking for a high enough power light in my tank size. It is 49g but only 20" in length. I am figuring about 250 watts, but I can't find a 20" light that short. any suggestions???
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02-26-2008, 03:27 PM
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#8
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Mommy Mod
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: down the street and around the corner from Dimples
Posts: 4,564
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retro lighting
it's lighting that you can build into your own canopy that way it will fit your tank because you build it - or modify a stock canopy to fit a retro kit.
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02-26-2008, 03:29 PM
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#9
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Now What?
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: charleston, sc
Posts: 1,083
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Have you looked at retro systems? You can just a reflector and bulb and build or have built a hood if you want one or just hang it from chains.
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75g, 350W MH's. LPS tank
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02-26-2008, 03:55 PM
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#10
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SHARK
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 2,017
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ya a 250w retor would work or i think sunpaq makes a 20" nano mh fixture
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Chris
chrischris not tomtom
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02-26-2008, 04:13 PM
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#11
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Now What?
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: charleston, sc
Posts: 1,083
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One more thing it is gonna be kinda hard to get to the bottom to work. Something you might want to think about is access and how much swimming you have to do to get to the bottom.
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75g, 350W MH's. LPS tank
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02-26-2008, 04:26 PM
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#12
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 582
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Also, fish load will have to be lower in a 30" tall tank than a shorter one of the same volume. Your tank has a smaller surface area than say a 36x18x18 50 gal tub, so less space for gas exchange. You can overcome that a bit with a good skimmer. Also agree with bosscrab about aquascaping. It will be tough to stack rock with that small of a foot print.
Not impossible to work with, just not ideal.
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