Ahh I was in the store today and i had to buy it.

[gixxer1000]

I seen they had a 30 gallon long its 36 inches ling. I am going to put my 29 gallon under the tank for a sump. So it will actually be a 59 gallon but you just see 30 gallons of shallow water. The long shallow tanks are perfect. After having a 60 gallon hex and a 10 gallon nano i would just like a mid size regualr shallow tank. Im gonna do this tank right not setting it up till have have every single thing that i need. I have a little problem with rushing but thats one of the things i learned in this hobby. Heres the help i need ill prob just put some VHOs or PCs cause my freinds try to talk me out of the halide cause of bleaching and so on. What lights do you reccomend for the 30L. IVe looked a couple places nothing caught my eye yet. I have seen alot of 36 inch setups though. Ill prob want to just get the whole set up not a retro kit. I paid $150 for the tank and stand. ITs a NICE stand a black pine very very nice stand. I told them to keep the lights set up peice of crap . Id like to keep softies, possible hard corrals cause of the shallow dept of the tank. For fish 2 tank raised clowns and a clean up crew. Also what skimmer should i get i want a nice one this time around. Its gonna be so hard to look at a bare tank for a while. I had to get it ive only seen a 20 long not 30.

 

[dad]

IMO There is nothing better than MH lighting.
Your tank really sounds like a nice setup though.
Let me think: My 200g with a 125g refugium? WOW

 

[javatech]

Take a look at the T5's

 

[gixxer1000]

THanks I had the 29 gallon just laying around. So i thought that would be perfect. I bet it cost alot of money to build that 200 gallon. In time when i get my own house im still 19. Im gonna do this tank so right even put power heads behind the rock so i get good bottom curculation. ANd the water will not be filled up till i have every peice i need sitting in front of me. I still have to pick out my skimmer. By any chance could you suggest a halide pc combo for me. Lighting is my wort subject so far. But i have learned so much from this fourm. Lights got me going crazy everwhre i see vhos at my job i check out the watts and stuff on them im going crazy. I work at porsche in the serive bay they have all kinds. I even find my self going to home depot now, kinda odd for a 19 year old. My parents like tanks and want one but they have to understand how long it takes to build. Cant just be pretty at once. I live in a big house but cant find any walls to put a tank on space is occupied. I set up a 40 gallon in my kitchen my mom freaked had to take it down i thought it was cool. Sit at the table and watch the fish. Anyway i would like some suggestions on the skimmer and the lights thanks. I was thinkin maybe 175 MH 250 max

 

[gixxer1000]

Oh yea can sombody also give me some sites. I have been to hellolights.com and couple others. Also if i did get a halide has anybody eve used a 20,000k or should i just stick with the 10,000k. I seen this retro fit on hellolights. I could just build a canopy and do it myself not to hard i guess

http://hellolights.com/242xcoaqreki.html

 

[shoreliner11]

Not a coral expert but if a tank is that shallow won't vho's be fine. Unless you are planing on keeping a lot of sps. A lfs near me has halide in a shallow tank and although sps does good, lps usually gets bleached from what I've seen. just my 2 cents

 

[javatech]

diyreef dot com:yes:

 

[gixxer1000]

yea my one good freind has a 180 with VHOs he hates halide tells me my stuff will bleach. Then we have my other freind with a 125 with halides loves them. So when i ask them for advice basically leaves me in the middle :thinking: . Plus my freind with the halide has a chiller. Its winter now so i would be good. But my room stays pretty warm (TV, Surround sound, Xbox, 60 gallon hex tank all kinda junk alwaays on. So not sure what would happen in the summer. I like the shimmer effect. Alought that isnt the important thing in the tank. The corals are. So i wasnt sure thats what i asked you guys.

 

[y2says]

Do you have a canopy? If so, how far is it from the top of the tank? The reason why I ask is that MH can be very hot. You'll need some distance from the water to the bulb. If you go with MH (which I reccommend), get yourself a couple of fans to cool it down. VHO's should be fine if you are not going with SPS or clams and add great color. If you go with MH, stay with the 175w for that size tank. I reccommend the CPR bakpak hangon skimmer.

 

[ivanfj]

Yes, MH is definitely the choice for lighting if heat is not an issue. But if you want something easy then pc is what I suggest.
A little off topic here: I guess it is really alright to go to home depot at age 19 :yes: I am 19 as well. I built up my own stand and I just built the hood/canopy for my tank last week and it was fun doing it. Plus, when I realize how much money I can save when DIY my stand, it just seems even better. I really enjoy the process of buying wood pieces and screws and stuffs from home depot and then go home and chopping woods. I think that part is really fun IMO. I guess I am addicted to home depot. :thinking: But of course, DIY a stand/hood/canopy does make it harder to have the same pretty look as buying the stand.

 

[gixxer1000]

I dont have a canopy yet. But i was kinda feelin the look of those coralife aqua light that hangs just above the tank with the little legs. It was a 96x2 watts for $216 on sale for 179.00. LIke i said lighting is my subject im still learning. Can anbody reccomend a set for the metal halid or any ideas. I guess you guys like the halid pc combo. But they are big money.