mkeller
New Member
I've been in the hobby for years and am setting up a nano tank for my office. The tank is an 18g that is 20" high. I will cycle the tank with 30lbs of sand from my 135g tank at home and about 25 lbs of live rock from the same tank. Circulation will be provided by several Maxijet 1200's. At some point I will add a small power filter for carbon. I will cycle the tank initially with a 72 watt aqualight with actinic and 10k bulbs.
I will be keeping mushrooms, zoes and a torch coral that have done well in my 135 under 4 50/50 96watt power compacts, and also adding a few other soft corals in the short term. This tank will eventually house a fish, but not until its complete. I'd like to add a clam, but will probably not add any sps.
My dilema is lighting the 18g. I don't think the Aqualight will be enough. I've considered a 96 watt quad bulb Aqualight as well as 70 and 150 w metal halides from Current USA. I worry about overheating the tank with Metall Halides. The tank will be in an office in Ft. Lauderdale where room temps are usually in the low 70's during the week, but rise to about 82-85 on weekends in the summer. Money is no object for the tank, but external clutter is because the tank will be in a high end law office.
Any advice?
I will be keeping mushrooms, zoes and a torch coral that have done well in my 135 under 4 50/50 96watt power compacts, and also adding a few other soft corals in the short term. This tank will eventually house a fish, but not until its complete. I'd like to add a clam, but will probably not add any sps.
My dilema is lighting the 18g. I don't think the Aqualight will be enough. I've considered a 96 watt quad bulb Aqualight as well as 70 and 150 w metal halides from Current USA. I worry about overheating the tank with Metall Halides. The tank will be in an office in Ft. Lauderdale where room temps are usually in the low 70's during the week, but rise to about 82-85 on weekends in the summer. Money is no object for the tank, but external clutter is because the tank will be in a high end law office.
Any advice?