what do i need?

[agent 14]

SUP,i wanna change my 20 gallon high fish tank into a reef tank.i wanna know what i need.....keeping a budget in mind.i have 3 clowns already.i just wanna own an anemone

 

[viper_930]

What are the dimensions of the top of your tank? How much would you be willing to spend on the lighting?

 

[agent 14]

the length is 24" i dont know da width......im willin to spend between 50-70 dollars.....how much would i need to spend

 

[viper_930]

A lot more than that. Say about $200. Anemones are on the higher lighting part of the scale. Still interested?

 

[agent 14]

can i use a dual twin light.....it has two bulbs.....and its $34.99

 

[viper_930]

Nope. Those bulbs are probably normal output (NO) lights, just like the kinds of florescent lights used in gracery stores and such. Then there are power compact (PC) lights, able to support some less light-demanding soft corals, like xenias, zoos, and shrooms. Very High Output lights (VHO) are almost similar to PC lights, but I think they are a bit more powerful. Then metal halide (MH) lights are the best for a reef aquarium. I recommend using one mh bulb, maybe 70 watts over a 20. You don't have much flexibility with lighting on a small tank, because the most PC you can put on there is 130 watts, and that isn't enough for an anemone.
How long has the tank been setup?

 

[agent 14]

so i dont need to buy a light fixture just a bulb.......my tank has been set up bout 2 years

 

[agent 14]

which one is cheaper?

 

[thomas712]

You would need to purchase new fixtures as well as the special ballests to power the new higher wattage bulbs. Just putting one of these bulbs PC or VHO into a normal output fixture would not be able to properly power them if at all.
I have 4-36" bulbs, with fixture and VHO ballest which cost me over $250.00 dollars. This is a 380 watt lighting system and I could use more.
Thomas
Also I don't normally recommned anemones for nano tanks

 

[agent 14]

but i have a 20 gallon high tank would it still cost that much?

 

[thomas712]

This is what I might envision over your 20 gallon, if there is no hope of talking you out of an anemone which, in my opinion should not be housed in a 20 gallon tank.
Here is an example of a VHO kit that is 24 inches long.
24" 4 Lamp VHO Retrofit Kit (w/ ARO Model 4L ballast)
Bulb1: URI Super Actinic VHO #20-03-V (+$18.00)
Bulb2: URI Actinic White 50/50 VHO #12-20-ATW-V (+$19.50)
Bulb3: URI Super Actinic VHO #20-03-V (+$18.00)
Bulb4: URI Actinic White 50/50 VHO #12-20-ATW-V (+$19.50)
The fixture and ballest themselves are about $165, add the bulbs to that and you have $240.00 dollars that will give you 300 watts of lighting. That does not include shipping.
Thats just one way to go, and that is online shopping, you would pay much more at your local fish shop.
Your clownfish can live without an anemone, clowns do not have to have anemones to survive, they do just fine without one.
Thomas

 

[agent 14]

i think you just taslked me out of anemone

 

[agent 14]

but what do i need to change it into i reef tank

 

[thomas712]

24" 2 Lamp VHO Retrofit Kit (w/ ARO Model 4L ballast)
Bulb1: URI Super Actinic VHO #20-03-V (+$18.00)
Bulb2: URI Actinic White 50/50 VHO #12-20-ATW-V (+$19.50)
Fixture and ballest + bulbs = 186.50
The two bulb model would cost less money and only give you 150 watts of lighting.

 

[thomas712]

Originally posted by AGENT 14
but what do i need to change it into i reef tank
Live rock and live sand.
Well the two lamp model might allow you to keep some mushrooms, leathers and other soft corals.

 

[agent 14]

cool thanks for your help

 

[viper_930]

You can use this lighting fixture for some soft corals like xenias, leathers, zoos, and shrooms. Comes with everything you need for $116.
http://www.hellolights.com/242xcoraqpch1.html