Lighting

[pinkfeatherdust]

I have a 20gallon tank with ~15lbs of live rock in it. In the tank, there are also
1 red scooter blenny
1 orange spotted sleeper goby
3 red leg hermits + 3 blue leg
3 pink&white feather dusters

What kind of lighting should I get to help the stuff on my live rock spread? What lighting would help the things in my tank grow bigger and prettier? At the moment, I have the light that came with my 20gallon marineland deluxe bio-wheel starter kit, is it sufficient?

What else should I add to my tank? What other live stock do you recommend? I've only had my tank for ~2 months and this is my first tank.

Thanks.

[navychief]

Your LR won't spread due to lighting but by the use of calcium which is a completely different issue. As far as what lighting you need, it sounds as if you're just doing a FOWLR tank with the exception of the feather dusters? Does that filter have a biowheel installed?

[pinkfeatherdust]

What is a FOWLR?
Yes, the filter does have a biowheel installed.

[ILoveReefer]

FOWLR Fish Only With Live Rock

[Rustylugnuts]

I have had coralline algae spread just fine with 1 normal output fluorescent bulb. Do you plan on adding any corals? If so a pair or two of T-5 HO w/individual reflectors will work pretty well for softies and LPS corals.

[pinkfeatherdust]

Yes I want to add corals but I have no experience with taking care of them? Which ones are easy to care for? What is LPS corals? And what do you mean by individual reflectors?

[Rustylugnuts]

Mushrooms and zoos are pretty hardy and ricordeas (type of shroom) are my current favorite. LPS stands for large polyped stony corals ex frogspawn. Here is a handy list of acronyms (http://www.megapathdsl.net/~fmariani/abbreviations.htm) you'll find on RC. Individual reflectors on T-5's just means each bulb has its own reflector. You'll find 2 general ways to go about this. Fixtures (http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/Powermodule_Fixtures/24_inch__2x24W_Powermodule_T5_High-Output_Fixture_w!_Bulbs_by_ATI) are the ready made plug n play solution. Retrofit Kits (http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1349) require that you build a canopy and some assembly is required. The benefit is of course saving money (which you could put towards test kits, salt, better skimmer etc...)

[pinkfeatherdust]

Oooh. I already have a canopy which came with my starter kit. So any T-5 is fine? Any specific colours or brands? What other fishes should I add?

[ILoveReefer]

LPS -Large Polyp Stony Corals
If your starting of You'll want to start with Softies "No Skeletons" Something like green star polyps or mushrooms are good beginner corals. When rustylugnut said individual reflectors he meant that each bulb should have it's own reflector and not share one between 2 bulbs. It may cost a bit more but it maximizes the light output of each bulb.

[Rustylugnuts]

Ive stumbled upon the 3 actinic 1 10k setup that hellolights sent me. I was supposed to recieve 2 of each but when I set it up It looked great. Im happy I got the "wrong" bulbs. Can we get a picture of the canopy? I can't say for sure what will fit without a better idea of what you have. I do know that each reflector will need about 2" of space for the width and that it would be a good idea to keep em 4 to 6" off the water or to provide a proctive cover to keep the reflectors clean.

[pinkfeatherdust]

On the Marineland website (which is the brand of my tank) says "The 20-Gallon Deluxe Kit comes with a Perfecto Fluorescent Light Hood, Marineland's new Dual-Temp Heater (100 watt) and a Penguin 125 Power Filter".

and this is the picture of it on the site-
<http://www.marineland.com/news/newsletter/Februarypics/kit.jpg>

[Rustylugnuts]

Ah I'm not sure that you could fit a pair of T-5's in that. But building one yourself or getting one built if you know some one with some tools n time wouldn't be that bad. If not the fixture may be the way to go.

[Rustylugnuts]

Here is a website (http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/blbasicdiycanopy.htm) that explains canopy building better than I can. Give it a look. The DIY projects can be a lot of fun.

[pinkfeatherdust]

Thank you.

[dsn112]

You shouldn't add much of anything as far as fish go. a pair of tiny clowns maybe. If anything something peaceful and tiny. You have a small tank, I would say 4 tiny fish is max, and I think that blenny probably should be in a larger tank.