Starting 30 Gallon Reef! Questions???

[amado]

Start slow don’t buy sps.
Buy soft coral and zoas if you don’t kill them after a year then add sps. This is a new tank setup. You want to keep it simple. Learn how to maintain your tank after you have an established tank and you understand the requirements of coral. You can grow sps you just need to put them high on the rocks.

 

[Trio91]

I am just worried that the A80's won't cast enough light for all corals. It might be okay for zoa's and LPS but not SPS corals.

Definitely not enough for sps, you 'd need at least a 2nd one.

It may be a a little difficult to run a spa tank in a 30g

 

[Hallowhead]

Definitely not enough for sps, you 'd need at least a 2nd one.

It may be a a little difficult to run a spa tank in a 30g

I plan on having two A80 minimum. When you say SPA do you mean SPS? Sorry if that's a dumb question. Would a third A80 allow me to grow those corals

 

[Trio91]

I plan on having two A80 minimum. When you say SPA do you mean SPS? Sorry if that's a dumb question. Would a third A80 allow me to grow those corals

Yea my "spa" was a typo. I meant Sps.

2 should do it as you'll get the adequate light coverage/spread. 3 may be overkill. You'll just need to adjust the intensity to compensate. You could supplement with t5's if you'd like. That's what I did on my tank.

I've tried sps in my tank before and for me it didn't work out. I couldn't keep up with the parameter swings.

 

[Hallowhead]

Yea my "spa" was a typo. I meant Sps.

2 should do it as you'll get the adequate light coverage/spread. 3 may be overkill. You'll just need to adjust the intensity to compensate. You could supplement with t5's if you'd like. That's what I did on my tank.

I've tried sps in my tank before and for me it didn't work out. I couldn't keep up with the parameter swings.

I will definitely start with zoas and LPS which I don't think I'll have a problem with.. however, I will see one one day and be like I NEED it

 

[Trio91]

I will definitely start with zoas and LPS which I don't think I'll have a problem with.. however, I will see one one day and be like I NEED it

So for now, start off with 1 light then work your way up

 

[Hallowhead]

So for now, start off with 1 light then work your way up

I don't think 1 light is sufficient for a 30 long it's 3 feet long

 

[amado]

I had a 48” x 24 x 12 deep blue frag tank and I had two A80 growing frags. 15 watts per light.
Two on a 30 long should be enough

 

[Hallowhead]

I had a 48” x 24 x 12 deep blue frag tank and I had two A80 growing frags. 15 watts per light.
Two on a 30 long should be enough

I agree ! One wouldn't cover the entire tank since it's 36 inches long. If I decide on SPS Ill have to figure that out down the road. Did you see my most recent Pm?

 

[amado]

 

[Hallowhead]

View attachment 22505

WOW! This is really helpful. Thank you for supplying this! I will note this when I am setting my tanks up! I am so excited!!! Tank comes in tomorrow. Remainder of supplies come in early next week. Just have to coordinate with you when I can make it to woodbridge.

 

[Trio91]

I don't think 1 light is sufficient for a 30 long it's 3 feet long

3ft long, is that a custom shallow tank?

Edit:

Never mind, I looked it up. You are correct in that you will need more than 1 light

 

[Hallowhead]

3ft long, is that a custom shallow tank?

Edit:

Never mind, I looked it up. You are correct in that you will need more than 1 light

It seems like a very nice tank! Probably goes unnoticed ! Got it for a great price .

 

[Trio91]

It seems like a very nice tank! Probably goes unnoticed ! Got it for a great price .

It's super long....should make for a nice lagoon Style tank

 

[Hallowhead]

It's super long....should make for a nice lagoon Style tank

What exactly do you mean by a lagoon style? I am not sure of the different types? My brother has a 65 deep & Tall. I prefer the longer tanks which allow fish to swim longer lengths. So I am really excited.

 

[Trio91]

Its DIMS (36” x 15” x 13”) so it seems long but pretty shallow....which I feel is a good thing. Give you easy access to the tanks sandbed and what not.

Something like this is what I'm referring to. (Pic I found off the internet)

 

[amado]

I like shallow tanks. I have a 125 gallon and I am glad I didn’t get the 180 or the 220.

Deep tanks are hard to clean. Lighting a deep tank is also a problem and you always have dead spots. Getting the flow on a tall tank is also difficult.
For me 20” or less works best

 

[Hallowhead]

I like shallow tanks. I have a 125 gallon and I am glad I didn’t get the 180 or the 220.

Deep tanks are hard to clean. Lighting a deep tank is also a problem and you always have dead spots. Getting the flow on a tall tank is also difficult.
For me 20” or less works best

The back of my brothers tank is ALWAYS dark. Hence why he struggles with keeping his levels stable. I keep trying to tell him but he's stubborn. I would have loved a 80/100 long. Would look so clean and cool. Furthermore the deep tanks are SO hard to reach the bottom.

 

[deepblue68]

Welcome to the club! Iam from wanaque nnj and just got back in the hobby recently. I am running Kessil's lights on my 40 breeder and I really like there products. Iam pretty happy with my skimmer which is a sca 301 and find it works very well and has a small footprint. I also feel its a affordable skimmer.

 

[Hallowhead]

Welcome to the club! Iam from wanaque nnj and just got back in the hobby recently. I am running Kessil's lights on my 40 breeder and I really like there products. Iam pretty happy with my skimmer which is a sca 301 and find it works very well and has a small footprint. I also feel its a affordable skimmer.

Welcome back!! Do you use the kessil controller? One light or two?