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Pico Reef Setup, could use some help!


Reefrigerator

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Reefrigerator

Hello there folks, i am preparing to set up my first saltwater aquarium, and as this site has already provided me with an invaluable amount of information, i figured i'd best ask here about some thoughts about my first reef!

 

So, i have experience with freshwater aquariums. I have a small high-tech (high light, heavy and precise nutrient dosing, and CO2 injection) planted tank that has been thriving for quite a while now. I actually set this freshwater tank up to gain more experience with aquariums before i felt ready to get into saltwater aquariums.

 

Now, i want to start up my first reef, and it is going to be a pico reef. i know, for beginners pico reefs are NOT the best option, and i am precisely aware of the reasons for it. But my plans involve corals ONLY, without any fish. The reasons why i want a pico tank are:

  • Less cost to set up.
  • Less water volume for water changes (100% a week, more info further on).
  • Easier to change parameters.
  • I won't have to sell my body to afford enough corals to fill the bloody thing.

The tank i am looking to get is about ~2.5g (10L). Because it will only house corals, i will go filterless, but do 100% weekly water changes (after feeding corals) with water of the same salinity and temperature. This way, my parameters are always the same, and there is no build-up of nutrients that could cause problems. So i am just keeping it as simple as can be! (Yep, it is basically a vase-type setup that is used in a normal tank.)

 

The equipment i am looking to buy:

Tank: Dennerle 10L (those are awesome tanks, curved crystal clear glass, and the price is great!)

Flow: I think i might just use the power head of the same filter i use in my freshwater tank, also from dennerle. It pumps ~150L/h (40G/h), and is literally inaudible.

Heater: Aquael 25W. (and a precise thermometer to go along with it)

 

Now, what it need your help with: LIGHTING!

 

I am unsure about the kind of lighting i want. i am torn between these two:

  • Aquamedic 7W aquasunspot (4x 10.000K LED, 3x Royal Blue LED) with a desk lamp that i can change in height from practically on the surface, to being 11 inches (30cm) above the surface. I really like this flexibility, because i find it incredibly hard to judge the amount of light that comes off of LED's, and i have no idea if it will bleach my corals.
  • Dennerle 24W Reef Light 2:2. This is a CFL light with 2 10.000K bulbs and 2 actinic bulbs. The colors and growth that this light gives make me want to buy it, but the fact that i will not be able to change the height makes me anxious, especially because this light usually comes with the 30L version. Won't it burn my corals down in the blink of an eye? (OTOH, the 10L tank is only 4 inches shorter and thinner, so it might not be THAT much of a difference?)

i know the amount of light i will need largely depends on the types of corals i want to grow, and i want to grow low and medium light requiring corals. Some help would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

Sorry for the wall of text, and thanks in advance for all the help!

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Welcome to N-R.com.

 

I'm thinking either light should work. However, unlike LEDs, you'll have to replace the CFL bulb in 8 to 12 months due to color spectrum shifts.

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You could try a Coral Compulsion par 30 or par38 bulb. They are full spectrum and dimmable. These also screw into any light fixture.

 

Not sure about dimensions but there is the Aquamaxx Nemolight that may fit. I have one on a 10g cube.

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