First post

[goblinshark]

Hi all, im settin up a 10 gallon for a mantis shrimp and zoo frags. I dont kno what to do for lighting or protien skimming. Limited amount of $$$. Remember its just for zoos and a mantis, no MHs. And a cheap protien skimmer...

ThanksB)

[SLOreefer]

if you wanna be cheap ditch the protein skimmer get a cheap hob filter and lights id do either a 2x36wretro or 96w powerquad light or somethign of the like

[fishtankbabe]

You mean you don't want 400 watts of MH over your 10 gallon zoo tank? What's wrong with you?

 

Seriously though, you should be able to do this without spending a small fortune. If I were doing this set up I'd probably go with something like the 20" Coralife Aqualight hood with 1x96 watt 50/50 bulb, hellolights.com has them for $97.00, or I'd get the Custom Sea Life Power Compact with moon light, those run about $115.00. There's also a 28 watt version of the Aqualight that sells for around $50.00, but I'm honestly not sure how zoos would do under that. If you put them high up on the rocks they'd probably be okay. There's a few inexpensive protein skimmers out there, they're probably pretty crappy but you've got to figure they're helping remove at least some of the bad stuff from the water. The cheap ones I know of are: (according to my trusty Drs Foster & Smith catalog : ) the Lee's Counter Current ($18.99), the Visi-Jet ($31.99) and the SeaClone ($59.99). That said, half the folks around here will say you don't need a skimmer, just the LR & LS for natural filtration. Add some powerheads or an Aquaclear HOB for water movement, a heater, and voila! Happy Mantis tank!

[1fish2fish]

If you are reasonable at DIY then I would visit Hello Lights.

A two bulb 28 watt system can be made for about $75 with bulbs if you are handy with electrical. That is using the following.

 

1x http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/2lam28wattwi.html

2x http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/pcentypbas.html

4x http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/pclampclip1.html

1x http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/pog2.html

1x http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/28watt10000k.html

1x http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/10000kac03pa.html

 

You could also go with the prewired balasts. The 2 x 28 watt ballast with to bulbs (no reflector) would be about $105.

$74 for the ballast kit and $29.90 for the two bulbs

 

http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/2xbalkit1.html

 

 

The 2 x 55 watt ballast with 2 bulbs would be about $121

$79.95 for the ballast kit and $42 for both bulbs.

 

 

http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/2x55warocfba.html

 

 

I currently have zoos under a 27 watt quad (7100 k) and a 9 watt actinic 03. My tank is 12 inches deep and my zoos seem to be doing fine. I am going to add another 13 watts to it though.

 

I would say the two 28 watt bulbs would be fine for just zoos, but the two 55's would be better, and you then have more options in the future (only $16 more)

 

This assumes that you can make a DIY hood (make a wooden box). The wood etc is not included in these cost estimates.

 

I hope this has helped.

[goblinshark]

can i put 2x25 watt incadesent on it?