Need some help with new tank

I'm not saying to skimp on lighting here. I am saying that for a few "easy to keep corals" Like you said you wanted. MH lighting is not necessary. If you have the budget for it, by all means go that route. Than after you are thoroughly addicted you can keep whatever corals you want. If you want to eventually add some mushrooms, lower light zoas, kenya tree, colt coral, leathers, either one of the 4 bulb fixture would be fine for the 20g. If you are like some, a year from now and are dying to add some SPS, then you will wish you had gone with an expensive MH type. As you will find out, there are many ways to "skin a cat", and different ways can work just as well. And like packleader says, If/When Tangster weighs in on the subject, listen, he has way more experience than most on this forum.

 

Thanks everyone for the input.

As for a year from now, hopefully by then I would have enough cash to get whatever light/skimmer/powerhead/filter I want. As for right now TANGSTER if you are out there, which of the 4 lights that I have posted would be good some some "easy to keep corals" as tarheel stated would you recommend? Any of the the 4 bulb fitures T5HO, or the 2 bulb T5HO, or the Coralife Lunar Aqualight(130 watt Compact Fluorescent) which is really cheap on ebay right now (currelty about $40 with s/h).

Also i would like some input from you guys about addind a bag with a special media, ex: ceramic tiles, chemi pure, or something else to my pengiun 350????

Also what about a cheap nano or small sized skimmer???

 

Any of the 4 bulb T5's you listed earlier would be best. As stated earlier, you dont really need lunar lights, but I like them. They look really neat, and let you see all the nocturnal activity in the tank. Second best would be the 2 T5's. Compact fluorescent wont cut it for any corals. They are mostly for freshwater tanks.
And with the Metal Halide, you can always add a stand alone one when needed. It doesnt necassarily have to be a combo, but they are nicer. Just remember that lighting is uber important. Im running a custom T5/MH/lunar light system, and dont even have any corals...yet
Cheap skimmers dont work. Period. If you want one as cheap as possible that will work for you, go with an octopus (around $125). But even before the skimmer, pick up at least 1 of the Koralia ones for good flow. A powerhead or two for good flow is just as important as having correct lighting.
And most of all, be patient and hang in there. I just lost nearly my entire tank last night, after over 3 months. It does happen, and I know what it feels like.

 

I TOTALLY beg to differ about that statement. Go to ~~~>http://www.3reef.com/forums/members/cuttingras-albums-my-135.html
and look at my corals. They are ALL under PC's and they have never looked better(had them under T6's).

 

Not the same she was talking about from previous posts. She had cited a regular run of the mill desk-lamp type one (the ones that come on cheap-o PetCo hoods in the kits). Sorry, I guess I should have clarified more deeply as to which one wouldnt cut it.

 

Packleader, the first light that i posted, if you are talking about that one as the cheaop one. its not a cheapo petco hood one, go to the link its on the first page of this post, its a bit better than those cheapo ones you are talking about.

P.S. Tundraburg = Man, not a she

 

No I was talking about the 20w one you had said you had on it now, as in the VERY first light you posted that you had. Not the linked ones. As I said, my fault, should have clarified. Sorry, man

 

So packleader do you think that the light i first linked is good enough for some "easy to keep coral", it is the first light that i actaully have a link for it is in the first page. here is the link again if you missed it

Coralife 24 Inch Aqualight W/ 2-65W Straight Pin Base And 2-3/4W Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED Lamps, 24in Units > Power Compact > Fixtures > Lighting > Saltwater Aquarium Supplies

 

To be honest, I don't know. I am not that familiar with the PC's that are out there, and as to what wattage you would need in that form to keep your corals alive (if its comparable in wattage to other types of systems).
I received a lot of advice on choosing the T5/MH light I have, and theres so much info on all the different ones which are all decent lights its hard to keep up with. Maybe cuttin or someone else running the good PC's could take a look at it and give you an opinion.

 

ahhh ok No that was my bad, I'm sorry, I should have read the whole post through!:-[