Need some help

If you have 37 LBS of LR that is enough LR for a 20 gallon. I would still wait 2-3 months. Kick start it with live bacteria. Just get a good skimmer. I use a HOB filter simply for carbon and ferric oxide(phosban).

 

No you dont want these protiens - the bubbles you refer to are natures way of trying to get them out ( like the froth you get on the beach when the sea water is poluted)

if you dont have a pump/ airstone combination - can you direct one of the Power heads you do have angled upwards across the water surface ?

next water change - instead of using a syphon from lower water levels - try using a jug or bowl and lower it just below water surface level so that the scum goes into the jug or bowl and remove it manually

Steve

 

ok will do. My next question to anyone following this thread is that if i have a 65 watt coralife light, what are the kinds of soft coral i can get? Zoos? Xenia? Im not looking for a SPS aquarium at all. Just some simple soft coral. What can i get? i know 65 watts isnt much but...

Thanks,
Ryan

 

everyone in all these threads always ingores that question! haha

 

I have never used PC lamps so I cant in all honesty answer the question as to what species of corals can be kept under 1 x 65 watt PC

Check out Slocals thread on the tank section he has a 30 gallon nano using PC lamps (cant recall how many and what wattage) if he where on, he would answer this, so sometimes patience is required thats all- you need someone who is familiar with what you have to advise you best

check out other nano set ups in the show of your fish tank section as they will also contain tanks with PC lighting

Im sure there are species that will be OK under the 65 watt PCs but as i am presently keeping softies, Zoas, Shrooms, plus other things under 6 x 80 watt T5s - I am just not in best position to advise you

Steve

 

Sorry, I logged off before I finished our conversation. When you go to your LFS you just ask them if the coral you pick will live under 3 watts per gallon. There are too many to list so that's why no one is answering your question. You can almost go with any softy. Mushrooms and polyps (big one's like pin wheels and common green... not so much zoo's). You just have to ask the fish store if 3 watts will keep it. You wouldn't have that film if you had a sump because the drain would suck from the top of the water constantly. If you are using HOB's you are sucking from under the water surface. If you are anywhere near Spring Hill, Florida (your info isn't listed), I will help you build a sump and drill your tank for free but you gotta be here in less then a month because I'm leaving for Germany. PC's are really strong, that's why they heat your water up faster then T5's. You have enough light for now. You may want to add that second one in like 4-6 months and interchange the bulbs as they burn up... after an added sump.
Hope this helps!

 

thank you optimist i would love to start a sump, i have an extra 20 gallon tank in by basement but sadly, i live in beachwood ohio. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to make a sump. Again, I would love to make one, but just have no idea how. One of the reasons is that if i build a 20 gal sump, thats doubling the water in the tank. Even if its a really simple sump, i want one! haha, any tips?

About the "film" and bubble issue, it has been taken care of. I added 2 penguin 550 powerheads today and since then the top of the tank has been "filmless" haha. Cant wait for the coral! i have good water flow, good lighting, and good water, the 3 components to a successful reef!

 

Here's probably more than you'll ever want to know about designing sumps. He does it all with acrylic but it's just as easy/effective (maybe more so) to use silicon and glass tanks/glass panels.
Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums

Also PC's don't have the light penetration of T5's or Metal Halide so you can keep a lot of things from what I've heard but really it depends on where you place them in relation to the light. Having enough "watts per gallon" doesn't mean you can keep SPS on the bottom of a 50" tall tank regardless of how many power compact lights you have sitting on the top of the tank, the light will never get down that far (this is an exaggeration of course).

You might want to check out the lighting forum here for more info on T5's/Metal Halides etc depending on what coral you want to keep long term.