T5 for a 20gal

Any recommendations? Tips? I'm upgrading my lowwwww LED

 

I'm going to ride along & see what they say...
I am setting up a 20g to see how T5 does on that.
The MH on my 47g are alot of work.

 

MH? Sorry I'm newb

 

MH=Metal Halides

As far as using a T5, it depends on what you want to do with your 20 gallon. If its going to be an SPS reef, it probably won't be enough, but if you are just looking to keep fish, softies or even LPS, a dual t5 should be plenty.

I am actually setting up a 20L as a frag tank with a dual T5 right now and plan to keep softies and LPS.

As far as bulb combinations go, I recommend an ATI Aquablue Special and an ATI Blue+. It gives great growth to corals and really makes them pop, though keep in mind it gives a slightly blueish hue to the tank.

I actually have a dual 36" T5 on my 46g (avatar pic) and it does well, but I'm upgrading to a quad tomorrow. For that I am using 2 ATI Blue+, 1 ATI Aquablue Special, and 1 KZ Fiji Purple

 

Actually a 2 bulb T5HO fixture will be plenty sufficient for SPS in a 20 gallon tank. Get an AquaticLife fixture that can be added on to. I don't remember the model name unfortunately off the top of my head. If you want a bluer look to the above suggestion get the Coral Plus. It will make your reds, oranges and purple pop best.

 

With the SPS on the 20G, would you need to dose anything, or would weekly WC's be sufficient?

 

Depending on the salt you are using you will probably need to dose.

 

Ok thanks. I'm using reef crystals by Instant Ocean. I thought some of the easier sps's you could be ok. I just thought of trying out a small frag of some type high up in the tank.

 

You won't know if youll need to dose until you see how much calcium is being used up in your system. As you become more stocked, your water changes might not be able to replenish calcium levels as fast as they are being depleted.

Eventually you'll be able to know how much is being used daily. At the start, you should be fine.

 

So a kalkwasser solution is about what I would need? I only would like to have easier types of sps like a stylophora, montipora or something along those lines.