Want to start 20g long

Cmoore · Sep 13, 2017

Have an extra 20gal long and want to turn it into a reef tank with a 10gal overhead sump. Was wondering if anyone has any ideas/ has done this. Would like to know of an relatively inexpensive light that would grow most coral. Also would like ideas on stocking. If someone has done a 20 gal long and has pics of their aquascape that would be awesome. Currently have a 12 gal with YWG, tailspot blenny, 6 line wrasse, cleaner shrimp, snails and hermits. Thank you in advance.

Cmoore · Sep 13, 2017

10 gal display refugium.

coreysreef123 · Sep 13, 2017

I ran a finnex ray 2 on mine back when I had my 20 long. Worked great for softies, low, and easier sps. And it was relatively cheap. No pictures though sorry.

WarEaglesReef · Sep 13, 2017

Not sure what your definition of relatively inexpensive is, but I've got a PrimeHD on my Evo 13.5 and every coral I've put under it from softies up to SPS have all grown like weeds.

Hamm Corals · Sep 13, 2017

I used to have a 20 long display with a 10 gallon sump, if you have instagram look me up (hammys_reeftank) if you want to see it.

Cmoore · Sep 14, 2017

hammysreef said:
I used to have a 20 long display with a 10 gallon sump, if you have instagram look me up (hammys_reeftank) if you want to see it.

Nice setup. Are you using T5s. Looks awesome. I'm thinking I want to put the sump above the tank to hopefully send more pods to the display.

Cmoore · Sep 14, 2017

WarEagle88 said:
Not sure what your definition of relatively inexpensive is, but I've got a PrimeHD on my Evo 13.5 and every coral I've put under it from softies up to SPS have all grown like weeds.

Prime Hd seems really nice. Might consider it. If it was a little less expensive I would probably jump on it lol.

Cmoore · Sep 14, 2017

coreysreef123 said:
I ran a finnex ray 2 on mine back when I had my 20 long. Worked great for softies, low, and easier sps. And it was relatively cheap. No pictures though sorry.

This might be a good option. The price is right and I'm not sure if I'm ready to jump into SPS at the moment. How was the color? What didn't you like about it?

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC · Sep 14, 2017

Go with the Nanobox for your light. Just as good as anything on the market, totally customizable, and best if all it's hand build in America. Not to mention you get great one o n one customer service while Dave builds your light. It's what I have over my 29 gallon and I couldn't be happier. I will be getting another very soon to put over a 40B island reef tank that I have in the works

coreysreef123 · Sep 14, 2017

Cmoore said:
This might be a good option. The price is right and I'm not sure if I'm ready to jump into SPS at the moment. How was the color? What didn't you like about it?

The color was ok, I have a Kessil now lol and it's a lot different. At the time I was new to the hobby so it made me happy but it doesn't have a timer and it's not adjustable. Just very simple.

Hamm Corals · Sep 14, 2017

Cmoore said:
Nice setup. Are you using T5s. Looks awesome. I'm thinking I want to put the sump above the tank to hopefully send more pods to the display.

Yeah it was a cheap t5 fixture, but replacing the bulbs gets expensive. I recommend getting an Ocean revive t247 led

Cmoore · Sep 14, 2017

Reef_Tank_Fan_SC said:
Go with the Nanobox for your light. Just as good as anything on the market, totally customizable, and best if all it's hand build in America. Not to mention you get great one o n one customer service while Dave builds your light. It's what I have over my 29 gallon and I couldn't be happier. I will be getting another very soon to put over a 40B island reef tank that I have in the works

Nice light. Definitely will consider.

Cmoore · Sep 16, 2017

More suggestions or pictures?

zuri · Sep 19, 2017

I'm currently scaping mine here's a few ideas

.....

Cmoore · Sep 21, 2017

zuri said:
I'm currently scaping mine here's a few ideas .....

Cool looking forward to seeing your tank progress.

Andrewalex11 · Sep 23, 2017

Lighting is a little weird with a 20L because it is shallow you don't need a super high end light to get good penetration...BUT...being that it is 30 inches long you definately need to think about coverage. A good cheap option would be either T5's or an LED Strip like the finnex that was mentioned earlier. Doing something like Kessil's would be a waste due to the fact you'd have to buy 2 for good coverage and at that point that's a LOT of $ in lighting for 20 gallons of water.

Here's a picture of my custom AIO 20 long build I just completed, it has been running for about 3 weeks now I think? But the photo was from the first week it was running.

nate's reef · Sep 23, 2017

I've got to advocate a black box for your application. Find one that is ul listed so it doesn't burn your house down and take the lenses off, but for $100 there is no better option. If you look at the review they did on here, many of the downsides do not apply to a tank with such a small footprint and even more so with the lenses off. I am growing sps in my 10g tank, and recommend a skimmer if you haven't considered that. You can get a 30g, 90gph one for $30