Ok i know ive been posting in just about every forum on this site wanting advice on my new 15gal tall nano reef but please bear with me folks, im not quite as new to this stuff this time around.

I LOVE the current USA model T5 fixture below, but my tank is only 20" long and this fixture is a 24", are there any mods that i can make to have this fixture fit my tank? Do yall think that it would be strong enough to sustain a primarily LPS dominated tank with the possibility of a few monti digi and monti cap placed high in the tank? Counting the sandbed, the tank is around 16" deep if that helps any.

T-5 Aquarium Lighting: Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12772&Ntt=current%20usa%20t5&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1)

i think this one would work out better for you, but HO T5's only come as small as 24", so you will have a couple of inches overhang on each end if you go with these.

His links wont work, so check out MyReefShop (http://www.myreefshop.com) for a T5 fixture with 4x24w bulbs. tell him i sent you for a possible discount.

Is this the one you mean? Im not sure that this one has 4 bulbs though like you said. I like it...i think im going to call this guy tomorrow since his prices are considerably cheaper than most others ive looked at.

MyReefShop :: Lighting :: Full Hoods :: Current-USA :: 20" Orbit 2x40 Watt W/Lunar Lite & Fan (http://www.myreefshop.com/xcart/catalog/20-Orbit-2x40-Watt-W-Lunar-Lite--Fan-p-144.html)

What about the monti digi and monti cap question? maybe work under this light?

those are PC lights, you wanted T5's. try this one ... i can never get the links to work from his site.

MyReefShop :: Lighting :: Full Hoods :: Current-USA :: 24" Nova Extreme 4x24W T5 w/ 2 Lunar

no, thats the one i started with remember? Its too big for my tank unless there's a way to make it fit. My tank is 20" and this is a 24" fixture. What are my options if i cannot use this one?

i have only seen HO T5's as short as 24", so if you dont want the overhang, you may want to consider going with PC lighting and placing your LPS's up high in the tank. OR you could always run 1 metal halide pendant type fixture on a tank that small. i would say a 175w should do just fine. you will probably have to buy a clip on type fan to dissipate the heat from the halide though.

MyReefShop :: Ballasts :: Coralife Aqualight Advanced Tank-Mount (http://www.myreefshop.com/xcart/catalog/Coralife-Aqualight-Advanced-Tank-Mount-p-197.html)

yes i know the LPS's will do fine, but what im worried about is will i be able to keep some SPS up high in the tank with PC lighting? And how do i work with the overhang of the 24" t5 fixture? it has stands, can i just have it sitting on top of the tank with a glass hood since the stands will hang over the side? It has a splash lens.

sorry to be asking so many questions but you understand what it's like to be semi-new to this hobby...theres always an unanswered question lol.

-adam

Most light fixtures have legs that adjust to the width of smaller tanks. So the legs of the 24" fixture will move in and fit your 20" tank. I think you will be much happier with the T5's over the PC's.

loverly! ill post pics as soon as i get it.

Adam... get a new tank ;) If you were closer, I'd give you one of my 20's or 29's.

Dave

hehe i appreciate the offer, but this 15gal will do for me right now. I dont think i could afford this lighting and filtration in a bigger size if you know what i mean. So for now a pair of either black, oscellaris, or true percs, a neon goby, and a few corals will keep me plenty satisfied.

I started to miss the big reef scene when i converted the 29gal to seahorses, so now i get to do it all over again.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO **LIGHTBULB****!!!!!!!

scratch that....i have a 30 gal that currently has a white's treefrog in it. The tank was leftover after i took my brackish tank down, and it's waaay too big for him. The 15 gal that i have now as a SW tank was what he used to live in..its taller anyways which is better for him. OMG so....what if i cleaned out the 30gal and put the LS and LR in that tank, then i could gradually acquire more base rock and go with a fluval 305 for filtration!!! wow this could actually work right?

I guess my big question is...will the same 24" light do a 30" tank justice? This tank is much more shallow than the 15 is anyways.

You will have a brighter lit center and a dimmer halo on the outside edges, but I rather like that myself. I aquascape with mushrooms, softies etc. on the outsides, and more light loving corals in the center and up high.

My only other issue would be if you used any meds, additives etc. for the frog. I'd not use a tank for marine/reef that was subject to any chemical issues.

D

i would have to agree with David on this matter (tank). if ANY meds were used it could be devastating to a marine/reef setup.

nope, the frog was treated with panacur ages ago for intestinal parasites but he was taken out of the tank to have the meds administered.

But thats beside the point....ive dont some hard thinking and with me going to commuter college after this last year of high school (woohoo.... senior year baby!) a smaller tank would be much easier to take down and a lighter stocklist would be easier to rehome should the need for that arise. So Im going with the cheaper alternative because i now know from experience that initial setup is just half the battle as far as costs go, then you have more LR, corals, fish, and i just dont think i can do it right now. Maybe one day but not now.

Thanks again