Beginner

[Crazyreefs]

Trying to set up my 20 gallon long tank. i am not going to suamp. I want to either do T-5 Or leds lighting. If anyone can suggest anything to help out let me know. What things to do i need to get started?

 

[jnelson]

I actually set up a sumpless 30G long recently.

I am using 2 BoostLED PAR 30 LED bulbs plus the matching BoostLED clamp on fixtures. As for filtration, I am using 2 Current Subcurrent in-tank filters with filter floss/carbon. They don't take up too much room in the tank, and it's nice not having a footprint outside of the tank.

I am keeping a variety of corals - softies (mushrooms, xenia, zoas/palys), LPS (hammers, frogspawn, acans), and some easier SPS (monti caps). Everything has been happy thus far.

 

[reefrookie]

My previous tank was a 20 long and I used and aqua c remora protein skimmer and large hob refugium with cheat. I later started adding chemi pure elite for added filtration. Start with this for filtration and IMO you should be on the right track. Be sure to check the marketplace if your on a budget.

 

[basiab]

If you want to save yourself a lot of money and aggravation do a lot of reading before you buy.
I started with a 10 gallon but be aware that small tanks are not as forgiving as a larger one. They usually suggest you start with 50 gallons for saltwater.
I assume you want to have corals since you are talking T5 and LED.
Get a heater, thermometer, filter, hydrometer (or refractometer), filter and test kits. A protein skimmer is good but in a small tank not really needed if you do water changes every week. Also don't need any additives.
Decide which salt you want to use.
When you decide all that you can get some live rock and a substrate unless you want bare bottom. Now you can begin to cycle you tank and cure your rock.
You will have to do some research regarding almost everything in order to decide what to get.
Good luck

 

[Donewiththisplace]

If you want to save yourself a lot of money and aggravation do a lot of reading before you buy.
Good luck

++1

I started by reading a book or two and did ok. Starting blind will cost you time, money and the lives of fish and coral.

I would also recommend going to look at other tanks already running and see what they have and dont have.

Good Luck

 

[cowfish]

The above is all good advice.

I ran a 29g reef for 3 years. The equipment consisted of a couple of Aquaclear HOB filters and 2 heaters. I used a 130 watt compact fluorescent light fixture. NO skimmer. NO refugium, though I did grow several macros in the tank. I found that light feeding and bioload (no more than 3 small fish) and weekly water changes of 5 gallons was enough to keep the water quality pristine. I grew mushrooms, capnella, xenia, porities, monitpora (caps and digitata) and zoanthids. I broke the tank down when I started my 75g SPS reef which now houses the digis, porities and some of the zoas. The rest I sold or gave away.