Looking for input on coral QT build.

[GHsaltie]

I'm thinking about starting up a QT for coral and inverts here in the next couple months. Option A: I can get a 15g to plumb into a spare 10g and set that up. Option B: purchase a jbj 24g or similar biocube. I can't decide what I want to do, both have pros and cons, for instance option A is cheaper and smaller (I don't need a huge QT), but I will have to buy all the equipment for it. Option B is more expensive and larger than I want but it has lighting and perhaps other equipment if I purchase used, and if I find I don't want the coral QT anymore I can convert it to a nice nano. So what is everyone's opinion? What are some other ideas or thoughts y'all have that I might should take into consideration? Also if anyone has some input in regards to biocube brands that would be good or in general coral QT knowledge that's welcome as well.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Go plain Jane. Some big pieces of live rock a hob filter ato and light. NO SAND.
Exactly like a fish qt but with rock. Also it's just like a Nano tank/ frag tank but you can use bug poisons and algaecides.

I would also suggest a light with an easy to use dimmer so you can acclimate corals to the approximate par in your tank as well.

 

[nervousmonkey]

+1

 

[GHsaltie]

What would be some lighting recommendations? I'm thinking about going with a 20g high right now, but I'm still not very familiar with different lights. Heck I'm still learning about the kessil on my display. It would need to be something that can mount on the tank.
Oh and thank you for the input, I have this annoying habit of making things more complicated than they need to be :oops:.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Look at a sbreeflight basic. Ramping would be cool to. You can grow anything. They have a nano to but I don't know the specs on it.

 

[GHsaltie]

Do you know anything about this light? https://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Marine-Aquarium-60-Inch/dp/B00GFTK7CQ?th=1&psc=1

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Do you know anything about this light? https://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Marine-Aquarium-60-Inch/dp/B00GFTK7CQ?th=1&psc=1

yes quite a bit. I actually own one. For a shallow tank its great. They redesigned the light and added lenses for more penetration.
The listed PAR specs are pretty accurate. They also fall in line with the Lux/par conversion easily to set them. Take lux reading and divide by 60 . you can do this wet or dry(off the tank)

 

[FLAdaboy]

Get a legit frag tank, make it bare bottom, get an 8 bulb fixture from Amazon. You can get a 40g breeder for a sump, throw some live rock in there and go to town. Build the stand yourself with a simple design too.

 

[GHsaltie]

yes quite a bit. I actually own one. For a shallow tank its great. They redesigned the light and added lenses for more penetration.
The listed PAR specs are pretty accurate. They also fall in line with the Lux/par conversion easily to set them. Take lux reading and divide by 60 . you can do this wet or dry(off the tank)

So it's a good light but not necessarily suited for a taller tank like the 20 high?

Get a legit frag tank, make it bare bottom, get an 8 bulb fixture from Amazon. You can get a 40g breeder for a sump, throw some live rock in there and go to town. Build the stand yourself with a simple design too.

I thought about getting a frag tank but I like the 20g high better for my particular needs. I don't want to skimp quality but I am on a budget for this one. Also my coming 2 yr old niece is living with me now and so taller is better to reduce the chances of her getting in it (the tank is going to be next to my bed).

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So it's a good light but not necessarily suited for a taller tank like the 20 high?

correct. you would likely want 2 of them to be happy. Or one of the newer ones with lenses. The pro version.

 

[ps2cho]

I suggest a 40b because they are cheap and you'll be shocked how fast a small biocube would fill it up with frags.

Plus by getting a 40b you can get 36w T5 retrofit kits and go LED + T5

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I suggest a 40b because they are cheap and you'll be shocked how fast a small biocube would fill it up with frags.

Plus by getting a 40b you can get 36w T5 retrofit kits and go LED + T5

probably wont fit next to the bed so well.

 

[GHsaltie]

http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_...quariums-Current_USA-CU04110-FILTFILD-vi.html
This would be it right? I can't find anything that says it has the new lens.

 

[Always Reefin']

Why no sand?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Why no sand?

you wanna see bugs.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_...quariums-Current_USA-CU04110-FILTFILD-vi.html
This would be it right? I can't find anything that says it has the new lens.

yup. check those pics. You can tell the diff by the little circles and not squares when you look at the face of the fixture. You can also tell by the price. LoL. Look at used to.

 

[GHsaltie]

Huh, didn't notice the light chips were different shapes that's pretty cool. So does that kind of hold true for most light fixtures, the square chips are different from the circular ones? I'm definitely going to keep this light on the list of options.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Huh, didn't notice the light chips were different shapes that's pretty cool. So does that kind of hold true for most light fixtures, the square chips are different from the circular ones? I'm definitely going to keep this light on the list of options.

the first one is raw leds w a 160= degree spread. Lenses focus the beam into a narrower beam,(160, 90,70 degree etc) so it gives the led more punch without changing the diodes .

I actually took some lenses out of the SBreefliggh to get more spread and slightly less intensity. (its POWERFUL)
And yes its pretty common. Its also what makes shimmer and shading