20 gallon reef

[DonW]

My daughters Fo is driving her crazy. Her 13th b-day is a few weeks away. So I'm considering making it a nano if I can come up with everything.

I have a pfo 250w MH ballast. Would this be overkill for 20 tall? Maybe with a 20k bulb.
Is the CPR backpack going to be enough skimmer?
Is the LR ratio the same for such a small tank?
How would you do the waterflow(glass), powerheads look huge in there?
There is enough room for probably a 5g sump if I build it.

Thanks
Don

 

[mojoreef]

Hey DOn I have an extra 175mh if you want???? I havent used it in a while but it should be fine. Let me know.


Mike

 

[DonW]

Mike I sent you a pm.

Thanks
Don

 

[Katchupoy]

250 MH is good if you raise it enough. Maybe more than at least 12". Anything lower might be too much or might generate heat.

I have 29g HI.. Same as 20 standard but higher. I have 175 on 8" height, and it does create heat even with fan. Now i have it 12" and it doesnt have heat issues anymore.

Waterflow. I use two powerheads positioned on upper left and upper side of the tank. It is facing away from each other so the flow are facing the glass. If you have a wavemaker [electronic]... this will make it more interesting.

CPR is good for that size. I also have CPR. I added mine a wooden diffuser to add more bubbles on it and works fine.

 

[bradreef]

The rock is a matter of opinion but I would recomend at least 3/4 a pound of rock per gallon.

A 5 gallon sump would be tricky because the water from the aquarium would cause bubbles in the return unless baffled enough. and you need to keep the water high enough to run the return pump. I would try and find as large of sump as I could fit. This will also add to the water volume.

The bak-pak will be great.

Chuck ran a 250 over a 29 gallon. I ran a 175 over a 29 gallon I planned to have it 10+ inches over the tank.

 

[DonW]

Thanks for the replys, wo far all going great. The light will be a 175. I'll stuff in as much rock as will fit. Since I'm a fan of felt socks. I'll build a little sump with a felt sock and just enough room for a pump and heater. I'll throw together a two head low voltage wave maker between the two heads, the backpack and a rio2500 return pump that should be plenty of flow.

Thanks
Don

 

[dnjan]

A 1/2" seaswirl works well in a 20 tall.

 

[mfsolecki]

I know that you already figured out what you're doing but I just thought I'd thow in my 2cnts--I hva 20 tall:has weird convctv ratio-jst watch the btm&top temps, mk sure circ. is good top2btm -I put my heater way down at the bottom & my lts heat the top (@~8") to bal the temp & since space is at a premium: put my P-Skmr intake nr the bkbtm & 1 pwrhd w/swing outlet nr top @bkcrnr pntng dn&fwd---no sump...it works, critters seem happy

 

[Elmo18]

abbr. abbr. gd. abbr. so that the circ. abbr, gawd darn, the abbreviations were a tough time to read

- Elmo

 

[Alice]

Don,

Set up sounds great and your daughter is going to think you are one great Dad

Watch that Rio though; they can cause a heart-breaking mess if they have a melt down.

 

[DonW]

Don,

Set up sounds great and your daughter is going to think you are one great Dad

She already thinks I'm a cool dad. I believe in letting your kids get involved in whatever you happen to be into. She's also a pretty good woodturner.

Don