Well, I lost this battle, but I'm confident I'll win the war.

[Cowillaggn]

Hi,
I sort of lost the "get a new tank" battle and the "get the nice metal halides" to the parents, But I can use my 15 gallon tank the the super huge compact florescent I have and that little T5, So I guess I'll be off to a good start for some softies atleast.

Does anyone know really how to aquascape a 15 gallon? I'm trying to think of cool ways to do the liverock and coral arrangement, but I'm stumped. Maybe a cave or something...

Thanks to everyone for the help and a super huge thanks to Bill for everything :)

[Learner]

Commiserations on the 'loss'. However, when the parents see how into your hobby you are, and the commitment you show...who knows eh? ;)

A cave sounds good, you could centralise it, so that fish etc, have shelter, but can still be seen....

Pic's when you have made the final decision please... ;D

[Cowillaggn]

thanks. I'm setting the actual reef tank up in january because me family is gone a week and a half over the holidays and for many reasons I'm not even tearing the little freshwater tank down until then.

Just out of curiosity, the tank has about 15 watts a gallon (I read it wrong the first time) and the good spectrum tubes. Why would I want a metal halide or even a T5 over that?

[Cowillaggn]

also, what type of water flow will I need?

[Bergy]

the WATTS per Gallon is WHACK

There is no linear way to scale that 'calculation' to fit all sizes/shapes of tanks...

The better way to determine, (empirical evidence), would be to measure the light amount at the depth you plan on placing corals, (the bottom of the tank), and see if you have enough light penetrating the water...

since you dont have a light meter we have to use some 'guesses' and suggestions..

WE can suggest something other then what we think, but when you start having issues and not growing well, you will turn around and say, you were told, or you heard this or that...

t5's are more energy efficient, and dont transmit as much heat to the water as metal halide, but, a good 70w-150w metal halide setup will grow everything you can imagine, and you wont have a question about whether or not this needs more light then the t5NO light can give or whatever...

go ahead and start up your tank, even before your holiday break.. just run water and sand and rock and power head.. and a heater or something to keep if from freezing over night, while you are gone...

those two weeks head start will mean the world when you are cycling and waiting... and looking at an empty tank!!!!

[Cowillaggn]

Alright, Thanks for the help. Unfortunately, I'm too busy to set the tank up even to that point.