reef tank lighting

[koikeeper5]

I have a corallife aqualite power compact hood with 2 65 watt tubes(130 watt total)and was wondering if this was enough for a 20 long mini reef?

[Ninong]

Yes.

[koikeeper5]

can you give me some suggestions on animals that would go well in this setup? 20 gallon long with dual 65 watt coralife power compact 50/50s

[Ninong]

I don't know much about your setup other than the size of the tank and the lighting. Do you have a sand bed? How much live rock do you have? Was the live rock fully-cured when you got it or is it curing in your tank?

In any case, you should allow three or four weeks, at least, for the tank to settle in before adding any fish or corals. You might want to consider a couple of nice Ricordea florida as your first corals. They're relatively easy.

There are a wide variety of soft corals that will do well but the most important advice is to be patient and go slow.

[koikeeper5]

Sorry. Tank has 20lbs. of fully cures live rock,1.24 sg.,nitrite,ammonia 0.00,nitrate 7ppm,ph 8.3. There is a 2" layer of live sand and I run a seaclone protien skimmer and 2 mini jet powerheads on a wavemaker.Light cycle is actinics on one hour before daylights come on and actinics off one hour after daylights go off for a total light cycle of 14hours.

[Ninong]

Sorry. Tank has 20lbs. of fully cures live rock,1.24 sg.,nitrite,ammonia 0.00,nitrate 7ppm,ph 8.3.

Your specific gravity is 1.024. That's okay but it's a little on the low side. I would raise it to 1.025-1.026. Natural seawater is 35 ppt salinity (1.0264 SG). If you have not already done so, you will need to purchase test kits for calcium, alkalinity and magnesium if you plan on keeping corals. Either that or do very frequent water changes to maintain water parameters (like 10-15% every other week). Frequent water changes will work for really small tanks like yours. Tanks that are 25-gallons and smaller are usually considered nano tanks.

Light cycle is actinics on one hour before daylights come on and actinics off one hour after daylights go off for a total light cycle of 14hours.

Fourteen hours is fine; just don't go over that.

[koikeeper5]

tank has been running for one month now. I do plan on doing frequent water changes.What would you suggest as first additions for this tank?

[Ninong]

Do you have any snails?

As far as fish, your tank is really small, so you will be limited in what you can put it it. It would be barely adequate for one pair of clownfish, assuming you choose one of the smaller species, like percula or ocellaris clowns. You have to decide what fish you're interested in.

[koikeeper5]

No fish just coral and inverts.Maybe one fire goby.