need some ideas

[jmreef]

my neighbor gave me his 37 gallon with stand and canpoy. its a really pretty setup, the canopy has 2 flouresents built into it. He had it as a fish only tank, i believe he had a trigger in it for 16 years. I can't decide what i want to do with it. I was thinking it would be cool to get some unusal fish or something that catches your eye, but i think a small reef would be cool too. i dont have much money to work with. i just would like to get some of your opions to help me decide.thanks everyone

[asting]

It's truly your opinion that matters. Some cool species only could be dwarf puffers or sea horses if you're up to it.

This hobby isn't for the shallow pocketed, that's for sure. Plan what you'll spend, multiply by 3, that'll be closer :P.

[TimH07]

It's truly your opinion that matters. Some cool species only could be dwarf puffers or sea horses if you're up to it.

This hobby isn't for the shallow pocketed, that's for sure. Plan what you'll spend, multiply by 3, that'll be closer :P.

thats for sure lol!!

i'm cresting 3,000 bux so far and figured at most 1200

[asting]

I bought second hand on my tank and some LR and got some great deals from my LFS. I figured at most I'd spend $200. I'm closer to $6-700 and haven't even begun coral yet, or stocked my refugium.

[jmreef]

could i do any coral with the two flouresents i have now?

[asting]

what floursecents? If it's two VHO 24"+ bulbs, then yeah, you've got a wide range, but if it's two standard, run of the mill, 18w bulbs, then you're really limited. The only option I see then is non photosynthetic ones.

[jmreef]

thanks guys, any suggestions for fish only that are different or unusal, and how easy are sea horse

[asting]

from what I understand they are difficult to keep, although maybe someone here has first hand experience.
what type of lighting was it?

[jmreef]

two 18w,

[asting]

yeah, so the reef design is out. You could do a FO or FOWLR with that setup, although don't expect anything planted to grow.

I've always liked lionfishes, and 37 gal would be enough for a dwarf one and a few other med-small sized fish (nothing that the lion can eat though).

[jmreef]

at the lfs there is a 175w metal halide pendant for $150 would that be enough light and is that a good deal,

[lionman1006]

ive been reading up on leaf fish lately because im getting some sent in, and they are a pretty cool species of scorpions, you can get them in some different colors and they are reef safe if the books i have are correct, they usually chill out in the reefs according to the stuff i have, and the minimum tank size is only a 30 gal, they get approx 4 in

[asting]

those look cool. I always wanted to find a dwarf lion fish that was reef safe, this might be a great alternative.
jmreef, that's an okay deal, but it depends on the brand. You can get newer stuff around that range (not super high end name brand mind you, budget of course). I'd look at maybe some MH and then some T5 for actinic, or maybe just PC.

[lionman1006]

yea these guys are suppose to be really hardy, if acclimated correctly, just like any other lion or scorpion haha. ill post pics of mine when i get it home tomorrow!

[jmreef]

Sweet, thanks guys for all your info and help, if i was going to go with pc's what watts and k would i need to go with