Coral And Lighting Help

[new2saltyfish]

my tanks now done cycling and ive already added 2 fish in it, a clown and a damsel, and live rock is all set up. Im wondering where is the best place to buy corals and what amd i safe to buy. I have a 30 gal, and don't really like the look of mushroom corals or brown corals. i saw some bright colored ( yellow, pink ) frags for sale on drfostersmith for about 130 bucks for 5 but im not sure i can add them yet because it says you need an established aquarium. this is the link http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...cfm?pCatId=2485 . If i can;t add these, anyone have any suggestions for something that looks like this? Right now i have a t-8 coral life coral sun actinc 420 bulb. so to make a long story short, what im asking is A. where is the best place to buy corals reasonable B. what can and can't i add for corals. and C. is my lighting and everything efficient enough yet to add corals?

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED

 

[SkiFletch]

Start with indicating where you're from, US, UK, Canada, Australia, other?

Then, do you have one or two T8 bulbs?

 

[new2saltyfish]

well im from the U.S. I did have a t-8 bulb but took it back today cause i was told it wouldnt be efficient enough for corals. So where would the best place to buy halides be. I would like to keep the look of the stock hood which is badically the default one most kit tanks come with ( black slanted one). I posted this in another section and i think we decided i need some experience before adding corals but i still want to get everything set so if anyone could tell me the best lighting i shoudl have and where i get it.

 

[SkiFletch]

Is it a standard 30g, ie what are its dimensions (footprint especially) and does it have any center braces across the top?

 

[new2saltyfish]

no center braces along the top, dims are 30 long, 12 deep, 18 1/2 high.

 

[SkiFletch]

no center braces along the top, dims are 30 long, 12 deep, 18 1/2 high.

We usually say 30 long by 12 wide by 18.5 high. Less confusion between depth of water versus depth of tank front-back

If you want to go the halide route and are handy enough to rig something into your exhisting hood, you could try a retrofit pendant

Otherwise you're pretty much left with a dual power compact fixture in the 30" long range. Nobody makes T5 or halide fixtures for 30" tanks really . 24 and 36 inch tanks there are a myriad of options, but in 30" you're kinda stuck retr-fitting a mogul halide or getting a 2x65watt PC fixture

 

[new2saltyfish]

ok. ill have to eventually do that. thanks for the info.