New to Saltwater

Christople

Hi all, I have a 8.4 gallon tank that I plan on making into a mini reef. I hope to get this light: 24" T5 HO Plant Aquarium light 48W aluminum 5500K 120° flip open angle KIWAV | eBay

Would that light be able to grow anything I would like, also would I need a protein skimmer or no. The tank dimensions are 17.5''x 10''x9''. I need all the info I can get so anything is helpful.

Reefing Madness

That light will suffice for anything kept in there. But for what its worth, you won't be able to keep anything needing that much light. Sofites and small LPS only, and even at that, the softies would outgrow the tank.
Won't need a Skimmer.
Will need 2lbs of Live Rock per gallon.
20x+ the water turnover rate

Christople

So the filter I am fairly sure I have is a Zoomed 501 made for 30 gallon tanks with a flow rate of 79 gph. Would that be enough. I would be interested in hard corals because I would get small frags and get credit for them. What are LPS corals.

Reefing Madness

You don't need a filter, the Live Rock is your biological filter.
LPS= Large Polyp Stony Corals
LPS Corals: LPS Stony Corals and other Hard Corals for the Aquarium

SPS= Small Polyp Stony Corals
SPS Corals: Hard Coral and Stony Corals for the Aquarium

Christople

Oh okay, thanks. And you are sure that that light would grow most if not all corals

Reefing Madness

48watts in a 9 gallon tank, oh yea, it'll be more than enough.

Christople

Would Ocellaris Clownfish be okay in the tank with one Citron Goby and maybe a Nemateleotris Helfrich firefish. I think that's the right firefish but not sure

Christople

Also would this light work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-Inch-2x18...item2ebccdac16

badxgillen

that sounds like a nice fish combo.

Reefing Madness

That light will still work, its going to give off quite a yellow color though, I would try to get it closer to 10k-12k. The Firefish or the Goby, not both, would be the only fish small enough for a 8 gallon tank. Remember, your putting in 8-16llbs of Live Rock, theres not going to be alot of room for fish in there.