leximommy

k...so i know the diff in a fish only, a fowlr, and a reef.... but my question is this....what is the smallest extent for a reef? not tank size...thats 55 gallons...i mean if i want to have clownfish and an anemone for them then do i have to have a full blown reef tank? if not then what else would be good to have for them and how do i set it up.... also, is a tank with an anemone and a pair of clownfish a cleaner shrimp and maybe a coral okay? if not what should be omitted or added? (oh i want live rock and live sand....)

i have a plan in my head but would rather change it than have the life in the tank unhappy or sick....

agsansoo

The day you place one soft coral in a fish only with live rock tank. It becomes a reef tank.
An anemone and a pair of clownfish a cleaner shrimp and coral is fine. Lighting for the anemone is a bigger factor!

leximommy

lol ok i know the lighting thing....lol, i may try fake corals and such first while i save up for the lighting...will that be okay for the fish?

sgould

For fish only, standard aquarium lighting is fine. Try a standard flourescent "reef bulb" to help maximize the fish's coloring under the lesser light.