We got it started, but a few questions.

[sarahooty]

We have a 30 gal, in-wall Saltwater that has been up and running for at least a month now with the following:

non-glass 40gal heater (I believe 100 watt),
HOT Magnum canister,
Coralite Super Skimmer,
Maxijet 400 powerhead,
2" wooden airstone,
and I believe we have 18lbs of live rock.

The tank is hard to manuver in. I can fit my head between the space of the tank and the top of the wall, but I have a small head. I'd say it's a 5in space, give or take.

We plan on adding more live rock before adding corals, fish, or invertebrates. But we want to go all out.

My main concern is our lighting. I'm not quite sure what 2 bulbs we have, but I'm afraid it's not enough. I've been reading but I really just want someone to recommend a brand and name of a bulb that will sufficiently light the aquarium. Oh! At the moment our fixture only supports a SINGLE bulb and we don't want to have to purchase a double bulb fixture if possible.

Also, do you believe our current setup will sufficiently maintain the aquarium? Or will it just need upgraded later on when there is a lot of living inhabitants?

Finally, what do you recommend, as this being a beginner tank, in the types of invertebrates, fish and coral we should begin with? And should corals come before inverts/fish or vice versa?

Thaaaank you!! :)

[sarahooty]

oh, the skimmer is for up to 65 gals

[tjigger]

What types of corals do you plan on getting.
Thats how you tell what kind & how much lighting you need.
Is you tank a 30 high/tall or standard 30? a tall may need a few extra watts.

For corals in a 30gal a min of 90W for mushrooms and some soft corals. Up to 150+Watts for hard corals and Clams.
I don't think you will get 90Watts out of a single bulb unless it's a VHO or power compact. http://aquariumpros.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=VHO&Store_Code=APG

[sarahooty]

Well really, whatever is the cheapest to accommodate, we will work with what we have.. I know you should plan ahead, but chances are we're eventually going to grow out of the 30 gal like we did with our Cichlid aquarium (we're at a 75 gal now). So really, we want to stick to a single bulb. After reading up on several different sites I saw soft corals require the smallest watts.. and we like soft corals.

It is a standard 30 gal, maybe slightly deeper, our landlord made the tank herself. I believe it's Plexiglas.

I came across these at Petsolutions.com, would they be sufficient for single bulb use?

Coralife 50% 6000K natural daylight and 50% 7100K Actinic 03 Blue w.reflector,
Reef Sun 50/50 combination of 6500k trichromatic daylight and actinic 420 phosphor,
or...
Quantum Leap T6 Lamp w. 11K Ultra Daylight and Actinic 03

[tjigger]

Whats the wattage of the bulbs?
a min of 90w is best, more is better.
I would not go less than 75w.

[sarahooty]

they don't have enough watts! boo.

i think we're going to go with VHO or Compact

[tjigger]

they don't have enough watts! boo.

i think we're going to go with VHO or Compact

Are you a 30in or 36in tank?
After the upgrade you may be able to keep some higher light corals.