Starting new tank. Help on scrubber sizing

[Mufaddal]

Hello

I have been reading on algae scrubbers for a long time, and have found a wealth of knowledge on this forum. I have recently started a salt water aquarium 3 weeks back, its a 30 gallon tank with 20 pounds of live rock. The tank has been cycling and has just completed the ammonia cycle with ammonia and nitrites dropping off to zero. I plan to add only 2 clown ocellaris medium sized fish to the tank. But before i add the fish i want to build and add the algae scrubber to it.

My problem is , i have no idea how much 2 clown fish eat , i intend to keep them quite full on a health varied diet, but i don't know how much food this will turn out to be. 1/4 cube a day , a half or whole cube? If someone can help me figure out how much food i will be adding to the system i can appropriately size my scrubber.

Thank You

[Garf]

The minimum suggested size for a screen is 6 x 4 inch, and lit from 1 side this is enough for 1/2 cube and lit both sides for 1 cube. I would light it both sides though.

Edit - OOPS, sorry for giving the wrong screen minimum (should be 4 x 3 as SM points out in the next post)

[SantaMonica]

Welcome.

That would be 3 X 4 inch as a minimum (same as HOG.5).

Question is how much two clowns eats.

[Mufaddal]

Im thinking of making a screen 9x4 inch (largest size that i can install above my tank) lit from one side. I have a 90W cfl spiral , even though its overkill for a screen this size, is it possible to use it in favor for a shorter lighting duration?

[kotlec]

I have 3 fish . Size like small clown. 1 cube they consume in a week. Fastest.

[SantaMonica]

90 equivalent watts is about 17 real watts. A 9X4 screen needs at least 36 real watts.

[Mufaddal]

90 real watts 300 something equivalent.

[Mufaddal]

Sorry 480 odd equivalent if memory serves me right

[RkyRickstr]

Muffadal you didnt say how much you where going to feed. Why are you going with such a big screen?

[SantaMonica]

Get rid of that light and get a 33w CFL floodlight, 2700 or 3000k "warm" or "soft"

[Mufaddal]

@kotlec . 1 cube in a week?

Then i think i will go with the minimum size suggested by SantaMonica , 3x4 screen lit on one side. How will this led work out http://www.ebay.com/itm/10W-Red-Blue-8-1-HIGH-POWER-LED-for-Plant-Grow-Growth-lights-660nm-450nm-DIY-/271104667863?pt=US_Lighting_Parts_and_Accessories&var=570127227132&hash=item3f1f18f0d7

Thanks !

[SantaMonica]

Too much; you only need 6 LED watts like my HOG.5, and maybe only 3 LED watts.

[kotlec]

My screen is 6x4 onesided and I feel like its slightly oversized , as growth is always thin. Lit by 6w led : 5red + 1 blue