Seagrass Biotope Suggestions

After listening to Matt Pederson talk about breeding his harlequin files, I thought wow!
So now I would like to do a 30 gal biotope of indo pacific grass beds with turtle grass (I know, not from indo, but looks similar and easy to find) a few rocks and maybe just some crushed coral sand as a breeder for 2 matted (or aiptasia eating) filefish to study brreding habits and advance science.
(1)Would I need special lights for grass?
(2) What type of filter (MONEY IS TIGHT, trying to stay away from fuges) since with the grass and all as main biofilter(HOB Marineland Emperor?)
3 Anything else?
4 bio cube or long tank

 

NO IDEAS comeon

 

Hello panfish!!

WHY DON"T YOU TRY A REFUGIUM IN THAT SAME STYLE???

Would be a "waste" just to stare at a tank with a coupla rocks and grass, no? Cool if thats what you like, but I'd get the most bang for my buck.

(my .02)

 

Some grasses require intense light and a deep sand bed, other's like oar grass don't require the deep bed or high lighting. Take a peek at www.reefcleaners.org they usually have some good info on macros and grasses.

 

1. stronger the better usually for turtle grass
2. HOB will work, just a powerhead would also work, and is probably cheaper. Get 2, you never know when one will go down, and by directing them at each other you can get more flow, than one twice as strong in a laminar setup etc....The greater flow will discourage cyano, which can choke out seagrass.
3. +1 to deep and mature sandbed. Seagrass will look to get nutrients from the substrate, it should have some for it
4. long and shallow, turtle grass needs quite a bit of light

 

Hey thanks john, hermits with nails are still going strong lol