20g newbie

[Tank]

I plan on starting a 20g nano. I will start out with a FOWLR then switch over to reef maybe once I get the hang of everything. I will get about 20-25lbs of fiji lr and about 10lbs of ls and 10lbs of normal sand. I will get two small powerheads or will an aqua clear rated for 20g be enough or should I have both? A heater of course. As for water I was thinking I could just get the catalina salt water at petco and just use that. Would you reccomend this and anybody with any experience with this any feedback would be appreciated? If I use that water should I still get some salt mix and if so will that mess up the tank with two diffent types of salt in there? As for livestock I was thinking of a pair of clowns and a goby/shrimp pair. Is there any room for anything else? I have no idea what to get for a clean up crew so I need help there. These are all the questions I have right now or at least can think of but im sure there are plenty more to come biggrin.gif

steve

 

[cherbub]

I would get 25 lbs live rock at least, and live sand isint necessary. You can use regular sand, and the live rock will soon build up the bacteria o nthe sand, making it live. Live sand is just sand with bacteria already in it to help start out a cycle.

 

[1105]

Sounds like you're off to a good start, except for I'd replace the aqua clear with a protein skimmer instead. A protein skimmer is probably the most valuable piece of equipment you can get for your tank so don't skimp out on one. You'll also need more flow in the tank. A Maxi-Jet 600 would probably be good for a 20g. I have two 400's in my tank and the flow is pretty good, but 1 600 would probably be the best way to go.

As for the water, I would get some RO and mix your own instead of buying that stuff from petco. The way I did it was get a 5g bucket of RO, mix the salt in, then let it sit over night with a powerhead to finish up the mixing and heat it up to the proper temp with a seperate heater.

For your clean up crew get some hermit crabs at first, then wait for the tank to cycle to get some snails since the high nitrate levels in a cycling tank are almost certain to kill the snails.

 

[FiShTaCo]

Your best bet is to read read read.....

 

[Tank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6934912#post6934912 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1105
Sounds like you're off to a good start, except for I'd replace the aqua clear with a protein skimmer instead. A protein skimmer is probably the most valuable piece of equipment you can get for your tank so don't skimp out on one. You'll also need more flow in the tank. A Maxi-Jet 600 would probably be good for a 20g. I have two 400's in my tank and the flow is pretty good, but 1 600 would probably be the best way to go.

As for the water, I would get some RO and mix your own instead of buying that stuff from petco. The way I did it was get a 5g bucket of RO, mix the salt in, then let it sit over night with a powerhead to finish up the mixing and heat it up to the proper temp with a seperate heater.

For your clean up crew get some hermit crabs at first, then wait for the tank to cycle to get some snails since the high nitrate levels in a cycling tank are almost certain to kill the snails.

I can get RO water from the grocery store right? You said to get some hermit crabs at first so does this mean they can survive through the cycle?

thanks for the help,
steve

 

[1105]

I get RO/DI water from my work, but the water machine at the grocery store should work as well. Hermit crabs are pretty hard to kill so I'd give the tank a week or two then add some crabs.

 

[Tank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6936866#post6936866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1105
I get RO/DI water from my work, but the water machine at the grocery store should work as well. Hermit crabs are pretty hard to kill so I'd give the tank a week or two then add some crabs.

Ok thanks. So 2 clowns, goby/shrimp pair is ok and is there any room for any other fish maybe like a dwarf angel or six line wrasse or something?

steve

 

[smy168]

I agree with cherbub on the livesand. As long as it's not the packaged stuff, the thought is.."how does sand stay alive in a bag on a shelf with no temp control and no oxygen?" Let your rock seed dry sand, sometimes the old school way is the best way.

Filtration that I used on my minibow and 26 bow is a aquafuge, it's a little more money wise but you can build your fuge, place your skimmer, heater and temp wire into the back so you can save some room in the display. (check my gallery for pics)

I use the catalina salt water from petco when I do water changes but test the salinity before you use it to make sure it's on key, sometimes I need to bucket the water and use a powerhead to reconstitute the salt.

I use a Epik 300 for heat and watermovent in the display side, I think a aquaclear would be fine but get the next model up. water movement is critical for reef systems so additional powerheads won't hurt.

Clean up crews should be basic, you can get turbo snails for power cleaning and then nassarius and ceriths to get the waste the turbos leave. I'm a fan of scarlet hermits and maybe a cuke or starfish for sand sifting.

As far as fish goes...wait and read, you have tons of options and believe me, you'll always see something cooler than what you have, you should probably focus on the type of corals you want to keep and build your system around that.

good luck and read as much as you can before you jump.

 

[Tank]

smy168,

So you have had good results with catalina salt water and you would reccomend it?

 

[smy168]

yes, I have good results but I'm still careful about salinity level, is there a reason why you don't want to just mix your own water? I don't even use my RO anymore, I just but Poland Spring for my small systems. Poland doesn't harvest water in copper piping so it's pretty phos. safe.

If you go with the Catalina, I would suggest speaking with the manager about a price break, I did and got a good enough number to pick up in cases of 6 every month.

good luck

 

[Tank]

I was thinking it would be easier since I could just go pick up already mixed saltwater instead of buying ro water in 1g jugs from my grocery store then mixing it up myself.

 

[Tank]

With the catalina sallt water shouldl I add it straight to the tank or put it in a bucket first and test the salinity of it?

 

[Tank]

Also would it be better to have a pair of clowns or just one? Will a clelaner shrimp get along with a pistol shrimp? What do you suggest I stock my 20g with fish wise? I would like a clown and a goby for sure.


thanks,
steve

 

[smy168]

question 1: I would check salinity in a bucket before I use it
question 2: usually clowns are a little violent towards each other, IMO, I would stick with just one in a 20.

 

[Tank]

Ok how does this sound for fish:

- 1 clown
- 1 yellow watchman goby/shrimp pair
- 1 six line wrasse
- 1 fire fish
is this too much?

What and how many cleaners could I get?

 

[Tank]

bump...

 

[Poorcollegereef]

ok, i have a 20L (although it is 40 gal total)
with 2 clowns, 1 red headed goby, a 6line wrasse and a royal gamma in a mixed reef with 2 shrimp, 2 anemones, and several other inverts/corals.

Since yours is 20 total, 2 clowns are possible as long as you get them young but I wouldnt get the other fish then or maybe just the goby. Plus I think 25lb of live rock is excessive, I have 18lb and thats perfect! (for me)

Buying RO water and mixing it is best in my opinion, I did it until I got a deionization system. Buying water frm a LFS is always good if you know their process of mixing it. Always check salinity/SG especially in a small system since the SG can change quickly. Read ALOT! Research ALOT! This helps prevent errors and loss f life/$. I wouldnt add all the fish at the same time. Although some reconment it to prevent agression, it can overload a newly cycled small system, so I would add the clowns together but everything else over time. (a new fish per week or 2) I would get the best skimmer possible! esp if you want to really stock a tank. I have had alot of success from my red sea prizm skimmer but alot of people have had alot of success from coralife skimmers. so goodluck! i hoped i helped out some