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rogersb

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I've been reading here quite awhile as well as other sites. I have several freshwater tanks and have been keeping fresh for years. I am getting my own classroom and am setting up a tank in my display window. So far I have this planned - standard 20g, 2 100gph HOB filters, little or no media(filter floss), 1 - 100gph power head, 96w coralife light fixture, LR, LS, 1 clownfish, several inverts.

I have the salt, the tank, access to RO water, some inverts are coming from a guy I carpool with, heaters, and various kent marine supplements I have from buying stuff and people giving me just extra things they have. I will have 5 lbs of LR in a few days, some guy a couple miles from me was selling it on ebay. After the auction cose he won't let me swing by and get it, I have to pay the shipping - $13. Less than 10 miles away and he won't let me pick it up. Not the money I'm angry about, but I'll probably have to cure it somewhat again.

I'm going to let the rock cure in the tank as well as get some more from a better source. Then I was going to add the sand and put the rock on top of the sand. Wait a few days, test the water, then start adding livestock slowly.

I don't have a skimmer and was going to try to get away without one. Any critiques as to my approach. Feel free to put it bluntly. If I'm doing something horribly wrong, don't say you'd do it differently, tell me you're appalled, I can handle it!
 
well you have the basics covered for a tank with live rock and a few hardy fish.about 10 lbs of quality cured rock would be a plus.you can get some at something fishy if you dont know of a good source.10 to 20 percent weekly water changes with your current plan should keep things fairly happy without a skimmer but i would get one as soon as you can.i would wait a couple months for corals if you plan on putting them in and start with some actinio discus or leathers.a half inch to 1 inch of sand would be enough and try to keep the rock off it.you can stack the rock then put the sand in.some quality carbon in the hob would be a good idea also.
Good luck and if you need any more advise please ask we will try to help.also you may want to check out our swap on nov 1,2008.you can possibly learn some and meet some of the people in the club.
 
When you are ready for some corals, let me know. I have lots of leathers and softies that are very hardy. Heck some of them were in my tank while it cycled. I would be more than happy to hook you up with some stuff. I live down in Tamaqua, so its not too far out of your way.
 
I am thinking about going to the meet, but as I'm not a reefer, I am not sure yet. I offered some help with set up or cleaning to offset the admission price, but have yet to hear back if it would be ok.

I was thinking about getting probably 10 more lbs for the tank for aquascaping purposes. For water changes, I was going to do 10% a week, but I can just as easily do 20%.

insanefishguy - I am getting the 96w light just in case I get the coral itch, thanks for letting me know someone lives close by and has some pieces tehy could help me with.

Thanks for the positive responses, both of you!
 
In my former 75G tank, with a small skimmer, I did 10% each week and it was fine. Once tank is cycled, in the first couple of months, as beneficial bacteria are building up, you may want to do less. It seems that many people with larger well established tanks with good skimmers etc. do less frequent changes, like 20% 1x per month.

I'm sure you will find lots of people with softies especially that they will be happy to give you pieces of as you go forward.

Annoying about the rock. One other piece of advice, definitely check the nitrates ammonia etc. to be sure rock is fully cured before adding any livestock. It could take as little as a few days, but could be a bit longer.
 
I'm trying to find more rock locally. I've PM'd people, but none get back to me. I work in the poconos and live in hazleton so if you know someone who wants to get rid of some for a reasonable price, I'm looking. Last night on our ride home my carpool buddy offered up plenty of corals, he wants to do some different things with his nano. It seems to be coming along nicely for the most part though, and hopefully a student or two will get into it.
 
Something Fishy is having a sale on their rock this weekend. It looks like they have all the types on sale for $4.99 lb.

Carl
 
Tomorrow I'm picking up my rock in allentown. I am down there a lot to hang out with friends, and a guy on craigslist has 35lbs for $70, and it looks nice. If that rock from ebay ever shows up, I'll have 40 lbs in my 20g.

I'm a cheap-o and was thinking of putting in regular old play sand. Any reason not to?

One last thing - say I don't go with a clwon fish, what would you put in a 20g? I want an active tank but an easy one also.
 
bangai cardinals or blue eye cardinals are cool fish and dont need alot of room to be happy.play sany is usally a fatal mistake if it has silica or impurities in it.you may be looking at a cyano farm down the road with sand that is not suited for reefs.southdown sand was popular years ago and it has proven to be safe so if you can find some of that you should be alright but i dont know where to get any right now.it used to be available for pretty cheap at hardware stores and the like.
 
Heck of a deal, but a little overkill for my small system.

I've seen the cardinals before, they look neat. A little like German ram cichlids though. Plus from what I read I may have too much current for them to be happy. We'll see though, fish purchase is still weeks away.
 
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