My 20G Nano Reef Build Thread

[Bowels]

Ok So I thought Id make a tank thread, and Ill try and keep pictures and schtuff on here. :mad2:<Thought Id throw a completely random anger face there. This is my first saltwater tank, but I have a few freshwater aquariums, and a bunch of different kinds of pets haha. (2 turtles, 2 frogs, chinchilla, cat "toast")​

:fun2:
So far:

• -20G Aquarium
• -Odyssea 250W DE HQI Bulb 15000K w/4 T5 4 blue LEDS
• -30lbs of Live Rock
• -Koralia 500
• -Whisper 30 Filter
• -About 3 weeks in

:jester:
Life identified in the tank:

• -Loads of Bristleworms
• -Brittlestars + little blue sea stars
• -Some Kind of Gorgonian
• -A green/yellow Palythoa
• -Red/green Blastimusso
• -2x Pulsating Xenia
• -A few little Yellow star polyps
• -3x cool lookin mushrooms

:bigeyes:Super Psyched to be doing this ridiculous Hobby, I feel like I have a coma patient being cared for in my living room haha :dance:

Here is Week 3 Picture:​

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[derrikd]

Looking good so far

 

[Bowels]

Thanks

 

[chgoblknazn]

It's so fresh and so clean!! nice!!

 

[Bowels]

eeech I hope to keep it fresh and clean too! I guess I plan on letting the algea take over the back of the tank since its against a wall, and algea is good for it right? Takes care of some nitrites? I get fussy with my pets.

 

[Bowels]

9-10-11


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Here it is today... a bit of algea and a TON of pods everywhere! lol Im going to get more flow soon... but for now im leaving the algea.

 

[Bowels]

Xenia


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[Bowels]

Blastimusso


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A cool Mushroom


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[Bowels]

Star Polyps


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Also if anyone could give me an idea of what this is..it may be too soon to tell but it came with the rock its been facinating watching him grow


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[Bowels]

Mushroom that came with the rock:


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Some Palys


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[ecupcar]

That is a pretty big algae bloom. How long are you running your lights? do you have a CUC? Is the MH bulb new?

 

[Bowels]

I have accidentally been running the lights too long i think... lol I have to get timers... yes the halide is brand new... and I run it for 3 hours no more than that.. but I have 4 t5's and I have had those on anywhere from 8-12 hrs a day. lol yeah I know too long. Everything seems very happy, life is blooming... algea too lol. I am going to get more flow and set the lights to a schedule.. prob 7 hrs on the t5s and 3 on the halide... unles syou suggest otherwise?

That is a pretty big algae bloom. How long are you running your lights? do you have a CUC? Is the MH bulb new?

 

[Bowels]

oh and no CUC yet.. I have a few bristleworms and a ton of pods... but nothing else... def should get something else... what would you recommend?

 

[ecupcar]

8/3 sounds ok for starters, maybe back off the MH until the algae subsides. I just use Crabs and Snails from the LFS, not too picky about them. I do have 2 Mexican Turbo's though, they take care of most all the algae.

 

[Bowels]

Gorgonian ( I think hes ugly thats why I havent put a Pic up yet)

By bowels at 2011-09-11
My New Crocea Clam sooo cool

By bowels at 2011-09-11
Frogspawn (not quite open yet)

By bowels at 2011-09-11

 

[Bowels]

I went to Saltwater Paradise- the staff was very nice and helpful (owned by a nice couple) You can tell they really care about their stuff. Also prices were really really good! I don't think ill go to A Reef Creation again for anything. I got the clam and the frogspawn and 4 turbo snails for 85$ Here are the snails I got... they have a lot of work to do.

By bowels at 2011-09-11

 

[sedorusc]

You must be from buffalo

 

[Bowels]

lol yup east aurora actually but yeah buffalo area

 

[ange062]

Id say you really need to get the algae problem under control before any more adds! Looks good otherwise though.

 

[Bowels]

Yeah I know I do... any suggestions? I got 4 turbo snails. Im going to take the live rock out and scrub it with a toothbrush... I didnt know it was a problem algea so for the first week or so I saw it I just scraped it off the walls.... Obv that was not the right thing to do. lol any one I have talked to in person about it makes me feel better... like "oh youll be alright the snails will take care of it" but all you ppl online are FREAKIN ME OUT! lol people are saying they lost their tanks to this stuff!