My first sw build - 20 long

[thejerzboi]

Hey guys,
I am currently stocking up on my basic needsto start my first saltwater reef tank.
I currently have the following...
- coralife CFL 2x65w light fixture
- 20 gallon long
- red sea skimmer (forgot the name )
- 30lb of dead argonite sand
- 50lb of salt mixture
- heater/ thermometer
- koraline nano power head

I am going to be buying live rock end of thi week and 2lbs of live sand as well, but for now
I am cleaning out the tank, mixing the saltwater and running the skimmer. I am hopin to make a sump after Christmas. I will be updating this thread as much as possible, so feel free to chime in as this is my first go at it =D

 

[cherubfish pair]

Don't be shy about pictures. Even a cell phone's pics are better than none.

 

[thejerzboi]

Honestly there isn't anything I can take a pic of yet since the 20 still has the last of my fw stuff in it.
Update
I just ordered 2 brand new bulb for the fixture 1 65w 10k and 1 actinic 65w =D

 

[thejerzboi]

Emptied my 20 gallon long and cleaned it today, currently making Saltwater for it

will be updating pictures to this thread in the next hour or so.

Adding dead argonite sand first, then adding the salt water, that is my goal for tonight ( to get atleast 15 gallons made up and run the heater and then skimmer tomorrow

 

[thejerzboi]

Here is my baby

Here is my baby

Tank shot, nothing in it yet, just some egg crate to protect the bottom

Adding Sand shortly

 

[SleepyMike]

Nice tank! What do you plan on trying to keep? What are your big plans?

 

[thejerzboi]

Preciate that,
as of right now I am taking everything slowly and unsure of the exact big picture fish wise at least.. I am focusing on getting the tank set up and running well.

I am looking to make it into a reef tank with a mixture of fish, inverts, and corals.

I am going to be building a 20 gallon sump for the tank so I have better filtration

Fish wise, I am looking through threads to get better ideas of what people have and what would work the best

 

[Russter]

Good luck! Just remember that any fish aggression will probably be amplified due to the cramped quarters. Try to plan ahead and think about what fish may cause you problems and add them last.

 

[thejerzboi]

^ def agree with you whole heartedly!

Fish are the last thing on my list besides coral, I won't add either until January though..

As of now I am just getting it set up and researching my options

but I would appreciate any ideas if you would like to give any personal advice

will add some pictures tonight, hoping to get the skimmer running tonight as I am getting LR and some live sand Sunday

 

[thejerzboi]

So I am currently in wilmington, nc and picked up a huggggge deal for my tank. For $25 I got 22 pounds ofcured live rock, 3 peppermin shrimp, 2 nass snails,1 turbo snail, 3 hermit crabs, golf ball size heeto and some dead shell.... amazin find! Picking up some live sand tomorro morning =D

 

[thejerzboi]

Update
I add the live rock to the tank and had the skimmer running now
The Nitrate test is showing that it is 0. So my tank is cycled and I am no researching which coral or fish I want to add first. really excited

 

[keh9qd]

Update
I add the live rock to the tank and had the skimmer running now
The Nitrate test is showing that it is 0. So my tank is cycled and I am no researching which coral or fish I want to add first. really excited

Id give it a couple weeks sometimes nothing shows up for a couple weeks on your test kits

Be sure to check nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. Nitrates should go up after cycles is over.

The only time i never cycled was moving water and rock from one tank to the next. You added "cured" rock, fresh water, and sand so you will be hit or miss on the cycle. Id say you will at least end up with nitrates.

 

[thejerzboi]

Id give it a couple weeks sometimes nothing shows up for a couple weeks on your test kits

Be sure to check nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. Nitrates should go up after cycles is over.

The only time i never cycled was moving water and rock from one tank to the next. You added "cured" rock, fresh water, and sand so you will be hit or miss on the cycle. Id say you will at least end up with nitrates.

^ Awesome, I wont be adding anything until at least January, so it shall be awhile. :bounce1:

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

i would add a couple good pinches of fish food to your tank to make sure there is something in there to start the cycle...i dont think you will have enough of a cycle to produce enough bacteria to significantly protect your livestock when you add it...

i would also suggest a larger powerhead for your tank...i have a koralia nano in my 5 gallon tank, and it is just barely large enough...

other then that looks like you are off to a good start..

 

[thejerzboi]

i would add a couple good pinches of fish food to your tank to make sure there is something in there to start the cycle...i dont think you will have enough of a cycle to produce enough bacteria to significantly protect your livestock when you add it...

i would also suggest a larger powerhead for your tank...i have a koralia nano in my 5 gallon tank, and it is just barely large enough...

other then that looks like you are off to a good start..

I could definitely upgrade the power head, thanks for the advice. I am getting some food this week, so I could add a pinch every once in awhile. I added a pound of live rock from a LFS which should help a little.

 

[thejerzboi]

Sooo FedEx was supposed to get my new bulbs in for my CFL on Monday the 5th and they still have no got my lights in which is killing me right now! I had received some cheeto for my tank that is going to die off because the lack of light and really want to get some algae growth.. UH

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

cheato will grow under any light source in the 3500 and up kelvin range, a simple spiral CF from phillips is all i used to grow it with...they have a daylight 6500bulb...

 

[NemusMaximus]

I had a similar setup before, and it was one of my favorite tanks. I think you will really enjoy it! Heres a pic of mine:

 

[thejerzboi]

cheato will grow under any light source in the 3500 and up kelvin range, a simple spiral CF from phillips is all i used to grow it with...they have a daylight 6500bulb...

Yeah, I get the lights Monday morn according to FedEx rep.
Once I get the light I will start running the lights for 7 hours a day and will be adding a little bit of flake food to make sure my cycle is done.

 

[thejerzboi]

I had a similar setup before, and it was one of my favorite tanks. I think you will really enjoy it! Heres a pic of mine:

Yeah I really like your tank set up, once I get a better shot of my tank I will upload one... I really like Frogspawn and I am trying to research what corals can grow by it without getting hurt from the sweepers...