MyMonkeys' 20 Gallon Office project

[MyMonkey]

I have returned with a new tank and a new office. :beer: I have admired many of the 20 gallon longs and as a direct result of the sale at Petco picked up one of my own. :wavehand: I actually have 2 plans in the works. One is a simple tank and the other includes a sump etc.

Plan A:

Tank: 20 long
Lighting: Current 2x24 watt T5 with Marineland LED Strip as well. (Debating on just ordering a 4 bulb T% fixture and selling the new 2 bulb to avoid shipping it back) DOH!
HOB AC 110 filter
Koralia Nano power heads times 2. (Picked up the 750 but am now advised that will likely be too much flow) Again, DOH! :hmm3:
Argonite sand at 1.5 inches


Plan B:

Same tank, lights etc.
With CUstom canopy
Sump: 10 Gallon Tank
Skimmer: Tunze 9002
External Overflow.
Sand: Argonite all the way.


Livestock plan:
Pair of Ocelaris CLowns
Goby/Pistol combo
Sailfin Tang (Kidding!)
Either a Blenny or a Wrasse of some sort.

Corals:
I love Shrooms.
Few SPS such as lower light Montipora Digitata, a small Monti Cap and Hydnophora spp maybe.

Or I will go with a bunch of softies just for fun. :fish2:


Started the tank with about 25 pounds of LR today. (Thanks sharky's machin) Several things hithicked including a bit of Monti Cap. :smokin: And several shrooms and sponges. The sponges likely will not make it due to exposure to air but I am hopeful for the others. We shall see!

Added sand and water today as well. A bit of dieoff is causing the cycle to progress nicely. Dropped a couple of HOB filters on the back just to clear up the water untill I decide where this is going.

I am undecided on the 2 bulb CUrrent fixture I got. I thought it was sufficient but am second guessing myself now and considering the 4 bulb fixture. I like the look of LED's but am not sure if the Marineland LED strips are enough wven if added to my 2x24 on there now.

So, come along with me as this little office reef takes shape. :celeb1:

 

[MoneyGone]

I would go with plan B. I dont know much about using the LED's or not I have only used MH in my tanks. We just took down our 175 in the lobby of my office and I really miss having it during the day. Enjoy.

By the way this is Jrad33 from OSA.:wavehand:

 

[MyMonkey]

Hey Jbrad! What a small world. I have to agree that the sump makes sense. Suppose I will go that route.

I like MH as well and have used them but find other lights to be just as effective with less heat these days. Not sure about the LED's though.

 

[bigdog0598]

i say B. I love my LED but the marineland one seems kinda week....

 

[MyMonkey]

i say B. I love my LED but the marineland one seems kinda week....

What fixture do you use?

Well, I have been adding food in order to prompt a cycle but to no avail so far. Amonia, nitrite at 0. Will test for Nitrates tomorrow. All going well in there but I have ordered a new power head. The Koralia nano. :smokin: Will swap out the blue background for a black one.

Also, unfortunately, I can't find my skimmer box for my overflow. :thumbdown I swore I saw it in the box of fish junk in the attic but it is not there. I have the outside box but not the internal box. I even have the U tube. What tha?

I am forced to order a new one I suppose.

 

[MyMonkey]

It seems my plan to use fresh Live Rock and Live sand from an established tank worked! :bounce2: All levels looking good. Thus, new additions! Three Astrea Snails, one Ocellaris Clown, and one Centropyge argi. Seems fast but I transferred the rock and sand so quickly I had very little die off and the Amonia level resolved quickly despite additions of amonia source.

BTW: I notice the Aiptasia. I already nuked a few big ones with Joes Juice. Seems to have worked and it has worked for me in the past. Will get rid of them in stages as to not introduce that much dead anemone to the system all at once.

 

[Ston3]

You can make a PVC overflow if you don't wanna pay for an expensive kit. It works great and hasn't failed on me since I've had it up (4 months). It's very quiet and can handle alot of flow depending on the diameter of the PVC. It costs about $15.

 

[Ston3]

Oh and nice angel. I wanted one, but I don't want to risk him eating up my corals. Good luck!

 

[MyMonkey]

You can make a PVC overflow if you don't wanna pay for an expensive kit. It works great and hasn't failed on me since I've had it up (4 months). It's very quiet and can handle alot of flow depending on the diameter of the PVC. It costs about $15.

Nice! Any instructions on building one?

 

[MoneyGone]

Looks very cool. Love the angel!

 

[Ston3]

YouTube PVC overflow. It's very easy to make.

Here's mine in the tank, you could always scale it down and paint it with krylon fusion. They say it's safe in tank, but I'd rather not risk it. I have a good amount of coraline growing on it. Excuse the dirty background. I've been working on that algae film.

Here is the plumbing to the 10 g diy sump. I've heard it's better to use flex PVC, but I have no complaints so far.

This is what the basic setup looks like. I made a modification of putting a T PVC on the wet side. It allows for more surface skimming and more flow capacity.

 

[MyMonkey]

Update time! It has been quite a while. All inhabitants are doing well it seems. Cycle has progressed nicely to the point that I have coraline popping up. I have noticed a bit of cyano here and there. Added carbon to the filter to aid in removal there. Went ahead and ordered an overflow because I just want a sump darnet. :smurf: Ordered a Tunze Skimmer as well. And some Aiptasia X because I have far too many of these guys.

FTS: Looking good eh? Impressed with these lights. The little SPS plating coral I have in there is growing fast. You can see it if you look directly above the Zoas upfront to the right. It was just a little chunk that was left from the previous owner removing the coral and it has taken off. :bounce2:

Dwarf Angel growing like a weed.

 

[rustyjames]

Looks nice. Did you get a new light or stick with the 2x24 watt fixture?

 

[MyMonkey]

Just 2x24. Based on the growth of the monticap I think it's just fine. :eek1: