Starting a 20g Long Nano need advice.

[Neowind]

I am wanting to start a 20g Long Nano Reef and would love some advice on maybe which way to go on a few things.

Currently I have:

20g Long Tank
3x65 Watt Compact Fluorescent Setup
Overlow and 10g Fuge Tank
100 Pounds of Old Castle Sand
10-15 Pounds of Rock (Haven't purchased this yet)

Fish wish list:

Some type of Blennie
2x Percula clowns
Clown Goby


Some things that I can't decide on is what type of bulbs to use. I currently have 2xDaylight PC's 1xBlue PC 1x10k PC and 1xActinic 03 bulbs. I have never seen the Daylight bulbs in a tank and I am afraid they are going to be to pink, but if they are really good source of lighting I may keep them, so maybe someone can help me out with that. I am definatly going to run the 1x10k bulb. Does the Blue PC bulbs have any value at all to coral? I haven't dealt with them in the past. I have only ran MH.

Also do you think the fish load will be ok? I am thinking the blennie may be to big for that tank but maybe if I get a small one? I haven't figured out the Fuge part at all yet either. It is a Hang out on back overflow that runs down to the fuge. Well I guess this is a start maybe I can get some feedback to help me get this thing started. I have about 4 years experience in reef tanks but 0% with nano's.

 

[roadrunner1659]

Well i will give you the greatest piece of information you can have when starting a nano...take your time and do a ton of research!

I will help you the best i can...and i understand you have been in the hobby for 4 yrs so some of this you might already know!

20 gallon long tank with a 10 gallon fuge...this is a good start...the fuge will help your nano out greatly with the nasties by using plants like chaeto...i am wondering one thing though...will the 10 gallon tank only be a fuge or will you be breaking it up into section which would create a sump/fuge (allows you to keep heater and skimmer and anything else in there rather then in your main tank)...

Fish list...i would say that 4 fish in a 20 gallon tank would be pushing it...i have a 26 gallon tank with a total of 50 gallons water volume and i only have 4 fish...but i would say that if you do weekly water changes and you keep your feeding on a schedule and a minumun that maybe i could see 4 fish...

I would say purchase more LR...10-15 lbs. is a good start but you might be able to fit around 20 lbs. or so and then maybe put 5-10 more lbs. down in your fuge depending apon size...helps as a biological filter...

Lighting, i would stick with what you know works...i run a 2x65 watt light and i have a 10k bulb and a 03 true actinic bulb...i personally feel that its a perfect combination and really shows off colors between my fish and my corals and anything else in the tank...but again go with what you feel works and looks the best...

Skimmer...will you be running on or going skimmerless?

Corals...what would you like to keep in this tank?

Fuge/sump...if you need help with the design i am willing to help you out...i DIY'd my own a few months ago and will be willing to help you out in any way...just pm me!

I hope this helps and feel free to ask any other questions or concerns...

the biggest thing with nano's is patience and also a dedication to keeping a close on on them...nano's chemisty can quickly change! But if done right they are fantastic!

 

[Neowind]

Thanks for the awsome reply. I am wanting to try and do some softies, LPS, maybe some lower light SPS. With the 20g Long being so shallow of a tank i was thinking I might get away with having some of the lower light SPS in there.

Skimmer I haven't decided on yet. Personally I have never ran a skimmer in any of my tanks because I just don't like them. But if someone could recommend a small skimmer I could run in the Fuge or something I might consider going that route.

4 Fish may be a bit much. I think if I go 4 fish I may have to do like 2xClownfish 1xClown Goby 1x Green Banded Goby that is tiny. What about 2xPercula Clowns and 1x Red Lipped Blenny?

I will definatly need some help on the plumming if anyone can lend me some advice. I have the Hang on the back overflow that will be going down to the fuge and be pumped back up.

 

[jwheeler]

I have a 20L that I drilled for a closed loop, love how it works. You never mentioned a powerhead or any type of flow besides your return.
I personally run a Metal Hallide Pendant over my 20L, and love the shimmer it puts out.

 

[Neowind]

Yea I guess I will have to have at least 1 powerhead in the tank plus the return to get enough flow right? Is MaxiJet the smallest in size out there?

 

[roadrunner1659]

the number of powerhead needed in your tank will depend on a few things...

you said that you would like to keep a little bit of everything if possible...so your going to need decent flow...i think it is suggested to have 15x turnover your total gallons in your tank...ex my main tank is 26 gals and i have 500 gph running through it...about 19x turnover...so you will be able to take it from there...

now if your going to have a powerful return pump, that will be able to take up alot of the flow you will be looking for but make sure that you dont get a pump that runs faster then what your overflow can...my return pump is a mag 7 but after head loss i am around 300 gph being returned to my tank and then drained through my overflow...*remember to get a return pump that wont pump faster then your overflow can drain otherwise you will have a flood on your hands...

so if you get a pump that creates 300 gph in your tank, then maybe you want to get like 2 mini-jets (about 100 gph and very small - smallest i know of)...this would give you more then enough flow...but you might be just fine around the 400 gph mark!

just look into plumbing your return back into your tank...you might want to create 2 exits on your return line to help get better coverage around the entire tank...ex. on my tank i have a pipe that runs down the back of my tank (inside) then i plumbed in loc lines and in the end i had 2 exits on my return line sending the water into 2 different directions!

i hope this helps!