burtnerReef

[burtner]

Hi all,

 

I'm new to the site. I'm putting together the equipment I need to build a 20 gallon nano reef tank. I hope to be successful, and some day graduate to a large reef tank.

 

I'll be assembling in early to mid-Septemer.

 

I love the corals, and have told my wife she can pick the fish and I'll pick the corals.

 

I plan to add two ocellaris clownfish at first (very small, tank bred).

 

I'm looking for recommendations for what to add next with regard to corals and/or cleaning crew. I've already read many differing opinions of what to add next, but I thought fellow nano reefers would be the best to ask.

 

I've got a Nuvo Fusion Nano 20. I also purchased the following equipment:

Aqua Gadget protein skimmer

Aqua Gadget reactor (for GFO and carbon)

Aqua Gadget caddy (2 -- 1 for a refugium, and 1 for additional biological filtration area)

LED refugium light

Tunze 3155 ATO system (with 5-gal. tank)

Apex controller with pH and Temp. probes

Apex add-ons for controlling powerhead and LED's

EcoTech Vortec MP10

AI Hydra 26 LED light

Two each 100W heaters; one set at 78, and one at 77.

 

I'm trying to set myself up for success, and I believe I'll have a good start.

 

I'm curing my live rock (20 lbs and 1 small piece of tonga branch), and have been for a little over a month. I'm using what will be my backup heater and my backup power head and a 10 gallon aquarium I got for $10.

 

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know; I'd be happy to hear them.

 

I'll post some pics soon, and I'll keep the forum updated as I progress through the build.

 

-- burtner

 

I forgot to mention: I'm going to dose kalkwasser via my ATO system once I start adding corals. I think I'll start with about 1/4 the recommended dose.

[Steensj2004]

Welcome! And that list is pretty top notch, can imagine anything to change.

[burtner]

I promised some images.

Remember, I'm not setting up until early to mid-September.

Let me know what you all think.

Suggestions will be strongly considered.

Welcome! And that list is pretty top notch, can imagine anything to change.

Beauty of a tank!

[Pinner Reef]

That control board is super cleanly mounted.

[burtner]

Thanks! I put quite a lot of time laying it out and constructing it.

 

It looks a bit more disheveled than it will once in use, as many of the tied up gadgets will, of course, be in either the tank or the 5.5 gallon ATO sump.

[burtner]

That control board is super cleanly mounted.

Nice tank! I love the corals!

 

Corals are the reason I'm setting up my first tank, although it'll be hard to wait awhile to buy some.

 

I told my wife that her and the kids can pick the fish (from a list of reef-safe fish I have compiled).

[Pinner Reef]

Oh, ya, thanks, that sucker was taken down after Dinos ravaged it. Still fuming about it.

 

Good news is if you're already curing rock you should have to wait almost no time to start on the softies. Good idea on getting the family involved as well, if everyone plays a role it'll be a good bonding experience. That and the wife won't be so harsh of a critic when it comes to funding the coral purchases.

 

So what are the corals on your wishlist?

[burtner]

I also think involving the family is an excellent idea.

 

My kids are both 7 (one soon to be 8), so I think they're going to love it.

 

My daughter wants hermit crabs, so I'll definitely include some in my cleaning crew, along with some snails and at least one shrimp.

 

My wishlist would be:

-Zoa (many of the brightly-colored varieties such as Eagle Eye, Rasta, Lemon Heads, etc.)

-Montipora

-Acripora (spelling?)

-Torches

-Hammers

-Frogspawn

-Toadstools

 

My wife already decided on 2 small LFS-tank-bred Ocellaris Clowns.

 

That being said, I want an anenome if the clowns don't host a Torch, Hammer, or Frogspawn.

 

I've heard several differing opinions, and I know the SPS listed are not good starter corals.

 

However; I'd be very interested in your opinion of which coral(s) to start with.

 

So far, I plan on installing the live rock and sand and starting off the tank with a complete fresh saltwater mix. I'll let the water clear, and test for the next couple of days. Once chemistry is OK, I'll add the 2 clowns. After that, I thought I'd wait a couple of weeks before adding one or two corals (hopefully, you'll suggest a couple/few). After that, I may add another fish after another two weeks, and I think that'll be it for fish (maybe 2 more, depending). Then, I plan on regularly buying coral and filling my live rock to the brim!

 

Is the above a decent plan?

[HarryPotter]

Plan sounds awesome,!

 

REMEMBER TO DIP ALL CORAL! Don't let pests get in this beautiful new tank!

 

I would start with Zoas too. The LPS you listed (frogspawn, Hammer. Torch) do poop and have some bio load, so I would wait till I was sure the tank was ready for more bio load

 

Acropora are very difficult to keep pretty- they lose color if the water isn't perfect. However Montipora are beautiful and VERY hardy for a SPS coral!

[burtner]

OK. Good; so I'll stick to my plan.

 

I will certainly dip all coral. I've gained a bit of knowledge from BulkReefSupply.com and TidalGardens.com both.

 

OK, so after the Zoa's, I'll wait awhile before adding LPS, and a long time (3 months after clowns, maybe) before adding SPS.

 

I do plan on adding kalkwasser to my ATO reservoir, so hopefully the LPS and SPS will be able to thrive as well. Also, once the LPS go in, I'll also monitor and supplement magnesium if/when needed. I did buy a 5-gallon pail of the Red Sea Pro Salt, though, so magnesium supplement may not be needed (if I understand things correctly, that is).

 

Thanks again for all the advice!

 

Cheers!