First-timer starting a 20G

[EchoMN]

So I started freshwater tanks a while ago, and my LFS guy (also a friend and a student at the college I work at) has been trying to convince me for years to start a SW tank. Like most people, I thought that a SW tank was going to be the most difficult thing ever. After a lot of research (and 3 days of reading SteelHealr's post), I've decided to give it a try. I was going to start big, but decided to go with a 20G instead for now. If I decide I really like it, I may go bigger in the future. What I like so far is that I'm actually forced to have patience here, which is probably a good thing for me.

 

I've started the process of ordering supplies and plan to assemble this weekend.

-Fluval PS1

-Fluval Sea LED bar

-Aquaclear Powerhead

-Digital Thermometer

-Hydrometer

 

There are some things I plan on getting at my LFS like live rock and sand.

 

Things I want to know from everyone:

-Opinions on cleaning crew in the future?

-Opinions on Mandarin Fish? (that's the ultimate goal, I know the tank has to be well established first)

-Opinions on things I haven't mentioned?

 

Thanks in advance!

[JimmyEarp]

I'm also started a new 20 gallon on a budget.

 

Filter- aquaclear 70 modded to hold filter floss and a bag of chemi pure with space for refugium.

Heater- Marineland 75watt precision heater. Just what I have right now will upgrade later.

Power Heads - Two koralia Nano, 240 and 425gph

Lighting- EverGrow 165watt WiFi programmable LED's

Test- Refractometer and API test kit

 

I don't use a protein skimmer. Just do weekly or biweekly water changes 2-5 gallons.

 

Cleaning crew I would go with some Astrea and Nassauis snails.

 

Mandarin fish require a large pod population, so if you can keep up the copepods go for it. Also some Mandarin fish will eat frozen food. But usually you just want to stay away from them in such a small tank.

[Stephosaurus]

Trochus snails are great for your CUC too.

 

+1 on the Mandarins not being a great idea in a 20g. In general it's hard enough to keep a steady copepod population, the fact that the tank is so small is just icing on the cake. It's not impossible by any means, just very difficult. This thread is a good resource on Mandarins:

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/161389-lgreens-mandarin-faq/

[EchoMN]

 

So the rocks have been added, the temp is right, the salt is in, and the powerhead is swirling everything around.

 

Thoughts/Opinions?

[lallen_74]

Looking good! I like the shape of the rockscape. I might go with a bit more rock, but I think I'm in the minority; quite a few people also seem to like minimal rockwork, with more room for corals and livestock.

 

My cleanup crew consists of astrea and Caribbean cerith snails, red-legged hermits, and an emerald crab. I've also added a lettuce nudibranch and a big feather duster, but those count more as Cool Stuff than CUC, I think.

 

Good luck!

[EchoMN]

Looking good! I like the shape of the rockscape. I might go with a bit more rock, but I think I'm in the minority; quite a few people also seem to like minimal rockwork, with more room for corals and livestock.

 

My cleanup crew consists of astrea and Caribbean cerith snails, red-legged hermits, and an emerald crab. I've also added a lettuce nudibranch and a big feather duster, but those count more as Cool Stuff than CUC, I think.

 

Good luck!

You're right, the plan is to do some really nice corals eventually. I'm still going to look all of that up though, because I definitely want a good CUC.

[captainruiz]

I am also starting a 20 gallon this next month, from what i see youve got the basics down. Just my $0.02 i would take things as slow as possible that way you understand everything before making any decisions on stocking the tank, but i would definatelt reccomend a few blue leg hermits as well as a few little turbos and 1 or 2 nasarius snails. I would also +1 on whats being said about the mandarin, it is not a good beginner fish, it does better in an established aquarium. Anyhow, Best of Luck!

[righttirefire]

 

I did the same thing a year ago.. check out my link below! The Fluvel marine/reef led is very white. I used the same light for months. Good luck

[EchoMN]

I am also starting a 20 gallon this next month, from what i see youve got the basics down. Just my $0.02 i would take things as slow as possible that way you understand everything before making any decisions on stocking the tank, but i would definatelt reccomend a few blue leg hermits as well as a few little turbos and 1 or 2 nasarius snails. I would also +1 on whats being said about the mandarin, it is not a good beginner fish, it does better in an established aquarium. Anyhow, Best of Luck!

I'm totally taking my time on this, I want to make sure I don't rush into any of it.

 

The only reason I'm asking about the CUC stuff is that I want to weigh all my options, really

 

I did the same thing a year ago.. check out my link below! The Fluvel marine/reef led is very white. I used the same light for months. Good luck

Ha! I've looked at your tank quite a few times, I really like your rock arrangement.

[Tamberav]

Is your LFS guy from World of Fish?

 

btw this is our local duluth marine forum: http://www.lsmac.org/smf/index.php

We are a small group but we have a few meetings a year and they are better than anyone elses

[EchoMN]

Is your LFS guy from World of Fish?

 

btw this is our local duluth marine forum: http://www.lsmac.org/smf/index.php

We are a small group but we have a few meetings a year and they are better than anyone elses

My LFS guy is totally from WOF. Elliot!

[EchoMN]

Not even 24 hours in, and I've made my first DIY mod. The powerhead was creating micro-bubbles constantly. After a lot of googling, it turns out that the AquaClear Powerheads all seem to have this issue. My guess is that if it were used for a freshwater tank, it would be something that would be desirable (I could see it being beneficial in mine). However, instead of just removing the airline tubing, I blocked it using an air control valve (don't we all have those things laying around?).

 

Suddenly, I have no micro-bubbles. It's the small victories that win the war!

[hinnenkm]

Your plans sound great! I don't think there's any problem with a mandarin down the road if you start building your pod population and you are dedicated to it. I kept a pair of them in a 17 gallon for several years and got them eating frozen, supplementing with pods and baby brine shrimp. Now they're in my 30 gallon and I've got a spawning pair of ruby reds in my 17 gallon. They've all seemed to be hardy fish once you've gotten them eating!

What part of the cities are you in for WOF to be your local store? I'm right in Richfield and there's a couple other stores as well - Wet World, Saltwater Empire, and a bit further, but well worth it is New Wave Aquaria.

Looking forward to see where this build goes!

[EchoMN]

Your plans sound great! I don't think there's any problem with a mandarin down the road if you start building your pod population and you are dedicated to it. I kept a pair of them in a 17 gallon for several years and got them eating frozen, supplementing with pods and baby brine shrimp. Now they're in my 30 gallon and I've got a spawning pair of ruby reds in my 17 gallon. They've all seemed to be hardy fish once you've gotten them eating!

What part of the cities are you in for WOF to be your local store? I'm right in Richfield and there's a couple other stores as well - Wet World, Saltwater Empire, and a bit further, but well worth it is New Wave Aquaria.

Looking forward to see where this build goes!

It's nice to hear a success story with the mandarins!

 

I actually live in Duluth, and when I get down to the cities, I almost always go to Forest Lake pets. I may have to try the others you mentioned though.

[ajmckay]

I think you'll like this side of the hobby. I've kept fw tanks also so I like both but I think the salty side is unique in that there are so many livestock choices.

 

My recommendation is to vet out some of the basics. Get your tank running and spend a few months getting a routine established for feeding, maintenance, testing, etc... Once you have that down I don't see why you couldn't get a Mandarin going as long as you again take the time to research acclimation to frozen food and focus your efforts on that single fish for likely 2-4 weeks. Have multiple food options on hand, and try to get a Mandarin that's already accepting prepared foods. Best of luck

[EchoMN]

I think you'll like this side of the hobby. I've kept fw tanks also so I like both but I think the salty side is unique in that there are so many livestock choices.

 

My recommendation is to vet out some of the basics. Get your tank running and spend a few months getting a routine established for feeding, maintenance, testing, etc... Once you have that down I don't see why you couldn't get a Mandarin going as long as you again take the time to research acclimation to frozen food and focus your efforts on that single fish for likely 2-4 weeks. Have multiple food options on hand, and try to get a Mandarin that's already accepting prepared foods. Best of luck

I thin that's the main reason the SW tanks are intriguing to me. I love the colorful fish, and that's just not as available in the FW world.

 

I have been reading about the acclimation to frozen food, I found http://melevsreef.com/node/720 to be very helpful in ideas. I think the right glass jar could even add more beauty into the tank.

[EchoMN]

 

Decided to add a little more rock to complete what I wanted to do.

 

Some questions:

 

How long should it be a little cloudy?

How long should one wait before getting a CUC? (I know I have to wait, but just wondering how long did most of you wait?)

[lallen_74]

Looks nice! I like the shape of the rock on the right.

 

I waited for about a week before adding a small CUC. I was also testing daily for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates; I had no appreciable spikes in any of these, and so, the way I figure it, I waited seven days after "cycling" was complete before adding in snails and hermits. I started feeding them very lightly every second or third day soon after.

 

(To set up the tank, I used about 12 pounds of very lively LR in a ten gallon tank, along with some chunks of macro-covered LR that my LFS threw in, so my cycle was practically up and running the first day. Along the way, I did everything in my power not to disrupt that lovely bacterial cycle! I've had some minor phosphate jumps along the way due to macro death, etc., but so far, so good.)

[EchoMN]

Looks nice! I like the shape of the rock on the right.

 

I waited for about a week before adding a small CUC. I was also testing daily for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates; I had no appreciable spikes in any of these, and so, the way I figure it, I waited seven days after "cycling" was complete before adding in snails and hermits. I started feeding them very lightly every second or third day soon after.

 

(To set up the tank, I used about 12 pounds of very lively LR in a ten gallon tank, along with some chunks of macro-covered LR that my LFS threw in, so my cycle was practically up and running the first day. Along the way, I did everything in my power not to disrupt that lovely bacterial cycle! I've had some minor phosphate jumps along the way due to macro death, etc., but so far, so good.)

I used both live sand and live rock, so I'm gonna start testing on Wednesday to see where I'm at.

[EchoMN]

 

Wow...the Fluval Marine LED Bar came in today. I had no idea what a difference that would make.

 

(sorry about the terrible picture, taken with my iPad)