IM 20 Gallon

[tlatix]

Just posting my tank, new to hobby and 4 months in.

 

Tank: IM 20 Gallon

Light: 2x Skky LED rated 18w ea. (I dont think its enough because stuff don't seem to grow.)

 

• MJ1200 /w Spinner value Rated 294GPH
• Tunze 6020 Rated 1300 i think - pointed at wall to reduce flow. Even though im still not happy with the flow, not random enough. Waiting on Jabao RW4 to arrive.
• Two little Fishie with 150 ML Seachem Carbon
• IM nano reactor with 100 ML GFO
• Coral Box S150 Skimmer (Took 2 hour to mod it to make it fits in the back of the sump.) Turn out nicely.
• Aquaclear 70 refugium with Cheato and copepod (for my green madarine, easier to care because they also eat frozen.)

Fish: 2 Clown, green mandarin, yellow goby, peppermint shrimp, cleaner skimp, 3x turbo snails, 5 mix hermit crabs.

 

First Just wanted to start simple but can't stop myself from keep adding stuff to it.

Waiting on chinese LED 180w and Wavemaker and I think im done.

 

Everything seems to run stable atm. except new tank going through balance stages.

 

Thanks all for viewing, if anything i do wrong please let me know. Thanks

 

Update:

• Powerhead (jabao RW-4)
• Lights (180w Chinese LED) with simple custom light hang with part laying around the house.

[Salty_josh1]

You cycled your tank with dry rock? Was your shrimp in the tank when you took the picture? I love the IM tanks, they are pretty nice. How long have you had the mandarin and how has he affected your pod population? Your tank looks very clean for being 4 months old. How is your water parameters and maintenance?

[tlatix]

Hi,

 

You cycled your tank with dry rock?

Yes I cycled my tank with dry rock with raw mid size shrimp.

 

Was your shrimp in the tank when you took the picture?

my cleaner shrimp and peppermint? If so, then yes they in tank but hide in the back or running around.

 

How long have you had the mandarin and how has he affected your pod population?

• I had mandarin for about two weeks now, its a green mandarin so they also eat frozen but make sure they show you that at fish store first. My Copepod was overpopulated at first week, my mandarin got it down a bit.

• I do have HOB refugium so my copepod will alway be there for him to pick on all day. He burrow and sleep at night when lights out which give time for pod to multiply. Unlike the blue mandarin who only eat pods which will depletes pod faster and dont eat frozen.

 

How is your water parameters and maintenance?

• Quality is 0 ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 or less. I cant read color that well.. but thing seems happy (fish eating & thing growing.)
• I do 25% weekely water change sometime 10% every 3 days depends on how much food i feed. (I dont like to starve my fish to preserve water quality.)
• I Run carbon 150ML carbon, GFO 100ML, Skimmer.
• Most people say you wont need skimmer for small reef. But I highly recommend running one after seeing yellow darkish color it pulls out. Don't skimp on skimmer, get med to high quality one.

[Clown79]

Tank looks good.

 

Running a skimmer on a small tank really depends on the tank.

 

Some believe on small tanks it removes too much and water changes are enough to control the nutrient levels, others need the skimmer to help.

 

My opinion- do whats best for your own tank.

 

Fyi: watch the pepperment shrimps. They sometimes go after fleshy corals. Mine tore 3 brains and I could only save 1.

[tlatix]

Tank looks good.

 

Running a skimmer on a small tank really depends on the tank.

 

Some believe on small tanks it removes too much and water changes are enough to control the nutrient levels, others need the skimmer to help.

 

My opinion- do whats best for your own tank.

 

Fyi: watch the pepperment shrimps. They sometimes go after fleshy corals. Mine tore 3 brains and I could only save 1.

 

 

Man, i'm trying to get him out without ripping my rock apart. I think my duncan died because of him and now he's on my bubble tip.

 

My skimmer still producing Microbubble not sure if its because of very tight space or still breaking in. If after couple weeks it don't stop ill take it out.

[tlatix]

Light with home made mount

more photo

[tlatix]

had to take light apart and drill. i left the two knob up there to keep kid from opening the reef equipment box. that door on top is slide up and out.