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Opinions appreciated!


docshipwreck

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Hello all from PA! I want to say thank you for letting me lurk and linger for about 6 months accumulating a binder full of notes. After a few months of accumulating parts and life I'm finally pulling the trigger. I have a 20 gallon long tank and and oceanbox designs AIO kit. I got the nano kit from Marcos rocks. Here is where I'm absolutely appreciative of opinions. With the insertion of the kit I've lost some real estate. I didn't weigh to see how much rock I have left over but know given volume I'll be under 20 gallons anyway. I don't want my scape to be too crowded but still want to make sure I have enough rock to supper 2-3 fish and some basic inverts. Any and all thoughts are more the welcome!!!

 

 

John

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John, is there by chance supposed to be a picture here, or are you just asking if 20lbs of LR is going to be too much for a 20g aio?

 

If its the later, then I wouldn't really be so concerned with the amount of rock being exactly a 1lb/1gallon ratio.

Instead focus on having a good rockscape to begin with. odds are you will be adding rock and rubble later on with frag plugs and such, so you will likely make up for any deficits.

 

Edit- just saw you attached a picture, LOL!

 

I like the scape so far. it will allow alot of spaces for the fish to swim about. and tapers well towards the end!

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I just added a drop box link. I apologize, my photos from phone are too big. Haven't figured out the tricks yet for posting

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Welcome and congrats on your reef journey:)

 

 

You don't need 20lbs of LR. The guideline is 1-1.5lbs of LR but its not written in stone.

 

You want room for the fish to swim, hiding places, good aquascape for water flow, and of course places for corals.

 

I like your aquascape. Its nice.

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I can't see the picture due to firewall, but my advice for rock buying is to buy more than you think you'll need. I don't follow any lb/gallon rule I just add what looks good. You want to focus on having nice hiding spots for various fish and such.

 

The reason I say buy more rock than you think you'll need is because it's not much more expensive to add a few more lbs to your order. The reefcleaners rock is pretty good. Don't be afraid to take a hammer/chisel/hack saw to your rock to make an interesting scape. You don't have to be bound by the shapes you get. For example if you get larger rocks but that doesn't work with your style you can break them up.

 

Good luck. I like those AIO kits. A pretty cool way to make a tank unique.

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Thanks everyone for your input! One thing I love here is the many ways to skin a cat mindset but everyone is respectfully and awesome!!!

 

I used the fritzyme 9 that came with the Marcos rock now just trying to figure what I should expect text wise for the cycle

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Thanks everyone for your input! One thing I love here is the many ways to skin a cat mindset but everyone is respectfully and awesome!!!

 

I used the fritzyme 9 that came with the Marcos rock now just trying to figure what I should expect text wise for the cycle

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This is one place where you don't seeing bashing. Everyone is really supportive and helpful here.

 

The next bit of time will require patience. I often suggest spending time researching and planning your tank. Planning what corals you like, where to put them, their needs etc etc. Thid helps the time go as you sit and wait.

 

I'm not sure how you are cycling the tank but you will need to test to see the cycle start and finish.

 

You will need ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate tests. I use API for these.

 

When the cycle starts, your ammonia will rise, process, then fall to 0. Then nitrites do the same. In this process nitrates will develope. Those don't process and go away on their own. This can take a few weeks. I've had cycles end in 10 days and some 6 weeks.

 

Once ammonia and nitrite is 0, you do a water change to get the nitrates to 10 or lower.

 

If there is no spike in ammonia after that water change, a few snails and hermits can be added. Don't get too many at once, theres not enough for them to eat in a new tank, you can feed a tiny bit of food for them.

 

I suggest waiting a week, do another water change, ensure your parameters are in check and add your first fish.

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Clown79 always gives great advice. I think your rock set up looks awesome!

 

Keep in mind you can always add more. When I set up my tank I bought the "perfect" rocks. A few months later I realized one wasn't working at all in the set up. I pulled and found live rock that helped make more caves... the best place for many of the reef fish to call their own.

 

In my humble opinion the more caves the better. Most of my fish decide to claim a cave so having numerous options gives tankmates a place to find their own.

 

Good luck, can't wait to see your progress!

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