Musho3210's Reef Log

Okay, finally my reef log has come up, although a bit early (tank will start around the beginning of july at the latest although i will try and have it start sometime at the end of may/early june) it doesnt matter since its always best to get info before you start.

Here is my plan for those of you who dont know

NON-LIVESTOCK:
20H gallon tank
100w Visi-therm Heater
Tunze Nano DOC skimmer
1 Maxi-jet 1200 with Flo attachment
150 watt 14,000k MH lamp
Marine Depot Refractometer
20 pounds Tampa Bay AquaCultured Live Rock
5-10 pounds base rock depending what would look good in my tank
20-30 pounds Carib-Sea Ooltic sugar grade aragonite sand, not live, aiming for 2.5 inches
Reef Crystals Salt
LIVESTOCK:
2 O. Clownfish
10+ Blue Legged hermit crab, amount will depend on how much algae i have
10+ Astraea Conehead Snail, amount will depend on how much algae i have
1-2 Peppermint shrimp OR Scarlet Skunk Cleaner
0-1 Emerald Crab, amount will depend on how much algae i have
Mushroom Coral, exact species will depend on the stock the online shop has
Polyp Coral, exact species will depend on the stock the online shop has
Soft Coral, exact species will depend on the stock the online shop has
Branched Frogspawn
May include a maxima clam but that depends on price.
May include some macro algae.
Various hitchhikers i will be expecting from the live rock

What i already have:
Tank
Stand
Maxi-jet 1200
Heater
Sand
Salt

I ordered the skimmer, the powerhead attachment, and a refractometer online yesterday. Feel free to comment or change a few things on this.

Nick540 said:

Sounds like a good start, don't forget test kits, hydrometer and thermometer. I also found it useful to have a couple of extra buckets around just in case ( i got mine at the dollar store), a fish net is also a good thing, a mag float or some sort of glass cleaner is always good to have and just as an added bonus moon lights, i have actually really enjoyed mine and have seen some great night life that i would not have seen as well otherwise.

Click to expand...

No i dont need a hydrometer, since i am getting the next best thing, the refractometer

oh forgot to add i have test kits (Alkalinity, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Calcium, Phosphates, and high range PH). I also have an alcohal thermometer (those ones that have that red thingy)

UPDATE: May 20th 2007

I have set up a deal with someone to get a second hand sunpod 24" fixture, it includes Fans, 12 LED lights (6 blue 6 white) and a 150 watt MH with ballast. $200, been used since January, Might need a new bulb but i'll get the new bulb when i get my corals, a 6 month old bulb should be fine in a FOWLR for now.

Oh and when i said the refractometer as the next best thing, used the wrong words, its better than a hydrometer...

no, with clams and lps in the tank, it wont be, and its a 20g tall so its deeper than a 20 long. 7.5wpg of MH is deffinatly not overkill, 10+wpg is overkill in my eyes on a tank this shallow. It matters what corals you are getting and with a deal this good, its hard to turn away.

Its a good light in my eyes that can take pretty much all lps and softies and may even take easy to care for sps if they are positioned up high (although i am not ready for sps yet).