You guys got to me, help me start a 20G SW tank

[DAVIDFBT]

Hey guys, those people who frequent the FW forums know me from there and this is the first post I ever made in the SW forum.

So basically, I had a 20 gallon tank (24"x12"x16") that was a planted FW tank until a few hours ago when I transfered everything to a bigger tank somewhere else. I then painted the back of it black just in case if I want to use it again for something. Then I got to thinking, wouldn't that look cool if it were SW? So after reading the srickies and looking at the Fish for beginners sticky, I got hooked.

1. I plan to cycle the tank with a bag of prawns and then adding 10 pounds of live rock after I don't see any Nitrites or ammonia.

2. What type of filter should I have for this tank? I have no space for a sump, and the area doesn't allow a canister filter, so it would have to be a HOB filter. AC 50 good enough?

3. I LOVE the common Clownfish, and according to the sticky, I can have one in the tank. I also like the Firefish and Neon Blue Goby, will one of each be able to be in the tank without over stocking it along with the Clownfish? I also want a type of cleaner shrimp in the tank.

4. I know that a SW tank needs about 20x the circulation in the tank, so I will get either a Koralia Nano or a 1. Which is better for the tank?

5. I eventually want to have 25 pounds of live rock in the tank, but after the tank is cycled, I will only add 10 pounds of it at the time. Then, after a month, I will add the other 15 pounds of it. Is this a good plan?

6. After the tank has been set up for a couple of months, I want to add some easy to keep corals in the tank. I know that corals need light to live, so how many watts over the tank will I need to keep the easy types of corals?

7. I know that with buying live rock, I will get all sorts of goodies in my tank, and I know that Mantis and Pistol Shrimp are bad to have in your tank. Any other common hitchhikers I need to be on the lookout for?

8. Will I need a protein skimmer?

Sorry for the long list, I just needed to ask all my questions to the experts.

 

[archer772]

I would consider a CPR hang on fuge and skimmer combination. Where will you be getting your LR from. I would also consider 2 Nano Koralia's

 

[DAVIDFBT]

I will get my LR from a LFS where it's 4-7$ a pound, depending on the type of rock. It looks pretty good, there's stuff growing all over it and I see all types of hermit crabs and snails crawling around on it. All right then, I'll get 2 Koralia Nanos for the tank.

 

[Piperspop]

I run a sumpless 55. Octopus makes a HOB Skimmer with filter, it has been the best addition I have made, and it was reseanobly priced. Live Rock, NO CRUSHED CORAL!!!!, Flow x 40, Skimmer, and you must be willing to throw RO/DI water in everyday, and you will be good. Also, sorry if this sounds stupid, but I did it, Do not fill, or ever replace water with anything but RO water. The algae will hate you, but your sanity will thank you.

 

[archer772]

As far as adding LR I would add it all when you set your tank up and wait to see how much of a cycle you get from adding that because depending on how long it is from the LFS to your tank you might get enough of a cycle to start your tank and I wouldnt want to keep sending my tank into a cycle every time I add LR. I would add 1 raw shrip/prawn to your tank if you dont see it cycle but I bet you will see a cycle just from adding the LR in the beggining.

 

[DAVIDFBT]

I run a sumpless 55. Octopus makes a HOB Skimmer with filter, it has been the best addition I have made, and it was reseanobly priced. Live Rock, NO CRUSHED CORAL!!!!, Flow x 40, Skimmer, and you must be willing to throw RO/DI water in everyday, and you will be good. Also, sorry if this sounds stupid, but I did it, Do not fill, or ever replace water with anything but RO water. The algae will hate you, but your sanity will thank you.

Thanks, I read what happens if I don't use RO water, so I'll take the easy way out and just buy 2 gallon jars of it until we move to our new house in summer 09. I also read what happens with CC, so I'll use aragonite sand from the LFS. 2 Koralia Nanos and an AC 50 will bring me up to 34x flow in the tank. Are the Prizm Skimmers any good?

As far as adding LR I would add it all when you set your tank up and wait to see how much of a cycle you get from adding that because depending on how long it is from the LFS to your tank you might get enough of a cycle to start your tank and I wouldnt want to keep sending my tank into a cycle every time I add LR. I would add 1 raw shrip/prawn to your tank if you dont see it cycle but I bet you will see a cycle just from adding the LR in the beggining.

All right then, when It comes time to adding the LR, I will add all of it and not split it into stages. The LFS where I will get the LR is about 10 minutes away.

Can anyone answer my other questions?

 

[brackeeper75]

I'll give ya my 2 cents...

1. I plan to cycle the tank with a bag of prawns and then adding 10 pounds of live rock after I don't see any Nitrites or ammonia.

No real need to use a whole bag, one in a mesh bag should be suffecient. If it decays fast just add a second one.

2. What type of filter should I have for this tank? I have no space for a sump, and the area doesn't allow a canister filter, so it would have to be a HOB filter. AC 50 good enough?

If you could get at least 20lbs of live rock , there would be no real need for a filter, just a skimmer and good flow!


3. I LOVE the common Clownfish, and according to the sticky, I can have one in the tank. I also like the Firefish and Neon Blue Goby, will one of each be able to be in the tank without over stocking it along with the Clownfish? I also want a type of cleaner shrimp in the tank.

I don't see a problem with this as long as you keep up on your w/c. I would not however add any more...well maybe a couple of hermits and snails.

4. I know that a SW tank needs about 20x the circulation in the tank, so I will get either a Koralia Nano or a 1. Which is better for the tank?

I would get a 2 pack of 1's. That way if you decide to go with corals in the future you have enough.


5. I eventually want to have 25 pounds of live rock in the tank, but after the tank is cycled, I will only add 10 pounds of it at the time. Then, after a month, I will add the other 15 pounds of it. Is this a good plan?

Add all at once, less work better outcome in the end.

6. After the tank has been set up for a couple of months, I want to add some easy to keep corals in the tank. I know that corals need light to live, so how many watts over the tank will I need to keep the easy types of corals?

I have a 75 gallon with 260 watts over the tank which = 3.5 per gallon. I keep all kinds of softies. Happy and growing. Mushrooms, ricordea, kenya tree, xenia, zoanthids, button polyps, green star polyps, grogonian(sp) these are all hardy species and do good with medium light. I even have a candy cane coral that is a hard coral, he stays close to the top though. If you want to go with more complex things i would suggest t5's or metal halides. The choice is yours, decide what you want to keep and plan your lighting around that. With light there is a lot of money involved, so get the best available for what you want to keep.


7. I know that with buying live rock, I will get all sorts of goodies in my tank, and I know that Mantis and Pistol Shrimp are bad to have in your tank. Any other common hitchhikers I need to be on the lookout for?

Read the hitchiker thead/sticky at the top its got a lot of great info. If you get anything on your rock that you have questions about pot a pic, and ask. Some people love to have pistol/mantis in their tank.

8. Will I need a protein skimmer?

YES this is the most important piece of equipment you will need. Dont go cheap. Get one that is rated more than 2x the volume of your tank.


Sorry for the long list, I just needed to ask all my questions to the experts.

No problem thats what AC is for!!!

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Thanks brack, that really helped alot. So now I know that I can grow all kinds of coral with just 3.5 WPG, along with 2 Koralia 1s.

I will buy the either the Turboflotor 1000 skimmer or Prizm skimmer for my tank. Anyone have experience with these? I'm also going to use a refractometer to measure SG. With everything, this tank will cost about 500 dollars, but with my stepdad's new job and when I get a job working at a LFS, money won't really be an issue.

 

[brackeeper75]

Thanks brack, that really helped alot. So now I know that I can grow all kinds of SOFT coral with just 3.5 WPG, along with 2 Koralia 1s.

If you are planning coral, just make sure you have enough flow. I would say 20-30x/hour

I will buy the either the Turboflotor 1000 skimmer or Prizm skimmer for my tank. Anyone have experience with these?

I use The Turboflotor 1000 multi sl on my own tank. I have mine set up in the sump, however the good thing about this skimmer is it can hang on the back as well. If you ever decide to go the sump route you could remove it from your display and relocate it to your sump. I get a lot of dark coffee colored stuff daily 1/2 to a full cup. I am pleased with its performance. Its easy to set up mantain and it works right out of the box, no real break in period, and very easy to adjust.

 

[archer772]

Just so you know the WPG rule means nothing it depends on the type of lighting you use PC, VHO, T-5 or MH. I would add the LR without adding the prawn and see what kind of cycle you get first. I would not own either of those 2 skimmers myself I would go with the hangon Octopus skimmer and just so you know you DONT have to have a skimmer do they help YES but on that size tank you can get away with weekly WC's.