sw experts please help!

fish dude

ruler of alll
Jan 6, 2003
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i have an eclipse 20 gallon. i am looking to change i to sw. in a tank this small, would i need a protien skimmer? also i kow its hard to do sw, but i really want it in this tank. also i would buy a good salt mix. i have whatever lighting it comes with. its pretty bright. i also have whatever filter it comes with. i dont know what a protien skimmerlooks like but in an eclipse system i dont think there is any room for a hang o back item. also i want colrful active fish for my tank. anysuggesions.?

thanks everyone!
 
I wouldn't have a 20 gallon as your first SW tank. They are much more difficult to maintain than a larger tank. Stablilizing water quality and conditions required daily attention, so if you can't provide this, wait until you can get a bigger tank.

If you feel up to this, the interanl filter wil lbe useless. You'll want to run it without any media, just for water movement. You'll want to have 4-6 inches of sand, and 25-35 pounds of live rock. You'll need a heater, a skimmer would be a good idea, since it will help maintain good water, and upgraded lighting for anything but fish, crabs, shrimps and sponges. The lighting probably isn't adequate for more--being 'pretty bright' doesn't say much. Wattage, output, etc. Not a stock thing, but I have seen the kits modified for a small reef. Check before you buy what type of lighting it is, what kind of bulbs you have, ect.

You're going to be limited to one, maybe two small fish. I would go with a chalk basslet, and a small pygmy species angel. OR, one percula and a small blenny. Add snails (2-3 of 2-3 species), hermit crabs(10-12) and shrimp(2-3). Making sure the tank is well established with micro fauna first will be help ensure the life and health of the fish.

Above all, go slow. Cycle the tank carefully, spend time learning how to maintain the salinity, ect. You'll benefit in the long run.
 
thanks.. would i be able to go with anything that get around 8"?
 
No. Providing that the tank is 24" long, and most Eclipses are higher and shorter, that will be really cramped for anything that got above 3".
 
dimensions

yea the dimensions are 24" x 12" x 22". i couldnt have an 8" inch fish in that?
 
Not if you want it to live for long. That's just not enough room for a large fish--FW or SW.
 
how long max!...before i had to upgrade...could i have a blue hippo tang?
 
That's a fish that I wouldn't recommend for anything less than a 6 foot tank. Tangs are not small tank fish--they require lots of swimming room and will be prone to ailments in a small tank for any length of time.
 
im seting up a 30gl salt water tank. I wouldn't even poder puting in the tang. Though i would say you could get about 3, 3in fish or one 4 in and one 3 in. Im my 30gl im going with one royal gramma, Yellow tale damsal (not the male of the blue devil), Flame hawkfish(still debaiting), and flame angle. In yours i would go with a Damsal (they r a few nice color small ones), and a dwarf loinfish or a small pygmy species angel.

As a protine skimmer goes ...... im not going with one. My sister has a 20gl, 55gl min-ref, 75gl fo tank. none of them have a skimmer. There all doing great.

You will have to top off your tank daily. I would addvice you to keep two 1gl jugs handy..

Show me a bad salt mix.

If you use the lighting that come with it, dont try coal. They most likey die.

HoPED ThIS HelPED
 
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