Just Starting New 20 Gallon Tank

Hi,
I just purchased a new sea clear 20 gallon rectangular tank. I need to know what all equipment I will need to star a reef tank with beginner corals and fish. Thanks for the help.

 

I don't much about reef tanks, but since I'm here, might as well say hi, and welcome

 

Hey,
And thanks for the welcome.

 

Welcome to Fish Lore!!


20 gallons is way to small to do any saltwater applications. Can you take it back and get a 30 or larger?

 

Got it off the internet. I have done tons of research and people are doing well established reef tanks with 20 gallons and less. But I will take any advice.so any thing else please feel free.

 

You can definitely run a 20 gallon saltwater tank, although it will be more difficult than a larger tank. You have to be very selective and the list of fish to keep is small. Here is how I set my nano cube up: https://www.fishlore.com/nanocubereefaquarium.htm

 

Got it off the internet. I have done tons of research and people are doing well established reef tanks with 20 gallons and less. But I will take any advice.so any thing else please feel free.

Yes, many people do it but perhaps the people that you see do it have been keeping tanks for years so they have experience. Just trying to give you a different perspective.

Feel free to read the link I have in my signature about starting a Saltwater tank.

 

Thanks guys. Need all the impute I can get. I'm going to start with a fowlr. That was the original plan. On down the road I'm going to add some soft corals. On the tank size my wife didn't want anything to big. I really didn't either. I know bigger is easier but that's what we got. And that's how I will start. Any opinions on equipment for a 20 gallon tank like power heads skimmers etc. Please feel free to let me know. And thanks again.

20 gallon fowlr what is best filtration.

Just got a new sea clear 20 gallon tank. Going to start a fowlr and on down the road might do some soft corals. My question is what type of filtration should I get. Their are a lot on the market and I just join this site and figured to ask what people think instead of just going out and buying. Thanks for the help.

 

If you have enough live rock then you don't even need a filter. For a 20 gallon tank you would need around 25-30 lbs.

 

What about a protein skinner and powerheads.

20 gallon lighting

What is the best lighting for a 20 gallon fowlr and maybe some soft corals. And are moon lights worth it.

 

Mods, can we merge all the threads from this member and title it something like "help setting up my first Saltwater tank" or something along those lines. It's a lot easier to answer questions that way.

 

I put all finn's posts in here.

Check out the hydor slI'm skI'm protein skimmer. I will be testing and reviewing it later this week, but from the reviews I've read thus far they are fairly positive.

A powerhead would be needed for water movement within the tank. Also, the only "mechanical" filter that I use is the sponge that is on my return pump in my sump lol. I rinse it out every couple of days. The live rock and protein skimmer takes care of filtration.

Moon lights are cool for when the tank lights are off. If you have any fluorescing (spelling) corals they look really neat under moonlights.

Lighting wise, check out a small T5 fixture or LED fixture if you have the budget for it. They sometimes have moonlights included in the fixture.

 

Sorry I thought I was posting on different threads. But thinks mike good info I will look into Thoughs things.

If my tank is 24 inches long. Do I need to get the same length light fixture? And will 2 koralia nano 240's be enough water movement? Thanks for the info mike. Just pricing things right now and waiting on tank.

 

I'd get a 24 inch fixture and yep two koralia nano 240's would work fine for a 20 gallon.

Did you look into skimmers yet? I started testing the hydor slI'm skI'm today and it's working pretty good. I'll have a review of it up tonight, maybe tomorrow.

 

Anybody got any opinions for ro/dI systems? And what should I get for my aquarium after water and live rock are in?

 

Aquaticlife models number for 60 gallon a day is 540085 or 540086 is 100 gallons a day. This filter is currently the best unit for the lowest TDS on the market they also have one with a pump and you will need one for low pressure coming from your home. That model number is 540087 check them out!!

 

Went to the fish store today to ask questions. And the guy told me about their live rock and said it was man made. Is that good? He said they cure their on live rock. And the live sand they have is prebagged. Is that how all the live sand is? He said the sand has been in bag for a while. Just wondering.

 

It's like using dry rock that you have to establish , to me this may save money but does not save time. As for the live sand this is a total waste of money there really is no Live sand unless it has been established in a tank that can be used from one tank to the other, what I would do is buy crushed coral or argonite type and start with that and save the money... the rock well that depends on if you go with man made or the real stuff , the sand will cycle with the rock and you can go that route.

 

So is live rock better or man made? Or is it all about more or less time for conditioning the tank? Thanks Stang you told me more than the salesman. It doesn't matter how long it takes the tank to get ready I want it to be right.

 

It's like using dry rock that you have to establish , to me this may save money but does not save time. As for the live sand this is a total waste of money there really is no Live sand unless it has been established in a tank that can be used from one tank to the other, what I would do is buy crushed coral or argonite type and start with that and save the money... the rock well that depends on if you go with man made or the real stuff , the sand will cycle with the rock and you can go that route.

+1 to this. Dry sand will become live sand. No need to pay a premium for the live sand IMO.

So is live rock better or man made? Or is it all about more or less time for conditioning the tank?

Depends on how it's made I suppose, how porous it is. I prefer the real thing.

 

Cool that's what I was wanting to know. Did u get your live rock off the internet? If so where?

 

I've bought live rock from liveaquaria in the past and was very pleased. Haven't bought from but have heard good things about marcorocks. I buy locally when I can though. You don't have any reef shops locally?

 

Yea the fish store is a reef store it is called the ocean floor. But all they had was man made cured and man made non-cured. I'm going to try.another store Monday call aquarium oddities. I have been on liveaquaria but is will try that other site. Thanks guys u to stang.

 

So is live rock better or man made? Or is it all about more or less time for conditioning the tank? Thanks Stang you told me more than the salesman. It doesn't matter how long it takes the tank to get ready I want it to be right.

Live is always better, the strains of bacterias are stronger and natural being that it came from the ocean, dry rock is dead and has nothing on it what so ever. Dry can take month's to cure to the point that is the strongest level plan on at least 3-6 months unless you seed it with Live rock.

 

And what about aeration?

 

Propellar heads are the best way to go on that, you will need at minumum 10 times turn over rate it is best to go 20 times for better circulation in the tank

 

So the powerheads do aeration? I'll be sure to send you and mike updated pics when I get everything.

 

Were you planning on using an air pump with air stones? If so you do not want to go that route this isn' fresh water .Lol

 

What's a good temperature controller and thermometer?

 

Marineland heaters and for temp Lifeguard or coralife digital thermometers.

 

Or you could invest in a controller for your tank.

 

Are titanium heaters any good?

 

Are titanium heaters any good?

Is that the brand name?

 

The brand is via aquarium heaters. They have quartz and titanium.

 

I have found these to be a trustworthy brand. 2 and a half years and not one issue. I have both quartz and titanium, don't see the difference really.

 

Via aquarium heaters is the brand. They have titanium and quartz.

 

Go with the titaniumm, looks like a better and newer version.

 

Ok more questions. Do I need base rock or not. I'm going to need 20 pounds of live rock.

 

If you need more rock and can afford it go for the live and not base you can get pieces smaller and go that way. Just depends on how long and how much time to spend........

 

Hey guys I'm back. Just getting all my stuff in an was wondering if you can put your substrate down and put your rock on it? I bought dry rock from Marco rocks got a friend who is going to give me some live rock to seed with. Almost there. Any pics of aquascaping would be helpful to thanks.