Salty 20g long build

Hello all! I was inspired to go salty so here I am! I just added rock. Trying do decide if I like it before adding all the sand.

Before



After

 

I like how you have it now! That looks good!

 

I like it too, but the color difference on the live rock and the dry rock is not... great. I think I'll head to the store tomorrow to see if I can find a couple smaller pieces I can use on the left to balance out the colors of the rock.

 

They will even out eventually but yeah I wouldnt want to look at that for a long time either. OCD takes over. A few gray rocks will make it better.

 

A few more live rocks to the bunch. I may or may not change out the rock on the left, it's a little bigger than what I was hoping for. But I think this affords more room for corals in the future

 

I added sand, about 20lbs worth, I have more if I need to add more. There are lots of places to dig sand out of for burrowing, and I placed my rocks down first then sand around to prevent toppling rocks.

Planned stocking was a yellow watchmen goby and pistol shrimp pair. Not set on the type of shrimp, likely the tiger variety as that seems to be more available. Then a pair of clownfish. Plus other miscellaneous inverts that will coexist with the shrimp. I'm reading both, that the pistol shrimp is reef and invert safe, and I've also read that they kill all other inverts and sometimes eat corals. So still contemplating...

 

If you don't love the shrimp absolutely, I am sure you can find another more appealing shrimp species, that is more safe also. I would also ask for experience with these shrimp on here. Though, what do I know, I'm just a poor freshwater sap.

 

That's the thing, I adore the shrimp's symbiotic relationship with the goby. So this partnership is so cool that I might still choose this over the regular cleaning inverts. Fortunately if, for whatever reason, the shrimp won't allow me to have any corals or other inverts, I can just add another tank, lol. No I don't have a problem! My only problem is running out of room for more tanks!

 

Hello all! I was inspired to go salty so here I am! I just added rock. Trying do decide if I like it before adding all the sand.

Before
View attachment 801346

After
View attachment 801347

I think you have a decent layout with the rockwork there. What are you planning on putting in the tank?

 

I'm planning on the classic clownfish. I just adore them, always wanted them, gonna have them. Classic colored as well, I really want the mocha or carmel ones, but the kids are really begging me to get the orange. I'm also loving the yellow watchman goby and shrimp combo. For corals, I'm planning on ordering pulsing xenia first. I love the action! Plus it's really pretty like flowers. And then probably I'll try zoas. Not sure, there are so many options, so hard to narrow down what I want. Or, if I stupidly impulse buy if I'm at a store, lol.

 

Wow. Got the light yesterday. It's so bright. So so bright. This picture was taken at 1% whites and 15% blues. I'm planning on a trip to the hardware store to buy some shelf brackets, I plan to hang the light from the brackets rather than from the ceiling. I have a TV above the tank so this was the best option.

 

Nice. The 20 Long is the best footprint of the small size tanks, so I think you will be happy with it. The standard clowns (aka Ocellaris) are a great choice for a first timer. The Yellow Watchman Goby/Pistol Combo should also be a good add. As for the corals. Be aware that Pulsing Xenia can be very fast growing and somewhat invasive, so it is likely to overrun your rockwork in a small tank like that. Not a problem if it's the only coral you want but if you want other corals mixed in it can be problematic.

 

Yes I have read that about the xenia. I actually just got home with a good sized chunk on a rock, so we'll see!

It's a little sad from the ride home, but it's already pulsing. I got the fist sized rock and all the xenia for 30$. A tiny fragment was 20, plus 30 shipping from online sources so I think I won here.