20 gallon Nano Reef build
- Nano Build
- Thread starter NanoReef66
- Start date
- Tagged users None
jcburdette2
Community Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2017
- Messages
- 26
- Reaction score
- 19
- Location
- FXBG VA
- What state or country do you live in
- Virginia
I'm about 2 months into my 20 gallon. this is my second tank.
looks like a nice setup so far. really like the rock set up
everyone on here will preach patience. and so will i.
go slow and don't add to much at one time. small changes can have big impacts on the smaller tanks.
also weekly water changes. we do 5 gallons a week.
looks like a nice setup so far. really like the rock set up
everyone on here will preach patience. and so will i.
go slow and don't add to much at one time. small changes can have big impacts on the smaller tanks.
also weekly water changes. we do 5 gallons a week.
I'm about 5 weeks into the cycle my nitrate is around 16 ppm, still seams kind of high to me. I've added 25 red leg hermits and 2 trochus snails as my clean up crew hoping they will hold up with the high nitrate levels.
jwhann6
Active Member
Hey @NanoReef66 welcome to R2R! I run a 15 gallon nano reef (link to my build thread in the signature below) and will help you out when I can! I agree with @jcburdette2 , be patient and do lots of research, ask lots of questions on here, and I love the aquascape.
Also, yes water changes will help bring down the nitrates. For example, a 25% water change would theoretically remove 25% of your nitrates. With that being said, you have to balance letting the beneficial bacteria build up in a new tank while keeping your nutrients in check.
Also, yes water changes will help bring down the nitrates. For example, a 25% water change would theoretically remove 25% of your nitrates. With that being said, you have to balance letting the beneficial bacteria build up in a new tank while keeping your nutrients in check.
Thanks jwhann6, I really like your 15 gallon build it looks great! I do have a question about filters. I have the penguin bio-wheel 150 and am just running the filter that came with it, looks like it's just a charcoal filter. What filter would benefit a reef tank the most? And would you run it in conjunction with a hang on protein skimmer? Thanks!
jwhann6
Active Member
First off, I don't run a skimmer on my tank, but adding a HOB skimmer will really be helpful in exporting your nutrients. As for what to run in a HOB power filter, I currently run Chemipure Blue, Purigen, Phosguard, and filter floss. There are tons of options though, I'm sure some others will chime in with their experiences. As for running them together, I think it would be better than running just one.
Your information is greatly appreciated I've heard a lot of talk about chemipure blue I'll have to get that on it's way through Amazon prime! Sounds like a stupid question but I don't want to make any mistakes [emoji51] but do I need to feed my hermits and snails since there isn't much algea at all on my live rock anymore and no other live stock but them???
jwhann6
Active Member
I was a little worried about the extensive cleanup crew that you added without much for them to feed on. Once you have some livestock in and things get going they will be okay. Until then I would maybe add a little bit of frozen food here and there to help them out. What are your plans for livestock? Coral?
Jason Brown
Community Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2017
- Messages
- 26
- Reaction score
- 13
- Location
- Canada
- What state or country do you live in
Welcome to the hobby! I too just started a 20g about 2.5 months ago.
I think you have too many hermits. I have 8 in a 20gallon and they've already eaten 2 snails. You're going to have to overfeed your fish big time to keep all of those hermits happy. How much were these if you don't mind me asking? My LFS sells the red hermits for $6 each and the blue are only 1.95!
I think you have too many hermits. I have 8 in a 20gallon and they've already eaten 2 snails. You're going to have to overfeed your fish big time to keep all of those hermits happy. How much were these if you don't mind me asking? My LFS sells the red hermits for $6 each and the blue are only 1.95!
I completely agree. I want to start of with a couple clowns and maybe a shrimp, as far as corals I want to experiment with some sps corals and maybe an Lps depending on how happy the sps's are, I'm using red Sea's coral pro salt. I want to start off small and make sure everything is happy and showing signs of healthy growth before spending more money on lps.
I heard that you should have 1 clean up crew member to every gallon, not sure if that's right or not but I went with it lol. So far they are moving around happily, I have been feeding once every couple days. The 25 blue leg hermits and 2 trochus snails came out to 30 dollars at my local store.
jwhann6
Active Member
I think that a pair of clowns is a great choice to start with, they're pretty hardy and have tons of personality. I also use Red Sea Coral Pro and love it, great salt.
As for coral I would advise against starting with SPS, its definitely a generalization but SPS is usually more challenging to keep than LPS and soft corals. If you want some more information I would check out BRSTV's youtube channel, they have really in depth videos on SPS, LPS and Soft corals. If you can't find them let me know and I'll link them in here.
Yeah thanks for that I may have the two mixed up. I will watch his videos for sure! Another question I have is about lighting. I have the nicrew led light off of Amazon, it has blue and white. What should my light schedule be like through my cycle and then with fish and corals? Thanks for the info, sorry to ask so much I usually can figure things out by myself but this is a tricky hobby to start. I'm really enjoying it so far thanks to you guys!
jwhann6
Active Member
I don't know much about that specific light, but I would keep the lights off entirely during the cycle. The tank will cycle without any light and a light would only really work to support an algae bloom lol. When you add livestock its really up to you, I know people who only run their lights for 6 hours and some who run them in some capacity 24/7. Coral will require light to perform photosynthesis, but too much light will sometimes result in algae issues.
I run my lights from 9am to 10pm, 30% power for the first 3 hours, 70% for 2 hours, 100% for 5 hours, then moonlights for 3 hours.
I run my lights from 9am to 10pm, 30% power for the first 3 hours, 70% for 2 hours, 100% for 5 hours, then moonlights for 3 hours.
Okay i just have an on or off style light so ill later have to invest in a better light.
jwhann6
Active Member
I mean an on/off style light works perfectly fine and most T5 fixtures work that way. Yet, eventually you'll probably want to upgrade as you start getting more demanding corals. Lighting is one of those things in the hobby that is hotly debated, and lots of approachs work. Check out tanks on here that you like and see what lights they run, see what lights fit into your budget, etc. It's a process finding what works best for you.
SantaMonicaHelp
Valuable Member
Just started a 20 gallon Nano Reef tank, I am a beginner. Are there any tips and tricks to make my reef tank experience more forgiving? Thanks!
Hey NanoReef66,
Welcome to the hobby
Nice start...how do you plan to fill the tank up?
Zhenya
Thanks! When my nitrate levels drop down (which feels like never....) I plan to add 2 clown fish and a few soft corals and lps corals and experiment with them.Hey NanoReef66,
Welcome to the hobby
Nice start...how do you plan to fill the tank up?
Zhenya
Adding that many hermits in such a small tank might cause more problems than it will fix. Some will likely die and just shoot up your nitrate levels even more. I have a 20 gallon with 4 hermits and 3 snails.
