First tank !

[hillary9531]

Hi yall so I set up my first salt water fish tank! I started with a 20 gal and I will be putting a pair of clown fish and an anemone in it. I just want to make sure I got everything I need and am doing everything correctly. So I have the tank, the stand, a new fluval filter, a aquatop heater, aquatop wave maker, thermometer, and currently have a 12.4 watt aqua master LED light but I’ve been reading that it’s not good enough for the anemone. Anyways I put live Fiji sand, live reef rocks, pre-made salt water from our local fish store, and I’ve been using seachem stability. This is day 2 of the tank cycling. Is there anything else I should add ? What LED lights do yall recommend for the type of tank I will have? There is a little bit of foam/bubbles is that good or bad ? When and how will I know to add fishy’s? All help is welcomed and appreciated

 

[Lavey29]

How are you cycling the tank? Anemone need established tanks so maybe 6 months to year out.

And this is not an emergency

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You need to get a test kit to track the cycle. you need to add ammonia to start the cycle, then watch ammonia rise and fall, then nitrite will rise and fall, then finally nitrate starts to rise, then cycle is done. Cycling can be done very fast in some cases, I usually take my time and just wait 3 weeks.

you are right the light won't work for corals and anemone. Aim your wavemaker at the water surface to agitate it, this will help oxygenate the water.

If you want to post a tank pic, you will generally get more comments and suggestions.

 

[hillary9531]

You need to get a test kit to track the cycle. you need to add ammonia to start the cycle, then watch ammonia rise and fall, then nitrite will rise and fall, then finally nitrate starts to rise, then cycle is done. Cycling can be done very fast in some cases, I usually take my time and just wait 3 weeks.

you are right the light won't work for corals and anemone. Aim your wavemaker at the water surface to agitate it, this will help oxygenate the water.

If you want to post a tank pic, you will generally get more comments and suggestions.

Is there any lights you recommend?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Hi yall so I set up my first salt water fish tank! I started with a 20 gal and I will be putting a pair of clown fish and an anemone in it. I just want to make sure I got everything I need and am doing everything correctly. So I have the tank, the stand, a new fluval filter, a aquatop heater, aquatop wave maker, thermometer, and currently have a 12.4 watt aqua master LED light but I’ve been reading that it’s not good enough for the anemone. Anyways I put live Fiji sand, live reef rocks, pre-made salt water from our local fish store, and I’ve been using seachem stability. This is day 2 of the tank cycling. Is there anything else I should add ? What LED lights do yall recommend for the type of tank I will have? There is a little bit of foam/bubbles is that good or bad ? When and how will I know to add fishy’s? All help is welcomed and appreciated

This is not an emergency

 

[tinyfellows]

I have a 20 gallon water box with a Red Sea led 50 and my one bta has turned into 15 in a year and a half so I feel like that light is adequate. I picked this light over a ai prime because there are only two channels you can adjust so it made life easier as a beginner as this was my first tank 2 years ago

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Is there any lights you recommend?

Have a look at the AI Prime. It’s a good light for the size tank. I’m sure there are several more in that size range, if you don’t get more replies here, start a new thread asking for suggestions for 20 gallon. Or search the forum there are several threads on nano tank lights.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Welcome to Reef2reef.

Please read through this article. Click Here

 

[Glowurm]

I suspect you've done next to no research, which in all honestly is setting yourself up for failure. If your serious about this as a hobby then you need to slow down, like way slower than what you consider "slow" to be because nothing good comes from rushing in this hobby.

 

[hillary9531]

What am I rushing ??

 

[vetteguy53081]

What am I rushing ??

Not so much rushing but you can expect a cycle on day two, Typically, you want to add ammonia chloride and then when ammonia rises then falls and holds a steady reading of Zero for at least 5 days and also nitrate rises and falls and holds at 20 or below- you are cycled.
Did you add ammonia chloride or something to increase ammonia initially ?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hi yall so I set up my first salt water fish tank! I started with a 20 gal and I will be putting a pair of clown fish and an anemone in it. I just want to make sure I got everything I need and am doing everything correctly. So I have the tank, the stand, a new fluval filter, a aquatop heater, aquatop wave maker, thermometer, and currently have a 12.4 watt aqua master LED light but I’ve been reading that it’s not good enough for the anemone. Anyways I put live Fiji sand, live reef rocks, pre-made salt water from our local fish store, and I’ve been using seachem stability. This is day 2 of the tank cycling. Is there anything else I should add ? What LED lights do yall recommend for the type of tank I will have? There is a little bit of foam/bubbles is that good or bad ? When and how will I know to add fishy’s? All help is welcomed and appreciated

Ammonia and nitrites need to be zero, with nitrates showing some numbers for a tank to be considered "cycled." I also wouldn't advise getting an anemone when you get your fish. Your tank needs to show some maturity before getting one (roughly 6 months or so)

 

[hillary9531]

I suspect you've done next to no research, which in all honestly is setting yourself up for failure. If your serious about this as a hobby then you need to slow down, like way slower than what you consider "slow" to be because nothing good comes from rushing in this hobby.

What am I rushing??

Not so much rushing but you can expect a cycle on day two, Typically, you want to add ammonia chloride and then when ammonia rises then falls and holds a steady reading of Zero for at least 5 days and also nitrate rises and falls and holds at 20 or below- you are cycled.
Did you add ammonia chloride or something to increase ammonia initially ?

oh I know my tank isn’t cycled I was just saying it was only day 2 is there anything that I’m missing so I can do it correctly. I bought Dr. Tim’s yesterday since I was informed it was needed to feed the bacteria. As of right now my local fish store offers free water testing until I buy a test kit!

 

[hillary9531]

Ammonia and nitrites need to be zero, with nitrates showing some numbers for a tank to be considered "cycled." I also wouldn't advise getting an anemone when you get your fish. Your tank needs to show some maturity before getting one (roughly 6 months or so)

Thank you!

 

[Glowurm]

What am I rushing ?

This is exciting, i know the feeling but slow down, its going to take 3 maybe 4 weeks to cycle the tank. Anemone probably not gonna survive until the tank is at least 6 months old and matured.

If you think your going slow, go slower....

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

+1 don’t get a nem too soon. I learned the hard way.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What am I rushing??

oh I know my tank isn’t cycled I was just saying it was only day 2 is there anything that I’m missing so I can do it correctly. I bought Dr. Tim’s yesterday since I was informed it was needed to feed the bacteria. As of right now my local fish store offers free water testing until I buy a test kit!

With bacteria added, you have your basis covered. How are you testing for ammonia?

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

You need test kits. This is very important. You need to start testing your water at least 3x a week to see where you are in the nitrogen cycle. For you, get a Salifert Ammonia and Salifert Nitrate test. Nitrite is optional. Thats just for the cycle. Then you want to know your Alkalinity, Ca, Phosphorous, and anything else that the Anemone requires, be tested for. You can get Hannah test kits as well but they are more expensive.

Some have said AI Prime which is a great not so expensive light. I am a Kessil guy, and they make models for small tanks like yours. T5 light fixtures are also excellent.

Do you ever plan to keep coral? Different fish? Things change drastically if you decide you want to start keeping corals in a few months.

 

[reefsaver]

Don't let people bring you down. You remind me of me. This hobby really is an endless learning curve.
My favorite lighting and IMO the best lighting is Ecotech Radion G6 XR30 Pro's for one of the highest quality coral/anemone lighting, because anemones generally need high lighting similar to SPS coral.
My advice would be to get the lighting to necessetate an Anemone, and buy easy to keep coral ASAP.
I would find a store that sells huge pieces of coral covered live rock like Zoanthids, definately start small with a few small softy colonies and if they do okay, throw in a huge rock that's been sitting in an established system for a long time covered in some cheap zoanthids to streamline the maturing process. But I always say it's each to their own and there're are so many ways you can go about it. The way I'm mentioning is pretty much full scale biodiverse warfare. But there're much more controlled, strategic and scientific ways of introducing the biodiversity of a mature reef.
Stick to the hobby, and never give up. It is absolutely beautiful and worth it.
I've seen people establish tanks similar to the one you describe in under a year and have them looking pristine so I have high faith in you that you will achieve what you want.
My main concern would be cost because Anemones need good quality lighting and for someone about to dive into the hobby, it's a pretty big ask to go buy some top of the range lighting straight away.
I definately am not rich and came into this hobby in the beginning with just $350.
Most of my equipment was bought on finance paid in 4 payments because I am addicted to this hobby and want to provide my tanks with the best possible equipment.
You could also probably buy a clownfish right now, and do a fish in cycle if you're super impatient but carefully monitor ammonia and just do general water changes. In my experience, I would maybe buy one blue chromas for the time being, because if you buy a Clownfish now, and eventually down the line by an Anemone, the clownfish may not host it. So it'll be best to find a clownfish in-store, already hosting an anemone.
Sorry for being so wordy I just love talking about the hobby hehe.
Anyway I wish you the best of luck! Never give up, you can do it!

 

[hillary9531]

Don't let people bring you down. You remind me of me. This hobby really is an endless learning curve.
My favorite lighting and IMO the best lighting is Ecotech Radion G6 XR30 Pro's for one of the highest quality coral/anemone lighting, because anemones generally need high lighting similar to SPS coral.
My advice would be to get the lighting to necessetate an Anemone, and buy easy to keep coral ASAP.
I would find a store that sells huge pieces of coral covered live rock like Zoanthids, definately start small with a few small softy colonies and if they do okay, throw in a huge rock that's been sitting in an established system for a long time covered in some cheap zoanthids to streamline the maturing process. But I always say it's each to their own and there're are so many ways you can go about it. The way I'm mentioning is pretty much full scale biodiverse warfare. But there're much more controlled, strategic and scientific ways of introducing the biodiversity of a mature reef.
Stick to the hobby, and never give up. It is absolutely beautiful and worth it.
I've seen people establish tanks similar to the one you describe in under a year and have them looking pristine so I have high faith in you that you will achieve what you want.
My main concern would be cost because Anemones need good quality lighting and for someone about to dive into the hobby, it's a pretty big ask to go buy some top of the range lighting straight away.
I definately am not rich and came into this hobby in the beginning with just $350.
Most of my equipment was bought on finance paid in 4 payments because I am addicted to this hobby and want to provide my tanks with the best possible equipment.
You could also probably buy a clownfish right now, and do a fish in cycle if you're super impatient but carefully monitor ammonia and just do general water changes. In my experience, I would maybe buy one blue chromas for the time being, because if you buy a Clownfish now, and eventually down the line by an Anemone, the clownfish may not host it. So it'll be best to find a clownfish in-store, already hosting an anemone.
Sorry for being so wordy I just love talking about the hobby hehe.
Anyway I wish you the best of luck! Never give up, you can do it!

Thank you so much !