Got my testing kit!

[AngieLikedThat]

Technically correct! The chlorine will evaporate out and you can use additives to neutralize everything else that would be in tap water. There is an absolute plethora of information out there, it can be very overwhelming. Unfortunately, at this point the best method is to listen to others with more experience. DJ City absolutely has you on the right track, unlike the guy who sold you a clown... I would call them and find out if they might be willing to take the clown back, for at least a partial refund or store credit. They might even let you just keep it in their tanks for a while until it’s ready to go back home to yours!

I was on hold for a while I have to call them tomorrow or later today if I can step away from work for a minute

 

[Magellan]

I was on hold for a while I have to call them tomorrow or later today if I can step away from work for a minute

Ah, I understand. My only suggestion would be a water change to help bring the ammonia down. (I assume you could just continue to do water changes as long as you have good water for them). If you do keep the clown, feed very little and try to not get anything extra in the tank. Get some biomedia immediately, as well as dr Tim’s, but all that has already been covered.

best of luck, and welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[New&no clue]

I read that they're a better option for smaller tanks

I had an HOB filter on my 55 for about 6 months with no issues. They are kind of a pain for cleaning and changing the filters out, but they worked just fine for my fish. Before I got corals I upgraded my tank and got a sump, but I think for starting out an HOB is just fine. A piece of advice from my LFS was fish are dirty, they don't need pristine water conditions or extremely stable parameters. Corals on the other hand are very prissy and need everything just so. So starting out if you are okay be patient and waiting for corals then you are fine with less equipment. Also I have seen multiple builds from old school reefers who only have an HOB filter and they have amazing tanks with fish and corals. Now they are very experienced and know exactly what they are doing but it is possible to be successful with it.

 

[Dj City]

HOB filter(s) will be fine for your 20gallon tank.

Don't worry about lights at all for a while. Reef lights will do nothing but promote algae at this point so not having lights right now is a good thing.

You can make a cover for your tank very easy. You can use light diffuser (egg crate) from Lowes or Home Depot. Just cut it to size.
This stuff but in white

https://www.lowes.com/pd/PLASKOLITE-Common-24-in-x-48-in-Actual-23-75-in-x-47-75-in-7-87-sq-ft-Louvered-Ceiling-Light-Panels/1000201943

What test kits do you have? What brand?

 

[AngieLikedThat]

Ah, I understand. My only suggestion would be a water change to help bring the ammonia down. (I assume you could just continue to do water changes as long as you have good water for them). If you do keep the clown, feed very little and try to not get anything extra in the tank. Get some biomedia immediately, as well as dr Tim’s, but all that has already been covered.

best of luck, and welcome to Reef2Reef!

Now only evaporated water should be replaced with plain water right? Water changes need sal water to replace it?

 

[AngieLikedThat]

HOB filter(s) will be fine for your 20gallon tank.

Don't worry about lights at all for a while. Reef lights will do nothing but promote algae at this point so not having lights right now is a good thing.

You can make a cover for your tank very easy. You can use light diffuser (egg crate) from Lowes or Home Depot. Just cut it to size.
This stuff but in white

https://www.lowes.com/pd/PLASKOLITE-Common-24-in-x-48-in-Actual-23-75-in-x-47-75-in-7-87-sq-ft-Louvered-Ceiling-Light-Panels/1000201943

What test kits do you have? What brand?

I just got the one with the test tubes I forgot the brand. As for the cover I was looking at one online that was fairly cheap I'll post a link in a bit when I have a chance

 

[Dj City]

Now only evaporated water should be replaced with plain water right? Water changes need sal water to replace it?

CORRECT!!!

For WATER CHANGES, use Salt Water
To top off water from EVAPORATION, use plain water.

 

[New&no clue]

Have you watched any of the BRS videos. I know you said you are busy at work but they have several sets with short videos(5-10 min) all about starting a tank and walk you through some of the basics. I found them very helpful when I started... and I still find them helpful when I start something new

 

[Magellan]

Now only evaporated water should be replaced with plain water right? Water changes need sal water to replace it?

Correct. Evaporation leaves the salt behind, which increases your salinity. So add pure RO water back to the tank to “top it off” (returning the water line to where it was originally). When you do a water change, you are removing the water as a liquid, which takes the salt with it (as well as ammonia and nitrates/phosphates!). Meaning you need to add saltwater. As long as it’s the same salinity, don’t worry about exactly adding as much as you removed (but keeping your tank at exactly the same level all the time will help you remember where it needs to be).

there is equipment you can buy that will help you with this (most importantly an ATO - auto top off). But as long as you just have fish, topping off by hand in a 20g isn’t the worst thing in the world.

 

[AngieLikedThat]

Correct. Evaporation leaves the salt behind, which increases your salinity. So add pure RO water back to the tank to “top it off” (returning the water line to where it was originally). When you do a water change, you are removing the water as a liquid, which takes the salt with it (as well as ammonia and nitrates/phosphates!). Meaning you need to add saltwater. As long as it’s the same salinity, don’t worry about exactly adding as much as you removed (but keeping your tank at exactly the same level all the time will help you remember where it needs to be).

there is equipment you can buy that will help you with this (most importantly an ATO - auto top off). But as long as you just have fish, topping off by hand in a 20g isn’t the worst thing in the world.

Thank you!

 

[AngieLikedThat]

@Dj City I'm getting ready to do the tank. I wanted to clarify what exactly I'm doing am I doing a water change or adding the sachem prime to the existing water? I also have water set aside for what's evaporated. Not sure what order to go in I dont want to wing it

 

[Dj City]

Hi @AngieLikedThat
What exactly are you about to do?
Were you able to get any of the things on that list? (Besides the Seachem Prime)

It depends on if the water level is that low because of evaporation or because you never filled the tank all the way up.

If you are adding water to the tank to bring the level up because it was low from when you 1st set it up...
Make new SALTWATER to the same salinity as what's in the tank now. Do your best to get the temp as close to the tank temp as you can then add the new saltwater to the tank.
Use the Seachem Prime to dose the tank volume of 20 gallons.

If you are adding water to replace evaporated water...
Simply add fresh water (NO SALT) to the tank to get the water level back to where it was before it evaporated. Make sure the overall tank water is at the right salinity after adding the fresh water.
Use sachem Prime to dose the tank volume of 20 gallons.

Let me know how you get on with this and ask any questions you might have.

 

[AngieLikedThat]

Hi @AngieLikedThat
What exactly are you about to do?

Im asking in regards to the Sachem prime if its being added to the tank as it is now? Or if I should do a water change before adding it

 

[Dj City]

It depends on if you are doing a water change OR adding freshwater to top off evaporated water OR adding new saltwater because the tank was never filled all the way up.

How's the Clownfish doing?
I'm really pulling for him!

 

[AngieLikedThat]

It depends on if you are doing a water change OR adding freshwater to top off evaporated water OR adding new saltwater because the tank was never filled all the way up.

How's the Clownfish doing?
I'm really pulling for him!

Hes doing well sorry had a fw semi emergency so I was at the store. Does it matter which I do? I wanted to top it off only

 

[AngieLikedThat]

Hi @AngieLikedThat
What exactly are you about to do?
Were you able to get any of the things on that list? (Besides the Seachem Prime)

It depends on if the water level is that low because of evaporation or because you never filled the tank all the way up.

If you are adding water to the tank to bring the level up because it was low from when you 1st set it up...
Make new SALTWATER to the same salinity as what's in the tank now. Do your best to get the temp as close to the tank temp as you can then add the new saltwater to the tank.
Use the Seachem Prime to dose the tank volume of 20 gallons.

If you are adding water to replace evaporated water...
Simply add fresh water (NO SALT) to the tank to get the water level back to where it was before it evaporated. Make sure the overall tank water is at the right salinity after adding the fresh water.
Use sachem Prime to dose the tank volume of 20 gallons.

Let me know how you get on with this and ask any questions you might have.

Just saw this one sorry I got the sachem prime and the biospora delivered today I'm kind of upset I did because I wound up having to drive to a store for my fw but anyways the refractometer us coming with the heater I think and I wasnt sure about the ammonia thing because is says for a fishless cycle

 

[Dj City]

That's fine.

Check the current salinity....
Add fresh water
Check new salinity to ensure it is to the correct level it was when you 1st set the tank up. The CORRECT salinity should be 1.024

 

[Eve]

Are you using a HOB filter? Not really the best option for a successful salt water tank, or canister. You generally want a plumbed sump.

I don’t think that’s true! You can successfully have an HBO filter in a saltwater tank.

 

[Dragon52]

I just got the one with the test tubes I forgot the brand.

That sounds like an API Test kit. You might want to get Salifert or Red Sea especially for Ammonia. API is know for showing ammonia even when you don't have any. There are many threads here about that.

 

[Dj City]

I wasnt sure about the ammonia thing because is says for a fishless cycle

You are correct.
You only need the ammonia if you are doing a fishless cycle.
Your clown is providing the needed ammonia.