My 20 gallon adventure

[HollyFish]

Hey reef friends,
I have started my first tank and am going to update my progress as it goes. I plan on fully stocking this 20 gallon tank with as much as it can hold while still being healthy for my livestock. I am currently running a Tidal 55 HOB filter which I highly recommend, I have matrix bio media, filter floss, and a sponge filter in it. I have a nice adjustable 100W heater and a backup preset heater in case one breaks on me. I just got done cycling this past week and finally have my first fish- Wanda and Cosmo. They are both Percula Clownfish and they seem to love each other as they’re inseparable at all times. I plan on adding a Hydra 16HD as my light source soon and then adding a good bit of zoas, leathers, mushrooms, xanthia, etc. I will post pictures with my progress and issues as they come. If anyone has any questions or suggestions, I’m always an open book. Thanks and happy reading!

 

[HollyFish]

Pic 1- when I first setup and didn’t have enough rock haha

 

[HollyFish]

My progression of adding and arranging my aquascape. Had some drinks with the fiancé last night and decided to move it around. I can’t wait for my Hydra 16 to show so then I can add some zoas and other corals to the mix

 

[Thrashed]

Looks good, can't wait to see more in the future and welcome to the site as well as hobby. If you ever have any questions feel free to shoot me a message I'm local and always up for helping someone find their way

 

[HollyFish]

Looks good, can't wait to see more in the future and welcome to the site as well as hobby. If you ever have any questions feel free to shoot me a message I'm local and always up for helping someone find their way

Thank you! Going to grab some additional supplies today the weekly run to the LFS

 

[HollyFish]

My new addition to the tank. Blue/Green Chromis I grabbed while I was filling up on RO and SW today. He’s making my clowns more adventurous which I’m happy to see. They’re all swimming around peacefully

 

[HollyFish]

Noticed a new critter I think. Anyone have an ID?

 

[HollyFish]

Day 29 of tank and I I’m starting to get a nice film on the top of the tank. Have filter on high now as I’ve been told to have more water movement and my wave maker comes Thursday

 

[eag]

Welcome!!

I plan on fully stocking this 20 gallon tank with as much as it can hold while still being healthy for my livestock.

You'll be able to fit plenty of corals in 20 gallons, but probably only a small handful of fish (3-4?} if you want things to be well-balanced

Noticed a new critter I think. Anyone have an ID?

Maybe a small bristleworm?

Day 29 of tank and I I’m starting to get a nice film on the top of the tank.

Do you have a skimmer? With only fish in a brand new tank, maybe there's not enough nutrient export... corals will absorb some, skimmer will export a bunch... mechanical filter won't get it, but carbon would. The film is probably organics in the water.

 

[HollyFish]

Welcome!!



You'll be able to fit plenty of corals in 20 gallons, but probably only a small handful of fish (3-4?} if you want things to be well-balanced



Maybe a small bristleworm?



Do you have a skimmer? With only fish in a brand new tank, maybe there's not enough nutrient export... corals will absorb some, skimmer will export a bunch... mechanical filter won't get it, but carbon would. The film is probably organics in the water.

I appreciate the help. I have 2 clowns and a chromis right now and will only maybe add a goby to the mix. Lots of corals is the plan. As I’ve researched it looks like a spaghetti worm, I’ve found a few across the tank so far. I’m guessing they were in the live sand when I bought it. I don’t have a skimmer yet but will add one down the road for sure. Since I turned the filter on high and increased the surface agitation the film has gone down drastically over night so that’s good

 

[herurich]

My progression of adding and arranging my aquascape. Had some drinks with the fiancé last night and decided to move it around. I can’t wait for my Hydra 16 to show so then I can add some zoas and other corals to the mix

Nice scaping. Cant wait for the updates! Happy reefing.

 

[HollyFish]

Nice scaping. Cant wait for the updates! Happy reefing.

Thanks! My fiancé and I drunkenly did that last week I can’t wait to add my Hydra 16 and coral this thing up to the brim

 

[HollyFish]

So this morning my clown has a white spot on his chin. Is it mouth fungus and what should I do to mitigate the issue? Thank you in advance!

 

[HollyFish]

Did a 15% water change yesterday and my chromis got freaked out and hid under a rock and did some odd swimming but has since calmed down and is back acting normal. Went to LFS today and got a sand skimmer and topped up on RO water. Does anyone have a good recommendation on an acrylic top so I can slow the evap. I lose 2-2.5 gallons over the week from that. Either that or I’ll be buying an RO system soon so I can stop buying it so much Doubt I’ll post anything until after Christmas when I get all my new supplies so Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

 

[HollyFish]

Went for my weekly fill up of water to the LFS and grabbed a pair of peppermint shrimp while I was at it. They went straight to work and started eating leftover food, fish poo, and even went straight for the one spot of algae I’ve got on a rock and tore some off. Loving them so far, hoping they don’t annoy my corals down the road I’m sure I won’t have any updates until after Christmas now so Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

 

[HollyFish]

This new peppermint shrimp is loving his new home

 

[HollyFish]

Finally the day has come for corals, grabbed a hammer, two GSP, ricordea mushroom and a fuzzy mushroom and some Xenia. Coral dipped them for 15 min per the instructions then added them in and glued them each. My peppermint shrimp went to clean up the frag for my fuzzy mushroom and a small white critter came off and went flying through the water. I caught it with the net and disposed of him (and should’ve taken a pic) but another couple came off and were lost in the water movement. I’m assuming they’re good hitchhikers since they were in the store’s coral tank ‍ I guess we’ll find out. They were kinda long and white, not easy to describe but maybe someone has a good guess. Anyway, tank is coming along and added a protein skimmer and breaking that in now

 

[count krunk]

What protein skimmer did you get? And what is a sand skimmer? Like a vacuum?

You got a new light for Christmas? I would recommend getting an ATO as well. They are awesome and required imo especially in nano tanks

 

[HollyFish]

What protein skimmer did you get? And what is a sand skimmer? Like a vacuum?

You got a new light for Christmas? I would recommend getting an ATO as well. They are awesome and required imo especially in nano tanks

I got the Aquatic Life internal skimmer and it’s been good so far, still breaking in. The only complaint I have is the turn knob for the valve is not easy to twist especially if your hands aren’t completely dry. The sand skimmer is just some tubing and has a bigger tube on one end that will pick up the sand and mix it around and suck out the bacteria and then drops the sand back down. Has no pump, you use your mouth to start suction and it’ll keep pulling as a vacuum as long as the line stays under water. I have looked into an ATO I’m just not sure the money is worth it for me, I’m around the tank all the time so it isn’t a big deal to top off

 

[count krunk]

Whatever works works!

Hopefully the skimmer performs well for you. The smaller ones are usually a bit more finicky.

I haven't vacuumed my sandbed ever, but people do. I mix it around vs vacuuming it. I have a single tiger conch and a few nassasrius snails motoring around as well