Opinions on my First SW Tank Plan

[kwhyle]

Here is my pending list:

I have experience in freshwater planted tanks and cichlid tanks and want to step into saltwater tanks. I want to start with a 20g because I frankly cannot budget equipment to convert my 75g tank. I started with a successful nano planted and I believe I can pull off a 20g reef.

I currently still have a 75g mbuna cichlid tank, 55g planted angelfish tank, and a 20g mbuna fry grow out.

I have an empty 5g that I wanted to make a DIY sump so I can add a refugium to the tank to soak up some nutrients.

I would DIY the overflow and use a shutoff valve in the return section of the sump in the case of a siphon break. The cube sump would consist of 3 sections.

Section 1: inflow from tank using sponge and filterfloss to easily remove solid particulates and detritus.

Section 2: refugium for chaeto and possible a small protein skimmer(possibly this, but I would rather not run a skimmer if its not completely necessary).

Section 3: Return to DT with auto shut off valve

The tank would mainly be an all softie tank.

I would just get my RO from my LFS since its pretty affordable until I get my own RO/DI unit.

Questions? Suggestions? Feel free to be as critical as needed.

 

[joseserrano]

Maybe more live rock, I see that you are planning on using marine pure, but aesthetically 2 pounds of live rock may not look great in a 20g tank.

 

[kwhyle]

Maybe more live rock, I see that you are planning on using marine pure, but aesthetically 2 pounds of live rock may not look great in a 20g tank.

Oh, I was going to put that in the bottom of my fuge. Only the liverock will be in the DT. I'll probably get more depending on the size of the rocks I buy.

 

[burden2626]

sounds good i did all my stuff diy even the skimmer i put a air stone and a power head driving into a cylinder shape container from dollor store mabe 18$ with the power head being 15$ mine is on a 55g i also did a diy algea scrubber if you have any old equitment air pumps power heads stuff like that help save on money i even ripped apart a old filter and used the pump for a power head just cut it and modified it been workn fine for me

 

[kwhyle]

I have a ton of old equipment. I plan on breaking down both the 20g cichlid holding tank and the 55g planted this summer so I'll have a handful of internal filters, air pumps, 1x sunsun 303b, 300w heater, 4-channel dosing pump, co2 equip (though this will not serve any purpose).

I guess I'm a little intimidated since a lot of the "how to start your first reef aquarium" articles and videos tell you you need a ton of equipment and some threads frown on the people who use minimal equipment.

 

[burden2626]

diy every thing easy stuff to build use that old air pump.and.make a protien skimmer.with woodn air stone $5 and smart.water bottle and i would use small contanier cut hole threw for collection cup and glue it aroud.bottle.top

 

[burden2626]

like this

 

[burden2626]

be good for 20g

 

[burden2626]

air pump for this to read up on it diy algea scubber

 

[burden2626]

this what i did for over flow diy make sure you read up on this stuff to build.it correct

 

[burden2626]

try this for filter.i diy all this stuff you can moddify it use deffernt media if you want

 

[kwhyle]

I just wanted to share my plan when I start my new tank. I decided to just use my existing canister as a reactor with basket 1 with matrix, basket 2 with carbon/gfo, basket 3 sponge/filterfloss. with 15lbs of pukani and a 530gph powerhead

Starting with Dry pukani from BRS

• bleach cure 10:1 h2o:bleach - 1-2 days
• rinse
• freshwater soak with prime - 1-2 days
• rinse
• rock into tank & scape + sand (caribsea aragalive special)
• start cycle + biospira - 2-3 weeks test daily w/ ghost feeding or molly cycle(I'm quickly debating this but I have tons of molly from my freshwater tank and it seems like I cant even give them away)
• add clown after params are good 1 week
• add cuc 1 week
• coral!

questions:

1. During the freshwater soak after the bleach cure, do I use salt? Or just fill tank with heated salt when I scape and add sand?
2. Which testkits are you guys using? API? (I've used API for freshwater)
3. When using Biospira, I need to feed bac with ghost feeding correct?
4. How many clowns should I start with? 1 or 2 for a 20 gal?