Planning my first reef tank (20 long)

[DeniseAndy]

Looks great and welcome to the world of saltwater. I grew up in Minnesota too. Now in Cincinnati. Still land locked, but fresh water anyway.

The AIO is the perfect place for the heater. Hides it and no chance of burns (some fish are dumb).

Great people here to help you out. Good luck with your program too. Sounds great!

 

[FishDude25]

Looks great and welcome to the world of saltwater. I grew up in Minnesota too. Now in Cincinnati. Still land locked, but fresh water anyway.

The AIO is the perfect place for the heater. Hides it and no chance of burns (some fish are dumb).

Great people here to help you out. Good luck with your program too. Sounds great!

Thanks!

The heater is in the AIO and is now turned on.

 

[Fudsey]

Did you hook up the heater to your Apex? Please make sure you do and get in the habit of checking your temps often. Too many stories of cooked tanks from heaters malfunctioning

 

[FishDude25]

Did you hook up the heater to your Apex? Please make sure you do and get in the habit of checking your temps often. Too many stories of cooked tanks from heaters malfunctioning

Yup, I did! I also set an email alarm if the temp gets too low or too high

 

[FishDude25]

Setting up the Apex ATK. Any tips on mounting the sensors inside of the tank?

Because of the tank's trim I can't get the sensors placed high enough. The lower sensor is about an inch below the surface.

If I kept the water level at the height of the lower sensor it would be barely above the intake for my AIO box, so I'd rather not just lower the water level.

 

[Fudsey]

Usually it goes in your sump in the return chamber. Not really sure how you would attach it in your tank.

 

[AustinB]

I removed my upper rim on my 20 breeder and it looks awesome? There’s YouTube how to videos, but it’s easy and makes it look a lot nicer

 

[Mrx7899]

Atk is designed for a sump might be able to cut the lip that sticks out of the trim to move it up a little. But I wouldn't remove the the rim rimless tanks have thicker glass.

 

[AustinB]

Atk is designed for a sump might be able to cut the lip that sticks out of the trim to move it up a little. But I wouldn't remove the the rim rimless tanks have thicker glass.

I had the same concern, but on a 20 long, the shorter sides don’t have the same force on them as say even a 20 tall. Mine has been rimless for a couple years, no problems yet. The only problem left with it being in the main display is the surface agitation might mess with the sensor eyes.

 

[FishDude25]

I had a few extra suction cups, and was able to get them attached to the optical sensors and complete the ATK setup.

Does my placement of the sensors look okay?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Hi everyone!

A little about me: I'm a long-time lurker here on R2R, and have been wanting a reef tank for years. I was born and raised in MN, and I recently moved to the East coast for a 2-year biology research training program. I had a 75 gallon FW tank for 6 years back in MN.

My landlord just gave me the go-ahead to get a 20 gallon tank! I'm super excited.

Below is my plan so far.

Livestock:
1 clownfish
Another fish that would get along with a clownfish and inverts?
A few snails and shrimp (not sure what kind yet)
Starfish?
Coral a few months down the road: Euphyllia (I LOVE torches, frogspawn, and hammers) and perhaps others with similar lighting requirements.

Hardware:

Tank/filtration: 20 gallon long, with this AIO box: https://www.amazon.com/Fiji-Cube-AIO-ALL-ONE/dp/B07C2NSP81
Inside the box I think I'll put a filter sock, bio-balls, and a bag of activated carbon.

Heater: cobalt aquatics neo-therm (I heard these are very reliable).

Water: BRS RO/DI
Salt: not sure yet, maybe Instant Ocean

Rock: BRS dry rock
Sand: thinking about picking up some live sand to help speed along the cycle

Calc/Alk: kalkwasser

Controller: Apex EL

ATO: Tunze osmolator nano

Salinity measurement: refractometer

Parameter testing: something accurate and relatively easy to read (trying to match the colors with the API FW test kits drove me crazy)

Lighting: I really like the idea of LEDs, am leaning toward Radions.

Quarantine: 10 gallon tank


A few questions:
--Any recommendations for a HOB skimmer for a 20 gallon?

--Would the 50W neo-therm heater be a good size for a 20?

--Would an AquaClear 70 be adequate filtration for a 10 gallon quarantine?

--The AIO box comes with a 250 GPH pump. Should I get any powerheads for additional flow?

--Which model of the Radion LEDs would provide enough lighting for Euphyllias in a 20 long? How would I mount them? Hanging from the ceiling isn't an option for me.

--Any recommendations for accurate and easy to read tests for ammonia/nitrate/calcium/alkalinity/magnesium?

I'm open to suggestions! If any of these questions would be better suited to one of the other forums here on R2R, please let me know.

Thanks so much! I'm very excited to dive in to reefing!
-FishDude25

Thats great comrade

 

[FishDude25]

Also, I'm looking at putting together my BRS screen top. I could have the screen top go around the probe holder at the back right corner, or I could just make the screen top be 1.5 inches short front-to-back so it wouldn't need extra corners.

Thoughts? Is 1.5 inches too big of a gap? Could fish jump through a gap that size?

Here is a diagram I made:

 

[AustinB]

Be super cautious about tension on those cords to the sensors. Try to rig it up so when, not if, the suction cups let go, the sensors fall into the water and not outside of the tank. If they were to fall outside of the tank your ATO pump wouldn’t stop until the reservoir was empty. Also with the optical sensor being in a “dirtier” part of the tank rather than after filter socks, skimmer, refugium etc. the eyes can get algae or salt build up on them easier, causing them to malfunction. Happened with my Tunze

 

[FishDude25]

Be super cautious about tension on those cords to the sensors. Try to rig it up so when, not if, the suction cups let go, the sensors fall into the water and not outside of the tank. If they were to fall outside of the tank your ATO pump wouldn’t stop until the reservoir was empty. Also with the optical sensor being in a “dirtier” part of the tank rather than after filter socks, skimmer, refugium etc. the eyes can get algae or salt build up on them easier, causing them to malfunction. Happened with my Tunze

Good point, thanks! Just tested the tension by detaching to suction cups from the glass, and they stayed in the tank. My screen top should also help make sure the sensors stay in the tank, once I set it up.

 

[FishDude25]

Just got back from the LFS! I got a clownfish, a fire fish, two small pieces of live rock, and some reef frenzy food. Drip acclimating the fish now

 

[FishDude25]

Also, I'm looking at putting together my BRS screen top. I could have the screen top go around the probe holder at the back right corner, or I could just make the screen top be 1.5 inches short front-to-back so it wouldn't need extra corners.

Thoughts? Is 1.5 inches too big of a gap? Could fish jump through a gap that size?

Here is a diagram I made:

Decided to go with the extra corners for the screen top so it will go around the probe holder and not have a big gap. Ordered some extra corners on Amazon, should be here on Tuesday (man, I love Prime!).

Hopefully the fish don't try to jump out before then. Fingers crossed.

 

[FishDude25]

Update: the fish seem to be doing pretty well. The clown is very active and adorable. My firefish has been hiding for almost the entire time, I think under the AIO box (there is a tiny bit of room down there). I saw it for a few minutes when I got it and briefly yesterday. Hopefully it will get used to the tank and come out more.

I'm returning my NS-80 skimmer. Looking at getting an external skimmer so I won't have to see it in the display.

Any recommendations for an external skimmer for a 20 gallon?

Though I'm also considering just not having a skimmer and keeping up with water changes.

 

[FishDude25]

All is going well with the tank. My clownfish eats pellets from my fingers, it's so cute! My fire fish came out for a bit today. Apparently it's been hiding inside one of my rocks, saw it peeking its head out.

I've decided to just keep up with water changes and not have a skimmer. One less piece of equipment to worry about.

 

[FishDude25]

Any tips on helping my firefish feel more at home and making sure it's eating? I've tried putting some pellets in one of the entrance holes in the rock and blowing in some thawed LRS, but I haven't actually seen it eat yet, and it's been over a week since I got him.

 

[FishDude25]

Update:
Had some trouble with a film on the surface, which I think was interfering with gas exchange and causing the pH to drop. So I pointed the powerhead toward the surface and also got a surface skimmer.

The clownfish is doing well. He's been eating vigorously and begs for food when I approach the tank. I named him Sokka.

The firefish is alive, saw him briefly yesterday. I hope that he has been eating the food I've been trying to give him. I named him Sparky.

I love this tank! Hoping to get some inverts after Christmas break!