Planning my first reef tank (20 long)

[James M]

Any recommendations for a pump and tubing for mixing new saltwater/getting it into the tank?

I use this one..it’s cheap and pushes up to 6ft
https://www.amazon.com/KEDSUM-Subme...ocphy=1013962&hvtargid=pla-438170280385&psc=1

 

[hockeyhead019]

Looks like everybody else has you pretty covered with your questions. Welcome to R2R! I have a 20g long tank as well but not the AIO style. I have a little sump under my tank. It's a fun size, just make sure you keep an eye on the evaporation as it'll change things quickly in a small volume tank

 

[FishDude25]

Looks like everybody else has you pretty covered with your questions. Welcome to R2R! I have a 20g long tank as well but not the AIO style. I have a little sump under my tank. It's a fun size, just make sure you keep an eye on the evaporation as it'll change things quickly in a small volume tank

Thanks! Yeah, I'm planning on getting an ATO

 

[FishDude25]

I use this one..it’s cheap and pushes up to 6ft
https://www.amazon.com/KEDSUM-Subme...ocphy=1013962&hvtargid=pla-438170280385&psc=1

That one looks great! Thanks! Ordered it.

 

[FishDude25]

I'm planning on placing the tank on a carpeted floor. Should I get a plastic mat for underneath the stand to protect the carpet? I'm guessing my landlord would appreciate it.

 

[Alexreefer]

You could just make sure your tank is level

 

[FishDude25]

My mixing container, mixing pump, and RO/DI unit arrived today! Still waiting on heaters, rock, salt, and a few other misc things. Gonna stop by the LFS this weekend to pickup a test kit, medications for quarantine, biospira, etc. Currently planning on having the quarantine ready for fish by a week from Sunday!

 

[hockeyhead019]

I assume you're going to be keeping the fish in quarantine until the tank finishes cycling? Might be a little bit overkill to quarantine the first fish into the system but that's just my opinion. Excited to see what your stocking and aquascape look like

 

[FishDude25]

I assume you're going to be keeping the fish in quarantine until the tank finishes cycling? Might be a little bit overkill to quarantine the first fish into the system but that's just my opinion. Excited to see what your stocking and aquascape look like

Yup, gonna quarantine for about 3 weeks before placing them in the main tank.

My AIO box arrived today! Just waiting on heaters, salt, rock, and sand. I'm eager to get this baby up and running!

 

[FishDude25]

I'm looking at this plastic mat for under my tank/stand: https://www.amazon.com/Carpets-Comp...r=8-3&keywords=plastic+mat+under+office+chair

It's 48 x 30 inches. Would it look awkwardly huge under my 30 x 12 inches tank/stand? But I guess that's the point so I don't get the carpet wet.

 

[FishDude25]

Checked out the LFS today. Got an apex ATK, and some prazipro and cuprion for the quarantine tank.

I also found out they sell seeded marine pure spheres and live rock! Planning on getting a few seeded spheres and maybe a piece of live rock from them next weekend.

 

[FishDude25]

My rocks, sand, heaters, salt, power head, and skimmer came today! Can't wait to start scaping!

 

[Alexreefer]

Updates?

 

[FishDude25]

I visited the fam in MN for Thanksgiving, now I'm back and am super excited to work on the tank!

I filled the tank with about 3 gallons of water, then measured the tank with a level and found that the stand is off by a bit front to back. So I bought some shims today. However, I realized that my stand has rubber feet under the legs of the stand.

How do I shim the stand if it has rubber feet? Should I remove the rubber feet?

 

[Fudsey]

If it was me, I'd just shim under the rubber feet.

 

[FishDude25]

If it was me, I'd just shim under the rubber feet.

How do I get the shims under the rubber feet? I tried but they are just pushing against the feet rather than going under them.

 

[Fudsey]

You would have to lift the stand a little and slide them under. Or just shim right next to the foot until it's level, then slide the shim under the feet.

 

[FishDude25]

You would have to lift the stand a little and slide them under. Or just shim right next to the foot until it's level, then slide the shim under the feet.

Ok, thanks, I'll do that.

Should I take the tank off the stand when I lift it to get the shims under the rubber feet?

 

[Fudsey]

If empty, no, still water in it, yes unless you empty it 1st... No need to lift it with the extra weight

 

[FishDude25]

Got the tank level! Gonna rinse my rock with RO/DI water and start scaping in the next day or two!