What to do and not do as a saltwater beginner?

[KaidenGilbert20g]

So I recently received my waterbox cube 20 about a month ago and I’ve had it up for about 3 weeks now and I cycled it before the three weeks with just Carib sea live sand and a power head and a light and then added live rock and 4 hermit crabs. Then I waited about 2-2 1/2 weeks and all the hermit crabs are alive and well but I started to experience some simple green algae growth in the sand and a little on the glass so I went to my local fish store and he recommended getting a goby so I got it and he’s doing well he’s been in the tank for 3 days now and I’m still experiencing algae growth. I just need some tips and tricks and info on what to buy.

 

[WIReefer]

Welcome to R2R!!! I found that a ATO is a very good decision on equipment to buy! And go very slow with the tank!

 

[Cell]

Welcome to R2R! You need some snails! A trochus or two or a turbo would help.

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

Welcome to R2R! You need some snails! A trochus or two or a turbo would help.

Thank you I will definitely try that

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

Welcome to R2R!!! I found that a ATO is a very good decision on equipment to buy! And go very slow with the tank!

Will do

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

Welcome to R2R!!! I found that a ATO is a very good decision on equipment to buy! And go very slow with the tank!

What ATO setup do you recommend?

 

[WIReefer]

What ATO setup do you recommend?

I have a tunze osmolator and love it.

 

[PicassoClown04]

Please get some snails!! If you can get your hands on a few stomatella, I definitely recommend those. I got some in my live rock and they are hands down the most efficient algae destroyers I’ve seen. Turbo and astrea snails are also good. Use 1 snail per 2-5 gallons depending on how much algae you see and how much you feed. If you feed heavy or notice a lot of wasted food, a larger shrimp may be beneficial as well (like a peppermint, fire, or skunk). Number one thing I tell new reefers is to ALWAYS research heavily before you buy any kind of livestock. The prettiest corals can be very difficult to maintain and keep healthy (like a scoly/goniopora) so a newbie should definitely educate themselves before buying. Also, get a flipper, that thing is amazing! It’s a magnetic glass cleaner that gets all the algae off your glass.

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

I have a tunze osmolator and love it.

Okay I will look into it thank you

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

Please get some snails!! If you can get your hands on a few stomatella, I definitely recommend those. I got some in my live rock and they are hands down the most efficient algae destroyers I’ve seen. Turbo and astrea snails are also good. Use 1 snail per 2-5 gallons depending on how much algae you see and how much you feed. If you feed heavy or notice a lot of wasted food, a larger shrimp may be beneficial as well (like a peppermint, fire, or skunk). Number one thing I tell new reefers is to ALWAYS research heavily before you buy any kind of livestock. The prettiest corals can be very difficult to maintain and keep healthy (like a scoly/goniopora) so a newbie should definitely educate themselves before buying. Also, get a flipper, that thing is amazing! It’s a magnetic glass cleaner that gets all the algae off your glass.

I have the glass cleaner and thank you I will look into it. Appreciate it!

 

[Hugh Mann]

Quarantine setup.
Tank/container
Heater
Sponge filter
Pvc tubes/fittings
Cheap lights

I know it's a hassle and takes time and space, but quarantine everything wet that goes in your tank.
Your setup right now is likely disease free, keep it that way. There's tons of great threads on here on the subject. It can be done with a separate aquarium, or even a Rubbermaid bin for very cheap.

Far cheaper than it will cost you if a parasite like velvet or flukes get into your tank.

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

Quarantine setup.
Tank/container
Heater
Sponge filter
Pvc tubes/fittings
Cheap lights

I know it's a hassle and takes time and space, but quarantine everything wet that goes in your tank.
Your setup right now is likely disease free, keep it that way. There's tons of great threads on here on the subject. It can be done with a separate aquarium, or even a Rubbermaid bin for very cheap.

Far cheaper than it will cost you if a parasite like velvet or flukes get into your tank.

I will look into that thank you!

 

[PicassoClown04]

I will look into that thank you!

Some LFS will QT for you if you ask super nicely (at least in my area) might be worth the ask because you’d probably only have around 3-4 fish in a 20 gal. The ones in my area charge $20 for a 2 week QT, if you provide your own meds should a situation arise, and they charge extra if they have to medicate/do a FW dip but not much extra. I don’t like to QT coral because I find that the perams in QT make them upset, I do a dip/series of dips instead and inspect closely at LFS. I personally wouldn’t and don’t run a QT because I have a 20 gal with only 3 fish and I couldn’t justify running another tank just to QT the three fish, so LFS was a good option for me and worked well.

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

Some LFS will QT for you if you ask super nicely (at least in my area) might be worth the ask because you’d probably only have around 3-4 fish in a 20 gal. The ones in my area charge $20 for a 2 week QT, if you provide your own meds should a situation arise, and they charge extra if they have to medicate/do a FW dip but not much extra. I don’t like to QT coral because I find that the perams in QT make them upset, I do a dip/series of dips instead and inspect closely at LFS. I personally wouldn’t and don’t run a QT because I have a 20 gal with only 3 fish and I couldn’t justify running another tank just to QT the three fish, so LFS was a good option for me and worked well.

Okay thank you I will check with my local fish store!

 

[Pistondog]

I have the glass cleaner and thank you I will look into it. Appreciate it!

Emerald crabs love algae, and are fun to watch at work.
Make sure the tank doesn't get any sun, that can cause algea. Between 1 and 2 one of my tanks gets an umbrella this time of year due to a skylight.

Think about nutrient export; skimmer or algae filter (like hog1 from Santa Monica filtration, which also uses a bubbler).

Make sure the tank has a bubbler or skimmer for oxygenation.

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

Emerald crabs love algae, and are fun to watch at work.
Make sure the tank doesn't get any sun, that can cause algea. Between 1 and 2 one of my tanks gets an umbrella this time of year due to a skylight.

Think about nutrient export; skimmer or algae filter (like hog1 from Santa Monica filtration, which also uses a bubbler).

Make sure the tank has a bubbler or skimmer for oxygenation.

Okay I have 2 blue leg hermit crabs and 2 red leg Cortez crabs but I’ll add a bubbler

 

[Everything Aquatics]

I also have a water box 20 cube, I have found that having an ato on such a small tank is a great help. I also use a diy net top. If you don’t have a skimmer the eshopps nano works great

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

I also have a water box 20 cube, I have found that having an ato on such a small tank is a great help. I also use a diy net top. If you don’t have a skimmer the eshopps nano works great

Okay thank you for the help!

 

[Cell]

Personally, I wouldn't put an emerald crab in a 20 gallon with or without coral, but especially without coral.

 

[KaidenGilbert20g]

Personally, I wouldn't put an emerald crab in a 20 gallon with or without coral, but especially without coral.

Okay thank you!