20g build thread

[Moonstream]

well, here is my build thread for my 20g reef. youll have to wait for the pics until I get my camera back.

specs
20g long drilled display tank
29g fuge w/ frag racks
marineland powerhead for return pump
coralife super skimmer
nova extreme t5 24" strip light, 96 watts (attached to top using chain)
20 watt NO light for fuge (10000K bulb in it)
65 watt PC light for fuge (for the frag racks)
30lbs LR in main tank
35ish lbs LR in fuge
40lbs sand in fuge
10-20lbs sand in main tank (1/2"- 1")
AGA heater used only in winter
1 irorn stand
1 wooden enclosure for stand
1 3 sided conopy w/ holes drilled in the sides and top

livestock (fish)
2 perc clown
1 high fin shrimp goby
1-3 other small fish (ideas?)

livestock (inverts)
1 BTA (maybe)
1 emerald crab
1 pom pom crab
1 Porcelain Anemone Crab
maybe 1 pistol shrimp (for goby)
2 skunk cleaner shrimp
1 pepermint shrimp (in fuge)
1 blood shrimp
5 nassasaria snails (4 in fuge to stir up DSB)
2 astrea snails (2 in fuge for algae)
4 cerith snails
4 hermits
3 bumble bee snails

livestock (corals)
predominantly zoos and LPS
some SPS
spme shrooms
some soft corals

what do ya think? I will try to get pics up by monday night (dont have my camera). I know the inverts is a little heavy, but I have som major algae issues and heavy fish stocking. I am hoping to also keep the fuge somewhat clean, and the pepermint is always handy for aptasia. hes also friendly, and I would be sad to have to part w/ him. Ill also be trying to order these thing this week end (all I need is 30lbs rock, light for main tank, indivisual reflectors, skimmer, sand for main tank).

[Henry22]

Switch the 29 and 20, your going to want alot more space. I said that I wouldnt want to upgrade and that the difference of a couple gallons isnt much, but trust me it is. Use the 29 as the display.

Otherwise, it looks pretty good.

[Moonstream]

I already have the 20 drilled and pipe cut ect...
I didnt use the 29 for 2 reasons, 1. I didnt like the hight, in my opinion it made it look too narrow, and 2. I liked the fact that th 20g being so short it would be easier to light.

[reefman13]

I also would have done what Henry said, but this is your tank, is there anything else really that you want our opinion on? You seem to have have a pretty good list here, all can say now, is get the funds and piece by piece add everything to the system and set it all up.

The only thing that I would like to comment on is your live stock, you have a little more that you need/can have. If you could more clearly define what inverts are going where, that would be great, because you have a LOT of inverts for just those two tanks.

[Moonstream]

can do, here is the list. all crabs are going into the main tank. as ar all shrimp besides the pepermint.

livestock (inverts)
1 BTA (maybe)
1 emerald crab
1 pom pom crab
1 Porcelain Anemone Crab
maybe 1 pistol shrimp (for goby)
2 skunk cleaner shrimp
1 pepermint shrimp (in fuge)
1 blood shrimp
5 nassasaria snails (3 in fuge)
2 astrea snails (2 in fuge)
4 cerith snails (all in main tank)
4-5 hermits (all in main tank)
3 bumble bee snails (all in main tank)

is that clearer?

[reefman13]

Okay, you CANNOT have more than one type of shrimp in the same tank. They will fight to the death.

Honestly this is what I think you/should need in your display, anything else is either too much or is really not needed:

1 BTA
1 Skunk cleaner shrimp
3 Nassarius Snails
2 Astrea snails- great algae eaters
2 Cerith Snails
1 Pom Pom crab (if that is something you want)

You do not need a porcelain crab (not recommended if you plan on a pair of clowns hosting your anemone), and you do not need any bumble bee snails.

Once you tank is established, you can try to add a goby and a pistol shrimp and you can see what happens. However, if you notice any aggression, remove one of them and deal with it how ever you wish.

For the refugium I would maybe put one shrimp in there and you really will only need like 5 Nassarius and 5 Astrea snails in the refugium.

That's really it, when doing these small nano tanks you want to keep bio-loads at a minimum.


And if you feel like it, and you want one, you could get a mandarin fish.

[Moonstream]

I have both a pepermint and a skunk cleaner shrimp in the tank now and have no trouble w/ fighting, they actually hang out together all the time.

here is what I am planning for inverts and fish
1 BTA
1 pom pom crab
7 astrea snails
8 nassasaria snails
2 cerith snails
pair of percs
shrimp/goby pair
2 trimma type gobies or 1 clown type gobie
1 barnicle blenny

how does that sound?

[reefman13]

Do what you want. And then you can figure out what you really want to have in the system.

Honestly, I think you have way too much of a bio-load.

Good luck.

[mr pink floyd]

it sounds fine for that tank IMO, as long as you have a nice fuge adn skimmer it should be fine


reefman, you shouldnt talk about bioload, every time someone in CTARS has a tang for sale you try to put it in your 65

oh, and BTW, what are you basing the shrimp fighting thing on... ive never seen that

[Moonstream]

thanks pink floyd.

[Moonstream]

srry double post