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my 20 gal reef tank

N

nanoguy

well i am a month in on this tank...its a 20 gallon tank....put about 20 pounds of rock in it...10 lbs of live sand..the tank is done cycling so i threw some zebra crabs and blue legs in it...started the process of getting coraline algae on the rocks so i am waiting patiently....in a week or 2 i am gettin the lighting for the tank so then i can start throwing corals into it....need some help posting pics on here so if someone could tell me how to then i will post some pics....

tom
 
mynd

mynd

Go get yourself an account over at photobucket. Then just create an album, choose the file from your hard drive using their interface. It will upload. Take the
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
You'll need to use a PhotoBucket account. The gallery here on NJRC is reserved for members.
 
N

nanoguy

well the update on my tank is positive...all my parameters are where they are suppose to be..
the nitrates are 0
nitrites are 0
ammonia is 0
ph is 8.2

im going to buy a light fixture next week that puts out 65watts..i could get the model that is one up that does 132 watts but thats a lil over kill i think...3 watts should do plenty for what i plan on throuwing in there

wish list for tank:
flo green zooanthids frag
xenia frag
hairy mushrooms frag
finger tree frag
blue mushrooms frag
red mushrooms frag
green polyp leather<small>


ill put more pics as i start adding...but first i have to get the light fixture...
 
A

albie611

for what its worth, i keep a 20 high mixed reef and i also use pc lighting.
i think you will find that its not only watts/gal that matter but rather PAR that aids in coral health and growth... for the additional $30-$40 bucks i would get the 130 watt unit if your going with pc's . besides , if you ever want to try any LPS or SPS corals you will need better lighting and its better to buy once, furthermore if you want to be able to keep anything in there T-5's are even better from what i hear.

i have all the corals you wish to stock your tank with and a hand full of hard corals as well and they are all growing nicely under the 130w pc's
i use 1- 10k and 1 50/50 if it helps .
happy reefing.....al
 
mynd

mynd

Hello there nanoguy!

I see things are coming along nicely. So sorry for my delay, but real life has been getting in the way a little. Have to make time for everyone though.. That is my policy.

Tank looks good, going to get even better once things come around. Those frags you chose are going to get BIG FAST, so make sure you move them around to areas where they can proper :)

Let me know how that new lighting works out for you. If you can afford it and want to take the plunge the 6 watts per gallon is optimal. However, with the things you have in your wish list I really feel 3 is plenty.

Good luck and take more photos!!! :D
 
N

nanoguy

just to update this topic...i just added a skilter 250 to my tank....works like a charm i got foam....way better then that fission i had orignally....that thing should be taken off the market...anyway now i am runnin 2 over the back filters....the skilter 250 and an aqua clear filled with sea gel, carbon and nitrate sponge....its doin the job very well working together to keep the parameters down...just one thing though..i have been adding purple up to the tank, how long does it take to form the coraline algae and does my tank need a strong light fixture to help this spread....????
 
J

jazzsam

nanoguy said:
just to update this topic...i just added a skilter 250 to my tank....works like a charm i got foam....way better then that fission i had orignally....that thing should be taken off the market...anyway now i am runnin 2 over the back filters....the skilter 250 and an aqua clear filled with sea gel, carbon and nitrate sponge....its doin the job very well working together to keep the parameters down...just one thing though..i have been adding purple up to the tank, how long does it take to form the coraline algae and does my tank need a strong light fixture to help this spread....????
Click to expand...

I think it really depends on your system for how long before the purple shows up. Lots of different factors go into that from what I understand.
 
L

lotekfish

Ah, be patient my friend. I started my 26 gallon bowfront around January of this year. It seemed like the coralline would never spread to the uncovered areas of rock, then after a few months I could see new growth, now I have to scrape it off the glass every other week. By the way, I don't dose with anything, just do regular water changes. I also recommend going with 130 watts, that's what I finally went with after much debate and I'm very glad I did. I'm not keeping any SPS, but everything else is doing fine and I couldn't imagine the tank any dimmer.

By the way, did I see a post by you that said you were in Philly? I'm in Center City and I don't have a lot a frags because my tank is new, but I do have a lot of big green mushrooms spreading that I could frag for you (I'm talking free here)and also some pink anthelia which is similar to xenia but doesn't pulse.

just PM if you're interested.
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Coraline doesn't require intense lighting to thrive. While it does need lighting, it tends to bleach out a bit in high lighting. I wouldn't worry about that. Also the purple up may be adding things in large enough quanities to throw your parameters off. I'd check your ca & alk if you haven't already been doing that.
 
N

nanoguy

new problem possibly..i got bristleworms 2 matter of fact...about 1 in long...red with white legs...give me some info on how bad these could be and should i get rid of them...i heard pros and cons about them being in the tank...i trust peoples insite from here over any persons opinion...
 
mynd

mynd

Hello there mate,

I would not worry about them until they are 10 inches long and an inch wide. Right now they are cleaning the tank for you and hopefully bringing some life to your substrate ( if you have any ). Leave them be happy and free. Later in about 4 years when one tries to pull you in the tank. I believe that would be an indicator that you need to get them out of there. :D

Good luck!! Post some Photos! :D
 
S

saltwater4life

Yeah don't worry about them they are tiny and are making your sand clean. I've got a ton of them i just pick up a handful of sand and they just fall through my fingers...
anyways tank looks good.
 
M

monsterfishkeeper

you shouldnt worry about that type of bristleworms. Theyre basically part of you reef clean up crew.

ps. if you see two, there is probably 20 in there. i thought there was only two in my tank, turned out there was about 20 or 25 little guys about an inch long.
 
N

nanoguy

parameters are good ...noticed that my cucumber has wetched himself in a spot and hasn't moved for days..should i be concerned...he is supposed to be the sand sift variety but hasn't done much of that since i got him... update on the worms still only see 2 but im sure there are more... real happy with the skilter 250 really has done some nice work skimin the tank...other then that still waiting for my new light..dont know if im goin with the T5 or PC...as most of u know this is a hobby that costs some bucks and im waiting on the side job i have for flooring to pay for the light and to get some frags for this tank to get it started...will put more pics when i get some frags in the tank...

tom
 
N

nanoguy

haven't added anything lately....but when i do i will let u know when i have post more pics....looking to add some mushroom or leather frags in though soon...since lighting is not a factor for them....so if anyone has a frag let me know and how much,....
 
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