HELP SETTING UP 20GAL LONG
- Thread starter SWITCH420
- Start date
SaltWaterNewb
Member
Lots of options but for a basic set up I would go with an AC 110 HOB filter modded in to a fuge, a couple power heads (Koralia 1's would be good) and some T5 lighting. A lot of that also depends on your budget.
TimSchmidt
New Member
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2387617913_6fe72b6d10.jpg?v=0
That is an example of a ac 110 refugium mod (fuge).
No skimmer is NEEDED, but you will need to do weekly water changes (10)%
What you want to keep dictates what you need. So if you post what you want to keep then we can give suggestions for the cheapest setup.
That is an example of a ac 110 refugium mod (fuge).
No skimmer is NEEDED, but you will need to do weekly water changes (10)%
What you want to keep dictates what you need. So if you post what you want to keep then we can give suggestions for the cheapest setup.
TimSchmidt
New Member
I went for the gusto and got what I wanted. Not the safest way to get my feet wet, but everything thing lived thanks to a lot of help. Mushrooms, ricordias, zoas, bubble coral, frogspawn, hammer coral, xenia, star polyps, and quite a few other LPS do nicely. The frogspawn is actually my favorite coral.
UPDATE I WAS A PETCO LOOKING AT FILTERS POWERHEADS ECT AND I SEEN A BIO CUBE BY INSTANT OCEAN 12GALLON STARTER SALTWATER SETUP ALSO WITH A BUNCH OF FREE STUFF SALT FOOD HEATER 50/50 LIGHT FEW OTHER THINGS FOR ONLY 159. THEN I SEE IT ON SALE ONLINE AT PETCO FOR 129.!LOL SO THIS IS GOING TO BE THE TANK I START FOR NOW GO BIGGER WHEN I HAVE $$$$$$$$$$$ TO SPEND SO IT BEGINS THANKS FOR THE HELP SO FAR I POST PROGRESS
SaltWaterNewb
Member
Probably a good choice. Read up on the all in ones. Often times they need a little modification to work at their best. You will still need a couple other goodies but looks like you are well on your way.
really all your going to need to get once you have that setup is a bag of live sand and a couple pounds of live rock. i would say to save on the live rock purchase just get a few pieces like 5 and then save room for some rocks that will be covered with mushrooms.
i dont know how petco is where you live but they should get some really nice corals that you will be able to get on good deals better then the mom and pa shops.
im basically doing what your doing sep mine is a 10 gallone tank with 6.5 watts and all balk rock and black sand. i added some live sand o the back and left lots of room for the corals that i will be adding.
i does not seem like you have a real fish plan so i would suggest maybe a pair of clowns or maybe a watchman goby and maybe a damels or 2 with it. some shrimps and crabs and live stock will be great.
you asked about corals and i really did not get ino them but some of the best safe startr corals that i was told were mushrooms(thats my fist purchase), leathers, zoo's, polyps, and ricordias need better lights so keep them near the top. you could maybe even keep a condy anemone, curly cue anemone, or even maybe a bubble ip that the clowns could host in and maybe even a crab.
good luck with your setup i think you have the basic knowledge now to get you started. let us no how your doing! :lol:
i dont know how petco is where you live but they should get some really nice corals that you will be able to get on good deals better then the mom and pa shops.
im basically doing what your doing sep mine is a 10 gallone tank with 6.5 watts and all balk rock and black sand. i added some live sand o the back and left lots of room for the corals that i will be adding.
i does not seem like you have a real fish plan so i would suggest maybe a pair of clowns or maybe a watchman goby and maybe a damels or 2 with it. some shrimps and crabs and live stock will be great.
you asked about corals and i really did not get ino them but some of the best safe startr corals that i was told were mushrooms(thats my fist purchase), leathers, zoo's, polyps, and ricordias need better lights so keep them near the top. you could maybe even keep a condy anemone, curly cue anemone, or even maybe a bubble ip that the clowns could host in and maybe even a crab.
good luck with your setup i think you have the basic knowledge now to get you started. let us no how your doing! :lol:
SaltWaterNewb
Member
Well, there is a little more than just sand and rock. You need testing kits, and refractometer or hydrometer (refractometer much better choice), probably another power head because all in ones are notorious for having a lack of flow stock. Also make sure the lights are going to work for what you want. Nothing worse than thinking you are getting a great deal on a kit purchase only to find out you have to replace most of the stuff in order for things to work as you want it. That is why I personally never recommend all in ones. I don't dis them either, but they are just not for me. I would much rather piece together my own tank setup so I know for sure I am getting the stuff I need and want and only have to buy once.
i got salt hydrometer heater in the kit i need to get test kits power head/s going to test the lights might add a few leds blue and white need a bigger thing of salt i was not to big on the all in ones but for the price cant really beat it yea i spend a few bucks mod/upgrading fig to start in this big bucks hobby start small i would have spent aroun 250 or so to get the other tank up thanks for helping me
TimSchmidt
New Member
Just a tip with the hydrometer as it is probably is a swing arm. Tap the hydrometer to make sure there are no bubbles on it and I would take a sample of water to a LFS to check the same water to see how accurate you hydrometer is.
SaltWaterNewb
Member
How did you try to post them?