Inexpensive 20Gal tank...Am I on the right track?

[ryanbeljan]

Ok, so I have a 55Gal tank at home that is going well. I am a college student and I want to have a 20Gal tank that I could move around with me when I need to. I have been reading posts on here for a few weeks now and I also checked out this link (http://aquatic-terrors.com/forums/index ... opic=12770) to set up a cheap 10Gal tank.

I wanted to give you guys a list of what I am planning on buying to make sure I am on the right track.

20Gal glass aquarium
Hagen Aqua Clear 50
Maxi-Jet 1200 powerhead
Marineland 50W heater
Odyssea 1 x 65W (50/50 bulb) Power Compact Light
Pulverized Limestone from Home Depot for substrate (see link posted above)



I am still looking to find a stand, I would like a nice wood stand, but I might settle for a cheap wrought iron one.


I will get some Live Rock from a local fish store...any recommendations for the type? or what to look for to tell if it is GOOD live rock?


In the tank I want to keep couple small fish, some inverts (shrimp or a star), and hopefully some low-medium light corals.

Whats everyone think? Thanks for all your help!

 

[4321patrick]

If you looking for somthing to move around with id go 5gal and under

 

[ryanbeljan]

Oh, Im not talking moving frequently. Just a couple times a year. The 20Gal size will be moveable with some help...

 

[4321patrick]

O I was think you going for somthing like once a month. Id just recomend only doing a 1in sand bed tho so you can just keep the sand in the tank when you move it. If your talking about the cheep stands like frome death co the iron one's id not go with one i had a 20L seting on one a few months back and with all the live rock and water the stand started bowing in.

((Pulverized Limestone from Home Depot for substrate)) do not go with this it will trap a crap load of crap (like crushed coral) and it dose not have as much area on it as say sand. and that will lower the amount of bactera on it.

Also id think about panting the back black or blue it really makes it look way better.
O and that is also the same light that your thinking about on it I got it off aquatraders.com

My 20 L be for paint

And after paint.

 

[KidNano]

It seems pretty basic and easy. Kinda nice to have a formula to follow from someone else.

Is the tank a 20L or a 20H?

Keep us posted on how the pulverized limestone works out for you.

 

[ryanbeljan]

Yeah that guide was really nice to have. Same with reading these forums.

The tank measures 24" wide, 12" deep, and 18" high. So 24" light should fit the top of my aquarium perfectly.

So the pulverized limestone would trap a lot of gunk and not look the greatest? or will it be harmful for the tank?

I had crushed coral in my tank at home, and it showed a lot of dirt and algae really easily so i slowly switched it out to make it just normal live sand. The pulverized limestone is supposed to be very fine, just like the sand. And it is very cheap, which is why i was thinking about going with it. Its limestone so it is calcium rich too.

 

[4321patrick]

It may shoot your calcium way past 450ppm.

I was thinking it was like crushed coral.

Also what is chep you can get a 20 pound bag of dry sand frome petsmart for what 20$

 

[reefman23]

Yeah I am concerned about the limestone too. If you want to keep it cheap just get a bag of dry fine reef sand. Rinse it well and you will be good to go.

Jesse

 

[ryanbeljan]

okay. well to make it simple i may as well just get some of the standard Live Sand from petsmart of something. yeah patrick it is only $20. at least ill know that i have a stable substrate.

if i get the standard "Saltwater Master Test Kit" for Ammonia, NO2, NO3 and pH, which other individual chemicals do i need to test for?

at home (for my 55 gal) we do water changes with store bought distilled water since we have well water at home. when i am at school we have city tap water. is there something that I can put in my tap water to make it safe to put in the tank? or do i still need to go buy water from a store?

i am currently in the process of getting an RO system, but that wont happen just yet.

 

[4321patrick]

It be better just to get store water the only stuff you can do to tap water other then ro is a filter and or let it set out for 24h but all that will do is take out the odder or remove/ evap the chlorine

 

[TimSchmidt]

FYI on substrates and having calcium released into the system. Think of the calcium reactors. The only way the calcium reactor media dissolves to release any calcium and carbonate is by dropping the PH to about 6. So unless you have that PH I wouldn't worry about your calcium raising too high.

 

[ryanbeljan]

ok well it appears the substrate wont be a problem, since the pH will never get that low.

i have heard talks of people having an AquaClear as a refugium? can someone explain what this is, its benefits, and how its done?

thanks a lot.

 

[TimSchmidt]

A refugium is intended to give a safe "refuge" for pods and other microfauna to grow. Added water volume is useful but the ACs don't have THAT much water. Adding in a macro algae "can" help reduce nuisance algae in the display tank. Look in the DIY section for a how to.