new to nano...20gal or 12gal?

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CrazyAggie05

New Member
howdy yall! ive been doin freshwater for about a year now. ive got a 40 gal with some cichlids in it, and im ready to move to saltwater. when i graduate from A&M i will commission as a 2nd lt. in the air force, so im gonna movin a lot the first few years, so a nano is the way to go for me i think. i want something i can pick up and take with me. i have a 20 gal that is empty right now that i can use, or i can go with one of those eclipse 12 gal. systems that the guy has used at fin adicts in san antonio. i like the eclipse system b/c its all inclusive and its one piece acryllic, but the 20 gal. will let me put larger fish in it.... what do yall think?

as far as what i want to keep...i want lots of inverts, like pistol shrimp etc, and some small fish like damels or clowns or gobies. i really really really want a hawk of somekind but i dont think those tanks are big enough right? any ot her suggestions?
 
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Jennie

New Member
Welcome to Nanotank.

:welcome

I don't think that a hawk is a good idea in a tank that size but let the others chime in on that one. Which direction are you planning on the SW tank? Planning on keeping any coral?
 
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CrazyAggie05

New Member
yeah the hawk prolly isnt a good idea. what about a 6 line wrasse?

as far as corals i dont wanna get too much at first b/c i dont wanna mess anything up. id like to have some corals, maybe an anenome eventually. i really like zoo's too...waht are some good beginner corals? looks like i have time to decide because i was told you should wait 3 months or so before you add corals.

im still trying to decide on the tank size. i leave for college station tommorrow so i need to decide fast b/c im getting the live sand and rock from fin addicts here in san antonio.
the 20 gal would allow for more fish and invert options, but how much more equipment would you need over the 12 gal eclipse? the 20 gal has an aquaclear 50 on in right now. do i need more filtration or a power head or a plenum? what about lighting for each tank?
 
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sadielynn

New Member
Hi and welcome . For beginers I would say some greenstar polyps . maybe some shrooms ,or even trumpet coral .. I would tend to say that 2 to 3 months to wait for the corals is appropriate then olny add one at a time to allow the bacteria to readjust . It is up to you and your prefrence on the tank size a 20 would allow you more than a 12 gal but keep in mind that the cost goes up for the bigger stuff ie lights filters , if you use your 20 you could use the same filter and add on a couple of powerheads . I can offer no advice for the eclips system I modded a 7 gallon bowfront , size wise I can say that it is personal prefrence , the moving I would think would be the same just more tote bins :lol: best of luck
 
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CrazyAggie05

New Member
well i went with the 20 gal and goit it pretty much all set up. i wasnt able to fully aquascape it the way i want beacuse the water was so cloudy and i was in a huge hurry (long story lol). but anyways heres the set up
20H tank
aquaclear 50 hob filter and aquaclear 50 powerhead for circulation
about 17 lbs of sand with some livesand (aragonite) its about 1-1.5" deep
about 23 lbs of fiji and tonga liverock
2 chromis
what do yall think? ill get some pics up when i can!
 
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sadielynn

New Member
I personally think that it is way too early for the chromis , it is not good to cycle a tank with fish .I know that chromis will not do well in a cycling tank , from my experience , I would add another power head for circulation , but other wise sounding good , what kind of light do you have?
 
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sadielynn

New Member
LOL thats good I hope that I didnt sound harsh when you are behind the key board its hard to say it without sounding rude LOL
 
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incysor

New Member
You really shouldn't have any fish in the tank while it cycles. I'd pull them back out. Otherwise it sounds fine. You can easily keep softies, mushrooms, zoos and polyps under the 65w. You don't really need a light on the tank while it's going through the cycle. It'll just encourage algae blooms.

Patience is one of the keys to being successful in this hobby. Rushing things is a good way to end up fighting one problem after another.

Can't wait to see the pics.

Welcome to the board.

B
 
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CrazyAggie05

New Member
yeah youre not the first to say i dont need the damsels. they came with the package i got at the fish place back home, i guess they do things the old way. ill take em back to the pet store here when i get a chance, or maybe they can hold them for me. it hsouldt take long to cycle since i have lots of live rock and some live sand.
 
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