Basic Tank Setup

travisurfer · 03-05-2006, 07:59 AM

I need advice on how to setup a basic tank(no high-tec equipment). The tank will be a 20H with 310gph. Other than flow, good live rock, sand, heater, and weekly 1-2gal water changes what do I need to setup a healthy tank with 2 small fish, soft corals, and tulip anemones.

whatevva · 03-05-2006, 08:03 AM

Welcome to TRT!!

I'd say, a Protein Skimmer and Patience.

How are you producing flow?

travisurfer · 03-05-2006, 09:00 AM

the flow is from powerheads. i was considering adding a prizm skimmer but most people seem to think good skimmers cost over $100 like the cpr or remora(not including deltec, asm, and the like)

ChrisPrusha · 03-05-2006, 09:36 AM

I have the 20H as well. With a decent skimmer, I think you are good to go! I know they are pricey, but they will pay for themselves in the long run, imo!

tims · 03-05-2006, 10:03 AM

travis,
Welcome to TRT!
take some time and do a bunch of looking up and asking like you are. you might want to read this article and make a list of things you want to get and things you are not sure about, i found that the easiest way.

ChrisPrusha · 03-05-2006, 10:10 AM

Btw, welcome aboard!! w0000000000000t!!!

tims · 03-05-2006, 10:15 AM

travis,
since you will be running a 20H ( 24x12x16 standard) and are looking at anemone in the future for the tank, you might want to research the lighting which will be a large cost in the beginning. a 150-250 w MH might be your best option, take a look at the sponors we have here and the kits they sell. most of the time you can get a pretty good discount from them too.

travisurfer · 03-05-2006, 10:59 AM

ive been researching for about 6 months now. my lighting will be a 65watt pc. i dont want to get any hard to care for anemones so i wont get mh. i may upgrade to a 96w quad eventually. as far as anemones i was only thinking about getting tulip anemones(they are like mojano) or maybe a condy. both of which i am sure that my lighting is sufficient from talking to other people, etc. would a prizm skimmer deluxe be a decent skimmer to start out with?

btw, thanks for all the help so far

tims · 03-05-2006, 11:32 AM

that skimmer is not a bad hang on type, it is a lower grade type of skimmer but you will have to play withthe setting from time to time. it was one of the frist ones i had. keep a close eye onthe tubing. do a nice cleaning and dont be afraid to replace the tubing .
there ae some nice anemones out there that dont need as mucch light, but you might want to run with alteasdt the 96w pcs to starrt of with since the tank is a deep one, you will save your self money later on if youare thinking about up grading. Also keep in mind they will move a round a lot in the beginnning until they gind the " just right" spot to make a home.
sounds like you have be doign some great research so far.
if you take a look at the archive section, they are "the best of" threads, in that area we had a discusion of the week and cover anemones , take a look at that too, there are some nice looking anenomes in there.

travisurfer · 03-05-2006, 12:19 PM

ok, thanks. i just wanted to know if the prizm was even worth it

travisurfer · 03-05-2006, 12:31 PM

So this is what im looking at:
20H
65 watt pc light
2 x 155gph powerheads
Prizm Deluxe Skimmer or AC500 Fuge?
100w Visi-Therm Heater
20-25 lbs Cured Live Rock
15 lbs Special Grade Reef Sand Seeded w/Live
True Percs or Pink Skunks or Single Maroon
Various Soft Corals
Tulip or Condy Anemone

All of this with weekly 1-2 gallon water changes using Instant Ocean w/Distilled Water. The tank will have an open hood w/eggcrate. May add an ATO at some point down the road along with a 96 quad upgrade.

BGJ223 · 03-05-2006, 01:13 PM

I also have a standard 20 high runing right now, and this what my setup is.
Prizm Red Sea skimmer
10 gallon sump / Fuge
100 Watt heater
2 Marineland power heads
JBJ PC lights with with 65w 12k and 65w actinic

25lbs live rock 20lbs live sand
various musrooms and rics
Candy coral
Sun Coral
various zoos and button polyps
small blasto I am nursing back to health. Got it for free because it was almost dead.
4 unidentified anemones

I do 5 gallon water changes 1 to 2 times a month.

gwen_o_lyn · 03-05-2006, 01:56 PM

My prizm skimmer lasted 9 months- I think they suck. I'd never buy one again- my nano has an aquaC remora and it works good, plus it's durable unlike the prizm.

travisurfer · 03-05-2006, 02:30 PM

should i go with a refugium instead of the prizm then? or try the knock-off cpr from odyssea.

xtopher · 03-05-2006, 02:34 PM

Travis, I can understand how it LOOKS like the prizm seems like a better deal and that you can get by until you upgrade to a higher quality skimmer but why not save yourself the money in between and just get a higher quality from the start? I am not trying to preach at ou but just trying to save you from making the same mistake I, as well as many here, have made. When I first started a tank my buddy told me a good skimmer for my setup, B4 I knew of any good hang ons such as the aqua C et al., would cost me $400. I was kind of cheap back then and decided to go with a seaclone, it didn't work that well so I bought a second one, each worth $100 BTW. I then bought a prizm pro deluxe $300 and IMO a POS so in total I spent $500 on crap and ended up with the $400 skimmer anyways

So rather than doing the same thing I did spending $900 on skimmers when I should have listened to experience and saved myself $500 bucks just splurge a bit to begin with, and trust me/us you'll be happy you did. just my 2 bits.