Matt's 20 Gallon Build Thread

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 08:57 PM

This is my very first saltwater tank! I have read a ton and got lots of advice. The tank has actually been up and running for about a month and so far is really successful, but I didn't make a build thread so I thought I'd do it now. So here it is!

Fly Guy · 09-10-2007, 09:21 PM

Congrats........Where are the pics??

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 09:22 PM

Here is a picture of the tank with about 2 gallons of water in it and 20 lbs. of Natures Ocean Marine White Sand.

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 09:31 PM

Here it is with about 14 gallons of water in it and with the lights on top.

toniell · 09-10-2007, 09:47 PM

Looking good what kind of lighting?

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 09:49 PM

Here is the tank after the first Fiji live rock pieces. I removed the airline and bubble bar after a while as I was told it wasn't needed.

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 09:51 PM

Right now all I have is a single flourescent bulb but I will be getting some better lighting soon. I am thinking about some Coralife PC's.

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 10:02 PM

Here are some more pictures after I got some more live rock. I tried rearranging the rocks and finally came up with and arrangement that I liked (the one in the middle).

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 10:13 PM

After about three weeks I checked all my levels and the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels were all down and they had been for about a week. So I bought a Yellow-Tailed Damsel. Then I bought 4 Dwarf Blue-Legged Hermit Crabs. Then I bought 2 Emerald Crabs.

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 10:18 PM

Well about 2 days after I bought the Emerald crabs I came home and saw the big guy with this! He killed my Yellow-Tailed Damsel! So I went back to the pet store and traded him in for a smaller guy. While I was there I got a replacement for my Damsel. This Scooter Blenny!

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 10:24 PM

Well this past Saturday I decided to pick up this guy. I think he was a great buy considering everywhere else they were trying to sell CBS for $29.99 when I got this guy for $9.99.

mluna785 · 09-10-2007, 10:28 PM

Be sure to pay attention as I am planning on buying a pair of Ocellaris Clownfish this coming Friday. Hopefully within a month I will also have a Firefish too. And be sure to watch for my new build thread sometime soon. I am planning on buying a 30 gallon tank sometime this weekend but I am not sure when I will set it up.

jenajet · 09-10-2007, 11:09 PM

Looking good. Are you gonna run a skimmer? I have one suggestion and please don't take this the wrong way. The dragonette(blenny) needs a lot of pods that a tank this age and size just can't support. I would recommend taking him back. Even if he eats frozen it can't keep up with the dragonettes metabolism.

toniell · 09-11-2007, 01:59 AM

I agree on the dragonet it will probably not fair well in such a young system and look at your crabs claws if they are cup like then they are true emralds if not and they are pointed then they are carnivorous and will also kill your dragonet because they are very slow, is this a fish only set-up or a reef?

mluna785 · 09-11-2007, 08:17 AM

Okay. Thanks for the advice. And about the fish only/ reef question. Right now I am just planning on having a FOWLR set-up but later on down the road I plan on buying an anemone for the clowns. How long should I wait before I add that? Oh, and about the skimmer. I am planning on buying an Aqua C Remora. What do you guys suggest?