Newb 20 gallon

Vitae · 01/19/2009, 09:25 PM

So I've been running FW for years, my husband and I decided to move up to a saltwater tank.
Starting out with a 20 gallon, and I know that the bigger the better but right now the 20g is all we can have in our small home.

We've got it set up now with the tank, stand, Fluval 205 canister filter (rated for 40g), powerhead with rotating wavemaker...thingy, heater and a fission nano skimmer. We have about a 1 inch sandbed of live sand, I think the salinity is at 35 according to our hydrometer.

Is it normal to have um.. strange looking living things in the live sand? They kind of look, bristly, like big sea-monkeys. Is that brine shrimp?? Do they live in live sand??

While I was at work tonight my hubby went out and grabbed a turbo-snail, bristle starfish, peppermint shrimp, and 2 hermit crabs.
I'm worried that he may have overstocked, and being as we dont have any live rock yet (He plans to add it tomorrow) I'm worried the poor guys wont really have much to do except run around the sand.

Just watching the tank, the turbo snail is at the top near the waters edge just uh hanging out, the peppermint shrimp is chillin with the starfish... it looks like he is picking stuff off of the starfish and eating it.. or is he eating the starfish?!

So yeah, first adventure into saltwater.. I expect mistakes and I plan on possible losses of marine life..

46FiatYamaha · 01/19/2009, 09:32 PM

There are plenty of living creatures that come with live rock and sand other than the bacteria on them, and it's exactly what you want, as almost all of them are wanted and needed to some level. I would add rock asap to give them something to clean and add more beneficial bacteria. Since most of the new additions are 'cleaners' they will need something to eat if they don't have anything to clean, especially the hermits. Regular feeding (but carefully not overfeeding) will help keep things balanced. Sounds like you have a good start and hope you enjoy it for years to come

Vitae · 01/19/2009, 09:34 PM

Thanks!
I just asked my hubby and he told me he put some frozen brine shrimp in there to feed the cleaners, so thats where the brine shrimp came from

The live rock is going to be added about mid-day tomorrow, my husband is going to get it, I made sure he knows to get cured live rock and give it the "sniff test"

I'll post some pictures tomorrow

46FiatYamaha · 01/19/2009, 09:38 PM

sounds good, I'll be glad to see them

01/19/2009, 09:25 PM	#1
Vitae Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 25	Newb 20 gallon So I've been running FW for years, my husband and I decided to move up to a saltwater tank. Starting out with a 20 gallon, and I know that the bigger the better but right now the 20g is all we can have in our small home. We've got it set up now with the tank, stand, Fluval 205 canister filter (rated for 40g), powerhead with rotating wavemaker...thingy, heater and a fission nano skimmer. We have about a 1 inch sandbed of live sand, I think the salinity is at 35 according to our hydrometer. Is it normal to have um.. strange looking living things in the live sand? They kind of look, bristly, like big sea-monkeys. Is that brine shrimp?? Do they live in live sand?? While I was at work tonight my hubby went out and grabbed a turbo-snail, bristle starfish, peppermint shrimp, and 2 hermit crabs. I'm worried that he may have overstocked, and being as we dont have any live rock yet (He plans to add it tomorrow) I'm worried the poor guys wont really have much to do except run around the sand. Just watching the tank, the turbo snail is at the top near the waters edge just uh hanging out, the peppermint shrimp is chillin with the starfish... it looks like he is picking stuff off of the starfish and eating it.. or is he eating the starfish?! So yeah, first adventure into saltwater.. I expect mistakes and I plan on possible losses of marine life..

01/19/2009, 09:32 PM	#2
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	There are plenty of living creatures that come with live rock and sand other than the bacteria on them, and it's exactly what you want, as almost all of them are wanted and needed to some level. I would add rock asap to give them something to clean and add more beneficial bacteria. Since most of the new additions are 'cleaners' they will need something to eat if they don't have anything to clean, especially the hermits. Regular feeding (but carefully not overfeeding) will help keep things balanced. Sounds like you have a good start and hope you enjoy it for years to come

01/19/2009, 09:34 PM	#3
Vitae Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 25	Thanks! I just asked my hubby and he told me he put some frozen brine shrimp in there to feed the cleaners, so thats where the brine shrimp came from The live rock is going to be added about mid-day tomorrow, my husband is going to get it, I made sure he knows to get cured live rock and give it the "sniff test" I'll post some pictures tomorrow

01/19/2009, 09:38 PM	#4
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	sounds good, I'll be glad to see them