20 gallon??

PiMpPiStOl · 12/27/2008, 01:08 AM

how hard would it be to set up a 20 gallon saltwater tank?? ive had a 3 gallon freshwater for a while, and i mainly got to get use to fish and stuff...i dunno if im rushing it, but i was thinking about a 55 or more gallon, but i figured i might start small for now. see if i like it or not. im LOVING the freshwater. thats why im really wanting saltwater. and the other day, me and a friend went out of town to a big city, and we looked at a bunch of fish stores and ive never seen a saltwater aquarium in person since i was little. it was amazing.

but i just found a deal, 20 gallon tank for 30 dollars, and a stand for it for 20. so together 50. thats a cheap start, and i knwo the rest wont be so cheap...thats another reason i wanna start small...

is this a good idea, or just wait??

also, cuz im going to college, i might be moving either next year or the year after, or mid year next year, so i dunno how much of a trouble itll be moving the tanks around...so i dunno

mattman7858 · 12/27/2008, 02:21 AM

starting a small nano as a starting tank might be a little difficult but definitely do-able. if your willing to invest in a whole set up with lighting and everything you'll need you might want to look at the nano cubes or aquapods, check them out at marinedepot.com or one of your lfs.

VacavilleFC3S · 12/27/2008, 08:24 AM

it's going to cost you 500++ but it's do-able, you'll need lights and powerheads and a skimmer. rock and sand, don't skimp on anything or a couple months down the road you'll be kicking yourself

my 20g

1x koralia 1 powerhead 35.00
1x seio 530 powerhead 40.00
aquac remora skimmer 200.00
current usa 24" 4bulb 150.00
live rock and sand 100.00++

thats not including all the other things like salt and test kits and thermometers and heaters and buckets and utensils, phosphate reactor, fans and temp controller, light conrtoller RO/DI unit ....... yeah it keeps going, honestly this isn't a cheap hobby if you try to get cheap things will just end up bad.

moving tanks is a real PITA, considerijng your 20g full weighs near 400lbs.

qfrisco · 12/27/2008, 09:19 AM

It can be done, and 20 gallons would be HUGE compared to the 3 gallon pico tank here: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...=0027289000000

But keep in mind, and some ways, saltwater is drastically different from freshwater. I kept cichlids for about 6 years before trying out saltwater, and there was still quite a learning curve. And the costs associated with saltwater keeping are a bit higher, from fish and corals to equipment (lights, skimmer, powerheads) and even water costing more than they do with freshwater.

You should ask yourself what you'd like to keep in the 20g? Do you want to keep only fish (probably only 2-3 at the most in that size tank), or do you also want corals in there?

Having said that though, I think 20 gallons is a bit small for a beginning saltwater tank, mainly because you'll have to be that much more on top of your maintenance. The larger your water volume, the slower your water parameters will change, and the more time you'll have to react to it. I think 55 gallon (or more) would be a better size for your first saltwater tank.

mmedeiros2 · 12/27/2008, 10:37 PM

While I am building my 75 gal. stand, I figured that I would play with a 10 gal. I started the 10 gal. in April and all is doing fine. I have also done more reading since April than I have in my lifetime.
I will be using this tank as a quarantine tank in the future.
I would say do it as long as you read, read, read, and ask, ask, ask. I think if you don't you will posibly waste time and money.
I have always had fresh water tanks and this is my first saltwater tank. They are two different animals. As for material and stock, this is what I have purchased for the 10 gal.
1 - 10 gal. tank
1 - AquaClear 30 filter
1 - Air Pump
1 - Air Stone
1 - All Glass Light w/ Hood
1 - Maxi-Jet 600 ower Head
1 - Korilla Nano Power Head
1 - 50 watt heater for the tank
1 - 50 watt heater to heat the water change water
1 - 3 gal. bucket
1 - refractometer - you could use a hydrometer
2 - thermometers
1 - Aquarium Background
2 - Artificial plants for fish to hide
1 - Clown Fish
1 - Yellow Tail Damsel
10 - Hermitt Crabs
1/2" of Aragonite sand
2 Lbs. - Live Rock - I so called cycled the tank with the live rock.
I had instant filtration with the rock being cured
1 - Reverse Osmosis filter and membrane
Test Kits for - PH / ammonia / nitrite / nitrate / alkalinity / silicate phosphate / magnesium / calcium
5 - Different addatives that I won't be using because I purchased them prior to doing some homework.
I am skimping with the skimmer, but I have one for the 75 gal. if I ever get done with the stand.
I hope this is not discouraging to you. If you GO SLOW and do homework before purchasing anything, I think you will be fine. For example, if you study enough, you should be looking for problems, and somewhat know how to solve them before they occur. Like different nusance algea, and nusance critters. (Hitch Hikers)
Google any word that you don't know the definition of and more.
Read and ask questions on this site. It is very helpful.
I hope this helped as an idea.
Almost 1 year old. Check out the pic.

Lovmenot35 · 12/28/2008, 10:16 AM

hey pimppistol,

I have a 20 gallon nano tank that I started off with, I use to own a 10 gallon since I am too new to this hobby, but I have had it for about a couple of months now, and seems like I need more room to put more corals with... ^_^ so here is the link to my pics ...

http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...t=af9215e4.pbw

12/27/2008, 01:08 AM	#1
PiMpPiStOl Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Corsicana TX Posts: 21	20 gallon?? how hard would it be to set up a 20 gallon saltwater tank?? ive had a 3 gallon freshwater for a while, and i mainly got to get use to fish and stuff...i dunno if im rushing it, but i was thinking about a 55 or more gallon, but i figured i might start small for now. see if i like it or not. im LOVING the freshwater. thats why im really wanting saltwater. and the other day, me and a friend went out of town to a big city, and we looked at a bunch of fish stores and ive never seen a saltwater aquarium in person since i was little. it was amazing. but i just found a deal, 20 gallon tank for 30 dollars, and a stand for it for 20. so together 50. thats a cheap start, and i knwo the rest wont be so cheap...thats another reason i wanna start small... is this a good idea, or just wait?? also, cuz im going to college, i might be moving either next year or the year after, or mid year next year, so i dunno how much of a trouble itll be moving the tanks around...so i dunno

12/27/2008, 02:21 AM	#2
mattman7858 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: california, bay area Posts: 106	starting a small nano as a starting tank might be a little difficult but definitely do-able. if your willing to invest in a whole set up with lighting and everything you'll need you might want to look at the nano cubes or aquapods, check them out at marinedepot.com or one of your lfs. __________________ -Matt Current Tank Info: 45 gallon Odyssea reef/Tunze 9002 skimmer/HOB refugium

12/27/2008, 10:37 PM	#5
mmedeiros2 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dartmouth, Ma. Posts: 452	While I am building my 75 gal. stand, I figured that I would play with a 10 gal. I started the 10 gal. in April and all is doing fine. I have also done more reading since April than I have in my lifetime. I will be using this tank as a quarantine tank in the future. I would say do it as long as you read, read, read, and ask, ask, ask. I think if you don't you will posibly waste time and money. I have always had fresh water tanks and this is my first saltwater tank. They are two different animals. As for material and stock, this is what I have purchased for the 10 gal. 1 - 10 gal. tank 1 - AquaClear 30 filter 1 - Air Pump 1 - Air Stone 1 - All Glass Light w/ Hood 1 - Maxi-Jet 600 ower Head 1 - Korilla Nano Power Head 1 - 50 watt heater for the tank 1 - 50 watt heater to heat the water change water 1 - 3 gal. bucket 1 - refractometer - you could use a hydrometer 2 - thermometers 1 - Aquarium Background 2 - Artificial plants for fish to hide 1 - Clown Fish 1 - Yellow Tail Damsel 10 - Hermitt Crabs 1/2" of Aragonite sand 2 Lbs. - Live Rock - I so called cycled the tank with the live rock. I had instant filtration with the rock being cured 1 - Reverse Osmosis filter and membrane Test Kits for - PH / ammonia / nitrite / nitrate / alkalinity / silicate phosphate / magnesium / calcium 5 - Different addatives that I won't be using because I purchased them prior to doing some homework. I am skimping with the skimmer, but I have one for the 75 gal. if I ever get done with the stand. I hope this is not discouraging to you. If you GO SLOW and do homework before purchasing anything, I think you will be fine. For example, if you study enough, you should be looking for problems, and somewhat know how to solve them before they occur. Like different nusance algea, and nusance critters. (Hitch Hikers) Google any word that you don't know the definition of and more. Read and ask questions on this site. It is very helpful. I hope this helped as an idea. Almost 1 year old. Check out the pic. __________________ One must always be aware for the unexpected. Mike Current Tank Info: 75 gal. / Sump / Skimmer / 65 Lbs. LR / 2 Cleaner Shrimp / Firefish / Bangi Cardinal / Pearly Jawfish / 3 - Yellow Clown Gobies / Yellow Wrasse / Hermits

12/27/2008, 08:24 AM	#3
VacavilleFC3S Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vacaville California Posts: 2,613	it's going to cost you 500++ but it's do-able, you'll need lights and powerheads and a skimmer. rock and sand, don't skimp on anything or a couple months down the road you'll be kicking yourself my 20g 1x koralia 1 powerhead 35.00 1x seio 530 powerhead 40.00 aquac remora skimmer 200.00 current usa 24" 4bulb 150.00 live rock and sand 100.00++ thats not including all the other things like salt and test kits and thermometers and heaters and buckets and utensils, phosphate reactor, fans and temp controller, light conrtoller RO/DI unit ....... yeah it keeps going, honestly this isn't a cheap hobby if you try to get cheap things will just end up bad. moving tanks is a real PITA, considerijng your 20g full weighs near 400lbs.

12/27/2008, 09:19 AM	#4
qfrisco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Area Posts: 1,389	It can be done, and 20 gallons would be HUGE compared to the 3 gallon pico tank here: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...=0027289000000 But keep in mind, and some ways, saltwater is drastically different from freshwater. I kept cichlids for about 6 years before trying out saltwater, and there was still quite a learning curve. And the costs associated with saltwater keeping are a bit higher, from fish and corals to equipment (lights, skimmer, powerheads) and even water costing more than they do with freshwater. You should ask yourself what you'd like to keep in the 20g? Do you want to keep only fish (probably only 2-3 at the most in that size tank), or do you also want corals in there? Having said that though, I think 20 gallons is a bit small for a beginning saltwater tank, mainly because you'll have to be that much more on top of your maintenance. The larger your water volume, the slower your water parameters will change, and the more time you'll have to react to it. I think 55 gallon (or more) would be a better size for your first saltwater tank.

12/28/2008, 10:16 AM	#6
Lovmenot35 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cordova,TN Posts: 355	hey pimppistol, I have a 20 gallon nano tank that I started off with, I use to own a 10 gallon since I am too new to this hobby, but I have had it for about a couple of months now, and seems like I need more room to put more corals with... ^_^ so here is the link to my pics ... http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...t=af9215e4.pbw