Need help starting a 22 gallon tank

smcxviet · 03/07/2011, 01:44 PM

I recently bought a cadlights 22g tank with refugium and hopefully it comes in this week! I plan to eventually get a pair of clownfish, an anemone, soft coral, and zoanthids. Any suggestion for other fish/coral? How many do you guys think I could keep in a 22 gallon.

(I would get a bigger tank if only I had enough room to keep it somewhere

)

I've been reading around online and in forums how to start off a new tank and what it takes to maintain it. More or less I have a general idea but I still have questions.

Can someone write a procedure on how to cycle a tank? (I know you test water levels every few days)
For example: 1) fill the tank 2) fill with live rocks then sand 3) etc etc

And should I buy "cheap" live rock to cycle then buy better quality live rock after?

Is it possible to do a deep sandbed? or would a few inches be good enough for my size tank.

When do I introduce a cleaner crew? and what should it consist of?

How/what should I stock in the refugium? Here is a picture of another cadlight 22g refugium: http://www.3reef.com/forums/attachme...-22g-back-.jpg

How should I stock my tank after it's cycled? coral first, then anemone/clownfish? (oh btw is 1 anemone enough for a pair of clownfish?)

Last but not least, I wanna run my setup as basic (but still efficient) as possible. I see people having a ton of upgrades and nifty stuff, which I might look into in the far future, just not now. Is there anything else I would need? or any DIY projects that are simple, but yet have big impacts on the tank.

I feel like such a newbie (well I am technically), but I would appreciate the help

Thanks in advance!

Here is a link to the tank: http://www.cadlights.com/index.php?m...products_id=83

jeff@zina.com · 03/07/2011, 02:13 PM

First, Welcome to the forums.

There's a sticky at the top of the forum you posted in:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074

It's posted for a reason...

Jeff

smcxviet · 03/07/2011, 03:14 PM

Wow, I wonder how I could've missed that sticky.

I still have a question about cycling though, do I simply put LS and LR and let it do it's thing? Do I also run my whole system with power heads and lights while the tank is cycling?

And also is it better to add coral then fish? vice versa? or is it based on preference.

03/07/2011, 01:44 PM	#1
smcxviet Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2	Need help starting a 22 gallon tank I recently bought a cadlights 22g tank with refugium and hopefully it comes in this week! I plan to eventually get a pair of clownfish, an anemone, soft coral, and zoanthids. Any suggestion for other fish/coral? How many do you guys think I could keep in a 22 gallon. (I would get a bigger tank if only I had enough room to keep it somewhere ) I've been reading around online and in forums how to start off a new tank and what it takes to maintain it. More or less I have a general idea but I still have questions. Can someone write a procedure on how to cycle a tank? (I know you test water levels every few days) For example: 1) fill the tank 2) fill with live rocks then sand 3) etc etc And should I buy "cheap" live rock to cycle then buy better quality live rock after? Is it possible to do a deep sandbed? or would a few inches be good enough for my size tank. When do I introduce a cleaner crew? and what should it consist of? How/what should I stock in the refugium? Here is a picture of another cadlight 22g refugium: http://www.3reef.com/forums/attachme...-22g-back-.jpg How should I stock my tank after it's cycled? coral first, then anemone/clownfish? (oh btw is 1 anemone enough for a pair of clownfish?) Last but not least, I wanna run my setup as basic (but still efficient) as possible. I see people having a ton of upgrades and nifty stuff, which I might look into in the far future, just not now. Is there anything else I would need? or any DIY projects that are simple, but yet have big impacts on the tank. I feel like such a newbie (well I am technically), but I would appreciate the help Thanks in advance! Here is a link to the tank: http://www.cadlights.com/index.php?m...products_id=83

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Friend in need! Starting a 30 gallon tank!	burdman_22	New to the Hobby	7	06/13/2010 08:24 PM
20 gal. tank setup advice	musicalrebellion	Nano Reefs	5	04/26/2010 08:24 PM
Starting 75 gallon tank with questions	reefienick	New to the Hobby	3	03/05/2010 03:52 PM
A new 60 gallon tank	opacheso	New to the Hobby	5	01/07/2010 04:43 PM
Help starting 300 gallon tank	johnnyroastbeef	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	8	04/29/2009 11:08 PM

03/07/2011, 02:13 PM	#2
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	First, Welcome to the forums. There's a sticky at the top of the forum you posted in: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074 It's posted for a reason... Jeff

03/07/2011, 03:14 PM	#3
smcxviet Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2	Wow, I wonder how I could've missed that sticky. I still have a question about cycling though, do I simply put LS and LR and let it do it's thing? Do I also run my whole system with power heads and lights while the tank is cycling? And also is it better to add coral then fish? vice versa? or is it based on preference.