Planing my first SW reef tank!

Dragonladyreef · 12/22/2011, 07:20 AM

Hi everyone, <<<< So christmas is almost here and I am getting a saltwater reef setup. I have experience with planted freshwater tank and now I want to try SW. I have been reading and reading nonstop for the last two weeks about them. My plan is to start as simple as possible and upgrade as necessary. So he is the plan.

-20 gallon long
-2 powerhead
- 50w heater
- 20 lbs live sand
- 20+ lbs of live rock
- t5 HO dual light fixture

Alright, so I am starting out with only biological filtration for cycling and possibly for when I add the cleaning crew and soft corals. Do you think this will be ok?

Second question is how powerful of powerheads do I need? I want as powerful as I can get with out hurting anything, because if I like the reef I will upgrade the tank and I want to be able to keep using most of the same equipment.

Third question is a 50w heater enough? I live in AZ and the house temp is at 74-76 degrees in the winter and higher in the summer. I will need to get something in the summer to cool the tank.

All advice is welcome. I am just starting out simple, I do plan on getting other equipment, but I want to understand what each piece of equipment does before I start adding it.

Also if anyone has any advice on a cleaning crew. What variety and how many would you add to the tank. I prefer a lighter stocked tank since it is small. I will probably only house 2 possibly 3 fish in this tank max, but adding fish is way down the road at the moment. Just want to get it set up and cycling for now.

Thanks everyone!

Dino · 12/22/2011, 01:16 PM

To Reef Central Dragonladyreef!

Ron Reefman · 12/22/2011, 02:18 PM

Alright, so I am starting out with only biological filtration for cycling and possibly for when I add the cleaning crew and soft corals. Do you think this will be ok?
You'll need some kind of mechanical filtration pretty quickly. I ran a 30g tank for a couple of years with a HOB (Hang On Back) filter and skimmer. And after 7 years, I still use the HOB units on my QT (Quarantine Tank). When you get ready for corals you will probably want a skimmer too. Some people run without them, but a HOB unit isn't very expensive and they do work fine on a system of 20g.

Second question is how powerful of powerheads do I need? I want as powerful as I can get with out hurting anything, because if I like the reef I will upgrade the tank and I want to be able to keep using most of the same equipment.
If you aren't doing a sump, all your flow will be from powerheads. In a 20g tank you'll want between 300 and 600 gph of flow. I'd go for 2 smaller heads and run them at opposite ends of the tank.

Third question is a 50w heater enough? I live in AZ and the house temp is at 74-76 degrees in the winter and higher in the summer. I will need to get something in the summer to cool the tank.
You may not need a heater at all, but the 50w you have will be enough if you need some extra heat. Your lights and powerheads will provide some heat as well. In the summer it will depend on how warm you let the house get. With t5's you may be able to get away with a good fan blowing over the surface of the tank, and that will increase the evaporation of water that you will need to replace. If that doesn't work, you may want to look at a small chiller. They come up for sale in our local club pretty regularly, or watch Craigslist for a 1/10th hp or 1/15th hp unit. I had a 1/10th hp on my 30g and used it on my 75g upgrade after a couple of years. They aren't cheap and they use some electricity, but they last a long time. I ran mine for 5+ years and sold it to a friend who is still using it (and it's 7 years old now). BTW, I'm in SW Florida and we let our house get into the mid 80's during the daytime and only cool to 82 at night (my wife has been in Florida too long and thinks anything under 80 is to cool). So my 350g system has a 1hp chiller that sits out behind the house!

All advice is welcome. I am just starting out simple, I do plan on getting other equipment, but I want to understand what each piece of equipment does before I start adding it.

Also if anyone has any advice on a cleaning crew. What variety and how many would you add to the tank. I prefer a lighter stocked tank since it is small. I will probably only house 2 possibly 3 fish in this tank max, but adding fish is way down the road at the moment. Just want to get it set up and cycling for now.
You are taking it slow and learning before you make a move, that's the best way and it will serve you well. RC has a listing of local clubs and I'd advise you to look and see if there is one near you. They can be a huge help with ideas, used equipment and cheap livestock (CUC, fish, corals and inverts).

RtReef · 12/22/2011, 03:18 PM

Welcome.... Looks like Ron gave you good advice. If you run 600gph power head this will be good for you up to a 65G tank without blowing sand and things all over the place, (I know bc I have 2 and my flow is perfect combined with my return pump)..... although in a 20g it might do that

You will definitely want a skimmer sooner than later.

CUC would have to be added after tank cycle, but I would go for about 15 mix of snails and hermits and one cleaner shrimp. If you can find margarita snails buy those. They can flip themselves over when they fall and won't end up as food for hermits.

Any Advice I would give is, if your budget and space allows it, go for a larger tank. I went to get a 29g biocube, ended up with a 65g and, after 6 short months, now I want a 150-220g size..lol

Dragonladyreef · 12/22/2011, 08:24 PM

Thanks for the advice. A protein skimmer will probably be my first upgrade (I think). I am currently living in an upstairs apartment. We will be moving into a house at the end of january and putting in a hardwood floor at sometime in february or march. I figured after that is done I will upgrade to a 40 gallon if I like the SW tank and add a sump and more equipment.

I have a friend that will give me a few different corals. (pulsing xenia, glove polyps, colt coral, and star polyps)

15 CUC for a 20 gallon. That sounds like a lot. Is there any snails, hermits (crabs) or shrimp I should avoid, or that I shouldn't consider part of a clean up crew?

Dragonladyreef · 12/23/2011, 09:10 AM

I have an etra internal filter I could put carbon in and use as well. I just didn't know if I should use it with this being a SW tank.

mjhall85 · 12/23/2011, 09:28 AM

Welcome to RC depending what part of AZ you are in there is a lot of local reefers out here. http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=537 that is a link and it has a couple different clubs in it. People are always selling good used quality stuff on there if you wanna save a few bucks. Also we have frag meetings about monthly so you can get a lot of cool corals and what not for great prices. Well good luck!

Dragonladyreef · 12/26/2011, 10:55 AM

Got the tank setup, with the basics. Did some video shooting and figured I would post it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSbRW...ok2EghuMZZM0sC

We are heading out to get more live rock today, ans yes I know I need to raise the sg a little. We are also picking up a bag of reef salt as well.

12/22/2011, 07:20 AM	#1
Dragonladyreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 18	Planing my first SW reef tank! Hi everyone, <<<< So christmas is almost here and I am getting a saltwater reef setup. I have experience with planted freshwater tank and now I want to try SW. I have been reading and reading nonstop for the last two weeks about them. My plan is to start as simple as possible and upgrade as necessary. So he is the plan. -20 gallon long -2 powerhead - 50w heater - 20 lbs live sand - 20+ lbs of live rock - t5 HO dual light fixture Alright, so I am starting out with only biological filtration for cycling and possibly for when I add the cleaning crew and soft corals. Do you think this will be ok? Second question is how powerful of powerheads do I need? I want as powerful as I can get with out hurting anything, because if I like the reef I will upgrade the tank and I want to be able to keep using most of the same equipment. Third question is a 50w heater enough? I live in AZ and the house temp is at 74-76 degrees in the winter and higher in the summer. I will need to get something in the summer to cool the tank. All advice is welcome. I am just starting out simple, I do plan on getting other equipment, but I want to understand what each piece of equipment does before I start adding it. Also if anyone has any advice on a cleaning crew. What variety and how many would you add to the tank. I prefer a lighter stocked tank since it is small. I will probably only house 2 possibly 3 fish in this tank max, but adding fish is way down the road at the moment. Just want to get it set up and cycling for now. Thanks everyone!

12/22/2011, 01:16 PM	#2
Dino Freak of Nature Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Finding my way back to the boondocks Posts: 11,048	*To Reef Central Dragonladyreef!* __________________ Cody I will love and miss you until the last beat of my heart Harley & Rusty.

12/22/2011, 02:18 PM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Alright, so I am starting out with only biological filtration for cycling and possibly for when I add the cleaning crew and soft corals. Do you think this will be ok? You'll need some kind of mechanical filtration pretty quickly. I ran a 30g tank for a couple of years with a HOB (Hang On Back) filter and skimmer. And after 7 years, I still use the HOB units on my QT (Quarantine Tank). When you get ready for corals you will probably want a skimmer too. Some people run without them, but a HOB unit isn't very expensive and they do work fine on a system of 20g. Second question is how powerful of powerheads do I need? I want as powerful as I can get with out hurting anything, because if I like the reef I will upgrade the tank and I want to be able to keep using most of the same equipment. If you aren't doing a sump, all your flow will be from powerheads. In a 20g tank you'll want between 300 and 600 gph of flow. I'd go for 2 smaller heads and run them at opposite ends of the tank. Third question is a 50w heater enough? I live in AZ and the house temp is at 74-76 degrees in the winter and higher in the summer. I will need to get something in the summer to cool the tank. You may not need a heater at all, but the 50w you have will be enough if you need some extra heat. Your lights and powerheads will provide some heat as well. In the summer it will depend on how warm you let the house get. With t5's you may be able to get away with a good fan blowing over the surface of the tank, and that will increase the evaporation of water that you will need to replace. If that doesn't work, you may want to look at a small chiller. They come up for sale in our local club pretty regularly, or watch Craigslist for a 1/10th hp or 1/15th hp unit. I had a 1/10th hp on my 30g and used it on my 75g upgrade after a couple of years. They aren't cheap and they use some electricity, but they last a long time. I ran mine for 5+ years and sold it to a friend who is still using it (and it's 7 years old now). BTW, I'm in SW Florida and we let our house get into the mid 80's during the daytime and only cool to 82 at night (my wife has been in Florida too long and thinks anything under 80 is to cool). So my 350g system has a 1hp chiller that sits out behind the house! All advice is welcome. I am just starting out simple, I do plan on getting other equipment, but I want to understand what each piece of equipment does before I start adding it. Also if anyone has any advice on a cleaning crew. What variety and how many would you add to the tank. I prefer a lighter stocked tank since it is small. I will probably only house 2 possibly 3 fish in this tank max, but adding fish is way down the road at the moment. Just want to get it set up and cycling for now. You are taking it slow and learning before you make a move, that's the best way and it will serve you well. RC has a listing of local clubs and I'd advise you to look and see if there is one near you. They can be a huge help with ideas, used equipment and cheap livestock (CUC, fish, corals and inverts). __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

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12/22/2011, 03:18 PM	#4
RtReef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 603	Welcome.... Looks like Ron gave you good advice. If you run 600gph power head this will be good for you up to a 65G tank without blowing sand and things all over the place, (I know bc I have 2 and my flow is perfect combined with my return pump)..... although in a 20g it might do that You will definitely want a skimmer sooner than later. CUC would have to be added after tank cycle, but I would go for about 15 mix of snails and hermits and one cleaner shrimp. If you can find margarita snails buy those. They can flip themselves over when they fall and won't end up as food for hermits. Any Advice I would give is, if your budget and space allows it, go for a larger tank. I went to get a 29g biocube, ended up with a 65g and, after 6 short months, now I want a 150-220g size..lol

12/22/2011, 08:24 PM	#5
Dragonladyreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 18	Thanks for the advice. A protein skimmer will probably be my first upgrade (I think). I am currently living in an upstairs apartment. We will be moving into a house at the end of january and putting in a hardwood floor at sometime in february or march. I figured after that is done I will upgrade to a 40 gallon if I like the SW tank and add a sump and more equipment. I have a friend that will give me a few different corals. (pulsing xenia, glove polyps, colt coral, and star polyps) 15 CUC for a 20 gallon. That sounds like a lot. Is there any snails, hermits (crabs) or shrimp I should avoid, or that I shouldn't consider part of a clean up crew?

12/23/2011, 09:10 AM	#6
Dragonladyreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 18	I have an etra internal filter I could put carbon in and use as well. I just didn't know if I should use it with this being a SW tank.

12/23/2011, 09:28 AM	#7
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	Welcome to RC depending what part of AZ you are in there is a lot of local reefers out here. http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=537 that is a link and it has a couple different clubs in it. People are always selling good used quality stuff on there if you wanna save a few bucks. Also we have frag meetings about monthly so you can get a lot of cool corals and what not for great prices. Well good luck!

12/26/2011, 10:55 AM	#8
Dragonladyreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 18	Got the tank setup, with the basics. Did some video shooting and figured I would post it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSbRW...ok2EghuMZZM0sC We are heading out to get more live rock today, ans yes I know I need to raise the sg a little. We are also picking up a bag of reef salt as well.