New to saltwater

[ewan]

I have recently upgraded my 20 gallon freshwater to a 80 gallon and now I have the 20 left over. I was wondering what I need to make this tank into a reef tank, equipment, how to cycle, live stock, and everything else. Will be great full for all advice.

 

[Mattyfelts]

liverock, sand, power heads, filtration, salt, refractometer, heater, thermometer, good LEDs.

live stock id do couple occ clowns and maybe a small goby. have a small cuc of hermits and snails and a cleaner shrimp.

corals, start with easy ones like mushrooms, zoas, etc.

 

[ewan]

What filtration will I need (mechanical)

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[bribo12]

What filtration will I need (mechanical)

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I have a 20 gallon reef and I just run a hob aqua clear 50 with chemi pure elite in it. No sponge

 

[ewan]

OK I think I have a hob filter somewhere. Does live rock do the biological filtration I thought I heard some one say that just out of interest

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[ewan]

I will buy chemical pure elite thanks

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[ewan]

Chemi damm auto spell

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[BigRedsReefs10]

OK I think I have a hob filter somewhere. Does live rock do the biological filtration I thought I heard some one say that just out of interest

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Yes the water flowing over/through your rock work is your main bio filtration.

 

[ewan]

OK good to know thanks

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[ewan]

Do I wait to add live rock or is that part of the cycling process

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[bribo12]

Do I wait to add live rock or is that part of the cycling process

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That's part of the cycling process

 

[ewan]

OK thanks

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[ewan]

I think I now know how to set it up

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[bribo12]

Just add mixed sw, then the rock, then the sand after the water is warm enough of course. Then throw the filter on, toss in a raw shrimp in mesh and let nature take its course . Oh also add powerheads for current

 

[ewan]

OK. Will probably have t set up in a month

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[Big Tex]

I have a 20 gallon reef and I just run a hob aqua clear 50 with chemi pure elite in it. No sponge

x2 on this, anything under 30g is a good low tech tank, hob filter, no skimmer, but an aquaticlife 115 skimmer is a good one for a 20g if your wanting corals eventually, and live rock and live sand, about a pound per gallon or more so 20lb of sand and 20-40lbs of live rock and water and your set. also a single or a pair of koralia 425s would be perfect for surface agitation and a good current to keep detritus material suspended for the hob to pickup and filter out.

 

[bribo12]

x2 on this, anything under 30g is a good low tech tank, hob filter, no skimmer, but an aquaticlife 115 skimmer is a good one for a 20g if your wanting corals eventually, and live rock and live sand, about a pound per gallon or more so 20lb of sand and 20-40lbs of live rock and water and your set. also a single or a pair of koralia 425s would be perfect for surface agitation and a good current to keep detritus material suspended for the hob to pickup and filter out.

Oh I have a skimmer on my 20 but that's only because it's mostly sps. I agree though that You definitely don't need one for a 20. Weekly wc are just as good

 

[ewan]

Will t8 be any good for lighting just found a fixture in garage

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[bribo12]

Will t8 be any good for lighting just found a fixture in garage

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Not if you want to keep corals. You will want t5 or strong leds

 

[ewan]

OK I will invest in some

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