20G Reef Build! Follow along!

[alyxandria]

Ok so, I decided to go with a 20G with natural filtration.

I used live sand, and live rock to help speed up the cycling process.

I think I mixed the salt alright considering it was my first time. The water is a bit cloudy still from the sand since I put it in after mixing the salt in the tank. I had no buckets big enough But my 5G buckets will be great for mixing for water changes.



I'm going to put in a clownfish for sure. What other reef safe fish do you guys suggest? And what do you suggest for a cleaning crew?

Thanks, hope I can get a couple to follow along this build with me as I hope to take it to reef stage with corals!


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[Mattyfelts]

Ok so, I decided to go with a 20G with natural filtration.

I used live sand, and live rock to help speed up the cycling process.

I think I mixed the salt alright considering it was my first time. The water is a bit cloudy still from the sand since I put it in after mixing the salt in the tank. I had no buckets big enough But my 5G buckets will be great for mixing for water changes.

View attachment 255153

I'm going to put in a clownfish for sure. What other reef safe fish do you guys suggest? And what do you suggest for a cleaning crew?

Thanks, hope I can get a couple to follow along this build with me as I hope to take it to reef stage with corals!


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wait to add the clownfish until you are sure it is safe. make sure that all is cycled and well, why hurt the fish.

 

[alyxandria]

wait to add the clownfish until you are sure it is safe. make sure that all is cycled and well, why hurt the fish.

I am going to make sure I do that! I'm just trying to plan ahead to figure out what I'm going to be keeping


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[Mattyfelts]

I am going to make sure I do that! I'm just trying to plan ahead to figure out what I'm going to be keeping


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in a 20... hmm i think clowns are doable and maybe a small goby

 

[bribo12]

In my 20 atm I have one ocellaris clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 flame tail blenny (royal pain...), and I just added a yellow watchman goby. I'd say 4 fish is good for a tank this size . So maybe a clown pair, goby of some type and another fish of your liking


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[alyxandria]

Awesome I was definitely wanting to go with a type of clown fish. I want a type of goby but not sure which. I also want a purple fish of some sort as its my favourite colour ?


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[alyxandria]

What about cleaner fish? Do you have any of those?


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[Mattyfelts]

could probably do a pair of designer clowns and a purple firefish

 

[alyxandria]

That would be nice, would two clowns be okay together? And the goby I like though I'm still looking for my perfect purple pet


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[alyxandria]

Ohhh found a pretty one.



Compatible?


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[alyxandria]

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[bribo12]

Pick either the orchid dottyback or royal gramma. Dottyback a can be buttheads!
Side note it drives my last nerve when sites list royal gramma (Gramma loreto) as a dottyback... They do not belong to the pseudochromis genus. They're a type of basslet... Sorry lol


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[Mattyfelts]

liveaquaria has some pretty nice compatibility charts, as a starting point.

 

[alyxandria]

Would they be compatible with a clownfish? I'll check liveaquaria. I like them both. Hard to pick. I'd have to see if my LFS could order it for me cause our saltwater selection in my little city of 75k is pretty sad.



My tank is clearing up since I attached a HOB on the back. Just put it in to get the sand that's floating but should I leave it there? It's just an Aqueon carbon insert. My hydrometer went back to normal again on a side note.


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[bribo12]

Would they be compatible with a clownfish? I'll check liveaquaria. I like them both. Hard to pick. I'd have to see if my LFS could order it for me cause our saltwater selection in my little city of 75k is pretty sad.

View attachment 255197

My tank is clearing up since I attached a HOB on the back. Just put it in to get the sand that's floating but should I leave it there? It's just an Aqueon carbon insert. My hydrometer went back to normal again on a side note.


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Yes they'd all get along. I'd add the dottyback last if you plan on getting one.


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[alyxandria]

It's all cleared up after I added in that temporary HOB filter. I have my live rock and my bottled bacteria and my tank parameters are:

Salinity: 1.021
pH: 7.0
Ammonia: I don't know the exact reading as I don't have the saltwater ammonia test kit. My master test kit tests both saltwater and freshwater but not for ammonia. But I tested it anyway and I know there is a presence of ammonia in the tank.
Nitrite: 0

I know my salinity should be a wee bit higher as well as my pH. We are in the first part of the cycle folks. ?


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[nelix10]

Are you canadian? J-l are good to order from! I was looking at dotty sacks for my 100 that is cycling now!


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[alyxandria]

Are you canadian? J-l are good to order from! I was looking at dotty sacks for my 100 that is cycling now!


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Yes I am! I will look into them definitely.


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[alyxandria]

Oh and in other news I have what I think are feather duster worms (can someone verify?) starting to poke out now. I think that is a good sign.








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[alyxandria]

I snagged 10 lbs of dry rock from a local reefer for $10 ? Pretty happy about that steal.

So I don't have an ammonia tester yet for my saltwater but my nitrite test isn't showing any yet. I added my three days of bottled bacteria so I'm just playing the waiting game now.

Added some baking soda last night to bring my pH to 7.5 and a little more today hopefully 8.0 tomorrow. Also added a bit more salt hopefully that will increase the salinity to where I want it. ?

Never been good with patience want to put in a clownfish but also am not gonna put the poor guy through that.


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