BillT's 20 gallon

So, coming from a 90 gallon with a refugium and chambered sump, Ca reactor, auto RODI topoff, O3, ect I'm going small time with this 20 gallon set up. I've been recently transferred from SLC where I've been reefing since 2003. I'd be lying if I told you I'm not a bit nervous about this, but willing to take advice from those of you who have a smaller system; I've always heard that smaller is harder. This tank is a tetra 20 that I painted the back black last night, using acrylic paint and a brush.

More details to follow, this is my start.



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I don't think you'll have any problem. You've got all the concepts down from your last setup.

 

Here are a couple of more pics.

20#'s of CaribSea base rock, Hydor 240 and 20#'s of CaribSea Fiji pink sand.




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AI Sol Blue for lighting.



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Tank is filled for it's water test, so far, so good!


Also getting this dusted off!


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Looking good Bill! Youre off to a good start.

Biggest most common issue for new hobbyists is they try to fill their tanks up way too fast. Then they run out of room to add stuff.

 

Thanks, Enderturtle. I hear that!

 

It's alive!



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What would you load in that HOB? Are you going to do HOB skimmer?

 

Not sure just yet, waiting for the dust to settle and the mind to wander right now.

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Looking good so far! Exciting to set up a new system, right?

 

Thank you! Absolutely! I'm wanting to take it slow and easy, plenty of time to set up the perfect home for new roommates! At this point, waiting on my AI rails to show up...slow and steady. Just very happy to have a body of water by my desk again.

I've got my Apex running my heater and will calibrate my pH probe tonight once I get my temp up...man, I've missed the hobby!

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Planning on having ATO? The salinity fluctuation will be more noticeable on a 20g than on your previous tank. Just asking since you have an Apex and such going on. My current tank is my first with ATO and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Actually, this is my first tank at work so I am not there weekends which could have a lot to do with my love of the ATO.

 

The cool thing about my job is that I only go into the office two days a week, but an ATO is certainly an option. This tank is at home. But, I'll want to automate as much as possible, for obvious reasons. I'll be honest though, I'm lost without a sump...This too may change.

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Feeling like am expecting daddy...yeah, I've been there a few times....

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After watching this http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/bacteria-in-a-bottle-functional-or-fake/
I decided to go the fishless cycle route with the Dr. Tim's One and Only.

I went to Dale's Ace Hardware in Fremont and picked up a quart of this:

To find out how much I'd need to get my ammonia up to ~2 ppm, I put a gallon of water into a container and added 1 drop off the ammonia...tested the levels, and that's all that was required. My 20 gallon tank, after adding sand and rock is 16 gallons, so, 16 drops. I'll be adding the Dr. Tim's One and Only tomorrow when Amazon delivers.

Here's how the tank looks now...I'll 'scape it later, lol.


If this is successful, I have a ton of ammonia if anyone wants it.

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Lol that is a lot of ammonia. You can get Dr tim ammonium chloride for $2 that give exactly 2ppm for 1 drop per gallon.

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@roostertech I hear ya, but a quart at $2.99 was pretty cheap and 1 drop per gallon did meet my 2 ppm goal. Want some?

 

Lol my tiny bottle of ammonia has gotten me through cycling 4 tanks. Yours will be enough to cycle a pond.

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Just a quick update. My AI Rail came in...now gotta get to storage and find the machine screws...wish me luck please. Worse case scenario, Home Depot here I come.




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