Starting a 20 gallon this saturday ADViCE AND TIPS WELCOMED

[daboyprince23]

my water usually lowers itself every few days and i add some top off water, i think because it lowers itself so often i can avoid major water changes for now

 

[Louie]

whats up guys this is my first saltwater tank im doing a 20 gallon im doing it for a chemistry project and for myself so its a win win for me lol i already have a 55 gallon and 29 gallon both freshwater. i wanted to show the pros my future purchases for this weekend im not sure if i will buy all products online or in a LFS depends on prices. Let me know whats up thanks in advance! i will post pics of the process of this tank until the final result.

1.is this a good test kit?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+15475&pcatid=15475
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+15477&pcatid=15477


2.Hydrometer
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4690+4952&pcatid=4952

3.RO water should i buy the unit or buy the water(how much is the water? i plan on having tank for a while)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4395+12093&pcatid=12093

4.Saltwater mix
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4685+4856&pcatid=4856

5.Filter
Aquaclear 20 gallon hang on back

6.Heater
Im not that dumb

7, Sand
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10741+7321&pcatid=7321
or
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10741+16765&pcatid=16765
or
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10741+7318&pcatid=7318

8.Live Rock
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=393+2649&pcatid=2649

9. Lighting
GIVE ME ADVICE!

10. What else am I missing?(Protein Skimmer?)
i have a air pump anything else

Join the Brooklyn Fish club. I used to belong to them when lived in Long Island.
You get free inverts,etc that folks breed and great auction's .

 

[Louie]

its a skeleton of a brain coral, it will not harm your water if its just a skeleton. But if it still has dead tissue on it then yes, this will harm your water. I had a brain coral die on me, and i placed it in my frag tank, its now fully grown back to its original size, and has a completely different color. I got lucky but it was achieved by giving it more light before all the tissue was completely gone off the skeleton. Your's looks like theres nothing left but you might still have some luck.

the rock is Base Rock I'm guessing. It will take time but it will soon get life on it such as coraline algae and other encrusted critters.

as for the filter, you can use the same black sponge but it needs to be rinsed free of debris monthly. I use a small amount of mixed water to keep as much bacteria as possible. Carbon and any other chemical media should be replaced at this time as well. Water changes once weekly or every other week. What ever you prefer, just make sure your water levels stay consistent.

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I would think any bleached/dead base rock over time will become "live" rock as far as providing a home for good bacteria?

 

[Louie]

also is this a claM?

I think your rocks looks nice . In my case I didn't keep light needing inverts I had live rock which got algae thus looked terrible and lots feather dusters -few little star fish and small fish .
When you first start it's so confusing as just so many ways to do it .
The blue damsel looks great.
Don't make the mistake I made and got a Damsel Beau Gregory which claimed half a 55 gallon tank for 6 yrs.

I have found lot's neat stuff by beach pools here after heavy rains/waves going to set up another fowler .