Need a wingman/woman....fresh to salt 20g

[Bubbles_n_worms]

OK so I have a project I want to start. I've always been a freshwater hobbyist. I currently have a 150 gallon tropical freshwater tank in my living room. And in my den I have a 20 gallon tall tropical, that I have been using for small fish to grow out for the 150. In my den I also have a 20 gallon Long cold water for my two axolotl's. Just to mention I also have a 55 gallon broken down tank. The fish that are in the 20 gallon tall are ready to move onto the 150.
Now that you know this I want to set up a saltwater tank. I was thinking of using the 20 gallon. Though I could also do the 55 gallon and use the 20 gallon for filtration. Now I've watch some YouTube videos did a little reading online, but I am nowhere near being knowledgeable enough to go out and buy or trade for the supplies needed. I don't want to just go to my lfs. Now I have the money to do this, but my husband is not going to be happy I'm spending money on A new project. So I have to keep this reasonable. I already have a heater a hob filter and great LED lights. I was thinking of doing a reef set up with one or two small fish. But since I need help with this I welcome opinions and advice. On craigslist I do have a local person that already has live rocks and frag. I can easily by the live sand at my LFS. But I need to know exactly what I need to do the steps that I need to do I know it's going to take a while to cycle the tank. I also need to know about salt water and the salt meter.( I forget what it's called). I have had a Great experience in the freshwater hobby. And I would learned a tremendous amount from this forum as well as lessons learned. I need to know what additives I'm going to need on hand. Since it's going to be a small tank I'm thinking I can just buy my saltwater. The one thing I do know is about evaporation and salt not being added to the tank. I'm going to want advice on setting up the design of the tank as well as what type of fish are appropriate for 20 gallon. This is going to be a process, and I could really use one or two go to persons I can count on throughout the process of switching from freshwater or salt water. Currently there are fish in the tank and it operational. i'm holding off on breaking it down until I find a person(s) willing to help me. I've always found that MFK has great members willing to help and walk you through something, so I'm counting on my fellow MFKS. I added the picture of the 20 gallon and the 55 gallon the heater and filter are both on the 20. Those will not be the lights use though. Thanks and wish me luck !!!

 

[markstrimaran]

I am not a salt expert. I did however kill every thing in a 20g long salt set up. A $300.00 education I see it. Mostly on LFS advice 25 years ago.
Well for a reef with corals. The bigest tank you can afford. The 5 gallon Nanos I think are impractical. No experience
You will need a protein skimmer.
10x tank volume flow/ 20 gal = 200 Gph filtration.
Less than 2 ppm Nitrate. Live rock, or a denitrator. Deep sand bed.

Reverse osmosis water if your water is too far off.
Crushed coral to maintain 8.0 Ph
Test kits for every thing. Mostly
Nitrate, phosphate, copper.
Copper is highly toxic to salt water inverts.

A fish only salt tank is fairly similar to fresh, once invertebrates, corals are kept. It can get complicated.
Most reefer, have digital pH meters, Orp mv meters, hard wired to a carbon dosing pump.
Ozone generators, Uv sterilizers, the list goes on.
A 100 gallon reef is an easy $4000.00 investment, unless it's done DiY.

 

[convict360]

I am not a salt expert. I did however kill every thing in a 20g long salt set up. A $300.00 education I see it. Mostly on LFS advice 25 years ago.
Well for a reef with corals. The bigest tank you can afford. The 5 gallon Nanos I think are impractical. No experience
You will need a protein skimmer.
10x tank volume flow/ 20 gal = 200 Gph filtration.
Less than 2 ppm Nitrate. Live rock, or a denitrator. Deep sand bed.

Reverse osmosis water if your water is too far off.
Crushed coral to maintain 8.0 Ph
Test kits for every thing. Mostly
Nitrate, phosphate, copper.
Copper is highly toxic to salt water inverts.

A fish only salt tank is fairly similar to fresh, once invertebrates, corals are kept. It can get complicated.
Most reefer, have digital pH meters, Orp mv meters, hard wired to a carbon dosing pump.
Ozone generators, Uv sterilizers, the list goes on.
A 100 gallon reef is an easy $4000.00 investment, unless it's done DiY.

whoa, that's crazy...and I thought i was going high tech by looking at co2 for my freshwater tank LOL

 

[Bubbles_n_worms]

S

I am not a salt expert. I did however kill every thing in a 20g long salt set up. A $300.00 education I see it. Mostly on LFS advice 25 years ago.
Well for a reef with corals. The bigest tank you can afford. The 5 gallon Nanos I think are impractical. No experience
You will need a protein skimmer.
10x tank volume flow/ 20 gal = 200 Gph filtration.
Less than 2 ppm Nitrate. Live rock, or a denitrator. Deep sand bed.

Reverse osmosis water if your water is too far off.
Crushed coral to maintain 8.0 Ph
Test kits for every thing. Mostly
Nitrate, phosphate, copper.
Copper is highly toxic to salt water inverts.

A fish only salt tank is fairly similar to fresh, once invertebrates, corals are kept. It can get complicated.
Most reefer, have digital pH meters, Orp mv meters, hard wired to a carbon dosing pump.
Ozone generators, Uv sterilizers, the list goes on.
A 100 gallon reef is an easy $4000.00 investment, unless it's done DiY.

so I'm guessing just to put live rock and sand in and a fish or two small of course would be the best place to start. I'm guessing I can start off with just the basics and build from there over time. So deep bed I'm guessing 4 inches of live sand, A few live rocks 20 pounds I'm guessing. I heard somewhere you should have a pound for every gallon. The protein skimmer which isn't a problem. A freshly cleaned HOB filter which I already have. Marine Filtration, i'm guessing is different then freshwater. I'll do some research and see what will fit my needs best. They heater of course and as far as the crushed coral is concerned is there any other way to keep the pH at 8.0 like a marine pH buffer like we use for our freshwater tanks ie African Cichlid buffer? I'm just thinking that it wouldn't look the way I am wanting it to look if I put the crushed coral in there with the sand in the sub trade unless the crushed coral can go underneath the sand. I'm guessing I'll Also need a water current fan? Like I said I have excellent LED lights so it would be fine to get anemones and keep them alive, of course when I get to that point. And then I have to get one of those salt meters. And what was this about the 2ppm's of nitrate? Does that mean once I have two ppm's I can start adding fish as far as the cycle goes? And how do I make sure I am always at 2P PMs, obviously I know to test for it. But I know it is far as freshwater nitrates can fluctuate in my tank after water change I can go from 15 to 10. Can you explain to me what the process of a water changes with salt water ? I'm used to water changes with all the tanks I have specially the 150 gallon. Try vacuuming with a canopy on top as well, not easy . I'm lucky I have a great canister filter in my ammonia is always at zero but there've been times where I check my nitrates and they are 40 ppm ! I also recently rehomed my marble gobe. He was a dirty dirty boy . Thanks, bubbles.....

 

[convict360]

S
so I'm guessing just to put live rock and sand in and a fish or two small of course would be the best place to start. I'm guessing I can start off with just the basics and build from there over time. So deep bed I'm guessing 4 inches of live sand, A few live rocks 20 pounds I'm guessing. I heard somewhere you should have a pound for every gallon. The protein skimmer which isn't a problem. A freshly cleaned HOB filter which I already have. Marine Filtration, i'm guessing is different then freshwater. I'll do some research and see what will fit my needs best. They heater of course and as far as the crushed coral is concerned is there any other way to keep the pH at 8.0 like a marine pH buffer like we use for our freshwater tanks ie African Cichlid buffer? I'm just thinking that it wouldn't look the way I am wanting it to look if I put the crushed coral in there with the sand in the sub trade unless the crushed coral can go underneath the sand. I'm guessing I'll Also need a water current fan? Like I said I have excellent LED lights so it would be fine to get anemones and keep them alive, of course when I get to that point. And then I have to get one of those salt meters. And what was this about the 2ppm's of nitrate? Does that mean once I have two ppm's I can start adding fish as far as the cycle goes? And how do I make sure I am always at 2P PMs, obviously I know to test for it. But I know it is far as freshwater nitrates can fluctuate in my tank after water change I can go from 15 to 10. Can you explain to me what the process of a water changes with salt water ? I'm used to water changes with all the tanks I have specially the 150 gallon. Try vacuuming with a canopy on top as well, not easy . I'm lucky I have a great canister filter in my ammonia is always at zero but there've been times where I check my nitrates and they are 40 ppm ! I also recently rehomed my marble gobe. He was a dirty dirty boy . Thanks, bubbles.....

I believe our dear friend means that nitrates should not go above 2ppm...

 

[tlindsey]

The biggest challenge imo is making sure your lighting will penetrate depth of aquarium to sustain coralline algae, soft corals, etc. I know you stated your lighting is good please make sure I want it to be a successful setup. I had a reef setup many years ago in a 40 gallon column aquarium, lighting consisted of Medal Halide bulbs which would seem like the sun was in the room with you lol. Also Halide with combination Actinic bulbs system came with ballast, and canopy had fan to exhaust the heat.
Now it more simple due to the advanced lighting available.

 

[Bubbles_n_worms]

I paid 250$ Each for 16" strips I have two. They give off an amazing bright blue light. I have them on my 150g now and my plants grow like weeds with no CO2 diffuser. I have other lights hooked up to they have a yellow hue though. But they will still be fine and bright enough for the 150g.

 

[carbene]

you can also build your own. i get mine from rapidled

 

[Bubbles_n_worms]

Maybe down the road I'll get another set for the 150 after I get the SW tank up and going. Like I said I want to watch how much I'm spending. This is an unapproved project lol

 

[Bubbles_n_worms]

I believe our dear friend means that nitrates should not go above 2ppm...

Hey quick question off topic for u. My punk convict and blAck striped had fry great parents btw! What color do u think the juveniles will be. They are looking like 50% are pink 50% have pink tone with black dashes on them. Idk though what is ur experience been . Asking bc if ur tag