Saltwater suggestions/rec. please

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reticray1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 4, 2006
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I'm interested in starting a saltwater tank. I plan to buy a 20 gallon tank this weekend. I don't plan on doing any corals but just a FOWLR.

There is a local guy that is moving and selling liverock/livesand. He's selling livesand at 1$/pound and cured liverock for 3$/pound. I'm gonna buy 25 lbs of live sand and 25 lbs of live rock. Is that enough?

For filtration, I have 2 AC110's laying around and plan on throwing one of them on the 20 with a Seaclone 150 protein skimmer and 25lbs of liverock/sand. The guy is selling the skimmer brand new for 70$. Good price? Would that skimmer be overkill for a 20 gallon? I read the more gph the better? He is also selling a Coralife skimmer, not sure of the model though. Would that be all the equipment needed other than a heater? The regular flourescent light would be okay?

Another question, is it necessary that I have an RO unit or can I use regular tap water? I read somewhere in another thread that tap water had too much phosphates/minerals and would cause an algae bloom?

I plan on getting a pair of clown fish, is there any other fish I can add to this setup? Any suggestions on what to add? Thanks for any input.
 
It sounds like you're off to a good start; provided you remember these things:

In a SW aquarium, LR, especially the 'extra' that you would be purchasing, will provide the majority of filtration in your tank. The protien skimmer will make up for the remaining portion, as will the occasional water change when necessary.

The skimmer, I would try and get the model, it seems like a good deal, and at least you have a backup skimmer, if it is not up to par.

Hope this helps.
 
reticray1;697932; said:
Would that be all the equipment needed other than a heater? The regular flourescent light would be okay?

Another question, is it necessary that I have an RO unit or can I use regular tap water? I read somewhere in another thread that tap water had too much phosphates/minerals and would cause an algae bloom?

I plan on getting a pair of clown fish, is there any other fish I can add to this setup? Any suggestions on what to add? Thanks for any input.
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As for extra equipment, you may want to add a powerhead of sorts to help wiht better water circulation in the tank.

Ro water: not totally necessary, but it will be easier to maintain and in the long run, better for the tank.

Clownfish: I would hold off on any live stuff, except for the sand and rock of course, until your tank is cycyled, and you've gotten a good stable point.
 
i would not get the seaclone. You can find a cheap coralife super skimmer for around that price. They are far more efficient.
 
You can also use tap water however you may be fighting off cyano algae at one point or another. I would find out what size the coralife skimmer he is selling is and whether its the needle wheel version.
 
The easiest way to solve the tap water questions are just to do a few tests on it over a few days. If it comes back good then its ok to use.
U should still test it and expect to have to wait 6 weeks or so but if i was you ide be checking the levels after a few days and you may be surprised how quickly it will cycle since you already have live sand and cured rock. If you set it up quick and kept everything wet i think you could have fish in it that night. As i said expect 6 weeks but whenever i have moved a tank i have always kept everything wet set it back up within a few hours and ive never had any problems other then maybe a small algae bloom if anything on the rocks did happen to not make it.
 
clopez21;697961; said:
You can also use tap water however you may be fighting off cyano algae at one point or another. I would find out what size the coralife skimmer he is selling is and whether its the needle wheel version.
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Yea, I just asked him and he said it's the needle wheel version and it's meant for an aquarium of up to 125 gallons. Is that too much for a 20 gallon?
 
Maybe. The return from it may churn up the tank to much. Find out the flow rate of the skimmer. If the flow isnt to much then it should be fine.
 
just realized you said a 20 gallon. I would look for a nano skimmer. Something small. The super skimmer would probably not fit at all. Not to mention the return creating a sandstorm
 
clopez21;700470; said:
just realized you said a 20 gallon. I would look for a nano skimmer. Something small. The super skimmer would probably not fit at all. Not to mention the return creating a sandstorm
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Thanks for your input. Any suggestions for a good nano skimmer for a 20gallon?
 
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