want to start 20 gal sw tank?
- Thread starter stinger133
- Start date
Live Rock is the best filter you will ever buy for a SW tank IMO, I know you are asking about an actual power filter. Are you trying to do a reef or just a FOWLR( Fish Only With Live Rock) Setup?
well i was thinking reef...so i could just use live fish and live rock and actually not need the filter
I'm not an expert by any means, I am fairly new to SW myself about 5 months in.. I would say A good sand bed, live rock, and a HOB refugium, and if your going to go reef I would also recommend a protein skimmer. I'm sure some of the more knowledgable SW keepers on here will chime in soon enough.. That's just my .02. Do alot of research and read up on every species of fish, coral, and invertebrate before you buy them.
Also you want a good power head in there as well, the more flow around your live rock the better.. I use the Nano Hydor Koralia powerheads. I have 2 in my 29g.
A HOT filter is fine. Marineland makes the Magnum canister filter as well as the Penguin power filters. I recommend over filtering too. Protein skimmers are definitely nice. Once you start running coral you'll want one to aid with the Bioload. Get AT LEAST 20 lbs of live rock, if not more. And get a cirvulstion pump. I'm running a Koralia Evolution 750 in my 29 gallon...
And then there is the lighting
And then there is the lighting
For a 20g you can just get a skimmer, and maybe another powerhead for the sake of flow, and just do h2o changes.
I think a high quality skimmer is your best option on a small tank.
I think a high quality skimmer is your best option on a small tank.
Fleshy is right, Good skimmer, Nice LR, several powerheads, and maybe a Hob filter to catch some loose particles in the water. Water changes are a MUST. I would say once a week. 2 water changes are big for a small tank so dont push it.