Wanting to start a reef (n00b)

[DucatiDragster]

Hey Reefers,

I have a 20 gallon tank that I want to turn into a reef. What would you reefers suggest for a total saltwater n00b? I've been freshwater all my life, but it's time for me to get into reefs and start off with a easy 20 gallon. I have a heater, hob filter, powerhead, and light. What else do I need to get started? I want live sand, live rocks, and a few small nemo fishes.

Thanks

 

[Gene0514]

For a reef, you'll need new, strong lights
you'll also need a test kit, 20lb of live sand, 20 lb of live rock, a clean-up crew.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

I would get a bigger tank if you've never done salt...smaller tanks tend to be trickier if you've never done salt before. With some it can be frustrating and possibly drive you away from reefs.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

In addition the 1" of fish to 1 gallon doesn't apply to salt its more like 1" of fish per 4 gallons or so, so in a 20 you would probably only be able to have 1 maybe 2 really small fish. Again I would get a bigger tank.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

But if you do want to do one is a small tank your going to need a skimmer and a refractometer too.

 

[FLESHY]

Skimmer is a must with reefs...and probably all saltwater unless you want the surface of your tank to be completely disgusting. When I started reef keeping 7 years ago I started with a 55. I feel thats a good size for a begginer. You wont have to deal with a lot of the "big-tank" issues, like massive dead spots ect... and yet, it offers some lee-way as far as water quality goes... Do the 20, but you MIGHT have issues, and if you do... you are more likely to quit what I consider to be one of the most rewarding sections of the aquarium trade... How many people run into petco, buy a nano-cube and three months later will NEVER think about doing saltwater again. Just be prepared to have some major issues and to stick with the tank until it sees you through your "n00b" years if you want to do it that way.

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

I started with a 12 gallon when we say its "harder" to start with a smaller tank it's because nano tanks require you to be more observant. when !@#$ hits the fan, it hits it fast because there is less water for things to spread.

I've heard people say you don't need a skimmer on a nano, but for a 20 gallon i would atleast get a bakpak skimmer or something...

We all make mistakes when starting out, best thing is not to let it get to you, if you really love this hobby i pretty much guarentee you will have more SW tanks in the future.

As for fish, you could put some gobys and shrimp in there.. maybe some clowns... blennies... etc.

good luck! welcome to Marine aquariums!

 

[micstarz]

Hey Reefers,

I have a 20 gallon tank that I want to turn into a reef. What would you reefers suggest for a total saltwater n00b? I've been freshwater all my life, but it's time for me to get into reefs and start off with a easy 20 gallon. I have a heater, hob filter, powerhead, and light. What else do I need to get started? I want live sand, live rocks, and a few small nemo fishes.

Thanks

A 20 gallon will be nice and easy for you. Depending on what you are planning to stock your tank with, you might have to upgrade the lighting.

Don't let the talk about protein skimmer scare you. If you don't keep abstract predators like frogfish, cephlalopods or mantis shrimp (or delicate corals) you will not NEED a skimmer. Also, if you want to do a macroalgae tank, you will not want a skimmer. A macroalgae display tank is less common, requires less equipment and is easier to keep water quality in check.

I recommend you get a mantis shrimp (after research). They are amazing creatures! I would get 8 lbs of live sand and mix it with aragonite and about one lb of crushed coral so the total depth is 3 inches...

You don't really need that much live rock, if you put bio rings in your filter. For 20 gallons, 8-12 lbs of live rock will do good.

"Nemo fish" are called clownfish.

Skimmer is a must with reefs...and probably all saltwater unless you want the surface of your tank to be completely disgusting. When I started reef keeping 7 years ago I started with a 55. I feel thats a good size for a begginer. You wont have to deal with a lot of the "big-tank" issues, like massive dead spots ect... and yet, it offers some lee-way as far as water quality goes... Do the 20, but you MIGHT have issues, and if you do... you are more likely to quit what I consider to be one of the most rewarding sections of the aquarium trade... How many people run into petco, buy a nano-cube and three months later will NEVER think about doing saltwater again. Just be prepared to have some major issues and to stick with the tank until it sees you through your "n00b" years if you want to do it that way.

Skimmers aren't a must for reefs, unless you keep infra-red light corals that need a pH of precisely 8.46201, exactly 4 grains of sand per ml of water, requires an ambidextrous ninja trained buddhist "nemo friend" and will die if anything else (even plankto) is introduced into the tank.

Let's just send him off to BigGourami

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

I would go with a protein skimmer, some people will tell you, you don't need one but it will be useful to have.

 

[Wheat]

Skimmer not necessary. Regular water changes are. A lot of soft corals actually do better without a skimmer.