Just started my first saltwater aquarium, have been doing fresh water since i was really young. Always had something in a glass cage even if i had to catch it lol. But recently my dreams came true; i went to an auction, and found everything i would need to start my first salt water tank. I think.... The pricey equipment had always been my stopper, knowing failure is always possible, so getting a good deal on equipment was nessesary. Boy am i excited!! but i might need some advice... here's what i have so far 20 gallon long, 12"x 30"x 12" (figured this would be a good size for a beginner saving money on salt and such) Rio 110 skimmer ( says on the internet is good for 20 gallon, however with issues i've fixed with a little ingenuity) emperor 280 common filter maxi jet 900 (for cross flow which i cycle intermittently by hand every 8 hours or so because of the whirlpool it makes lol) JBJ aqua lighting flip up 30" long with blue life 65 watt 6700k dual bulb (will be looking into the 50/50 bulb next week or so) also a standard 30 gallon light fixture with a glo marine glo 20 watt t8 bulb actinic that i swap out to at dark. 1/4" crushed coral substrate 10 - 12 lbs premium live rock (sooo glad i went premium) and maybe 8 lbs of white staghorn looking coral left over from a friends failed attempt (hoping the goodies from the live rock will go to the coral so my friend doesn't have to spend much money when he decides to give it another try) and one little peppermint shrimp (bubba) that i got just to have something in there thats moving around while i wait for the awsomeness this is my first attempt and i aim to succeed so if i've failed to think of something or if anyone has any pointers, i am open for advice. I did soooo much research and came up with some crazy ideas that were probably over kill before my local Marine World friend set me straight, (i think i'll take his advice over random things ive read on the internet seeing as he's been doing it for 40 years...) But the one thing i haven't had time to do was talk to him about all my equipment and ideas he might have on it. So here i figure i might get that. Glad to be here. And after 4 days this little tank has had me glued to its view longer than any ive ever had, sooo glad i made the plunge
Welcome to the forums and the hobby! Depending on what type of coral you are wanting to keep in the future, you will need to upgrade your lighting. Also you might want to add some more rock. Most will recommend at least 1 lb per gallon. One thing is to really take it slow. After you initially set up the tank you'll need to let the biofilter get established. It can be ready for fish relatively quickly ( no amm or nitrite ) but for a good bio filter to get established takes more time. I didn't see test kits on your list. They are essential for success. If you want LPS or SPS corals in the future make sure you get tests for Calcium, as well as the standard ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, phosphates, and alkalinity. You will also need a hydrometer or refractometer ( salinity measurement ). From experience, spend the extra on a refractometer, it is more accurate, easier to read, and you will take better care of it than the $10 hydrometer that you have knocked off the counter and broken enough times to buy 2 refractometers.... This last one is just lucky, when it breaks I'm getting a refractometer lol Best advice I can give is go slow and enjoy! Even just the little microfauna in the sandbed and on the rocks are pretty cool to watch. Oh yea and we love pictures!
lol a hydrometer was the first thing i got, my guy at the store wouldn't let me have anything without a water sample. which i think ALL aquarium stores should do. What do you recomend for the chemical balace testing and what parameters do you recomend keeping it in? My goal is two small clowns, a scooter bleny, an emerald crab, and maybe a pajama cardinal. But more for the coral and awsome colors they give. Also as far as lighting i've got in my mind the 50/50 bulb will get me the furthest with both coral and fish alike, but do you think i have enough? also is it good to leave the single actinic on for them all night? rather than just turning the lights off all the lights? I use this http://www.theaquatools.com/building-your-aquarium to calculate all my true sizes for all my aquariums (4) that way i know how much i'm really dealing with since i'm a plant guy with few ornaments. My reef tank comes out to 18.5 true gallons with maybe 17 really in there, with the 65 watt and rigging up a way to put the 20 watt actinic on the top at the same time, i think i'm gonna end up with about 5 watts per gallion. Is that a decent range for coral? Thanks for all your help in advance!! Oh yeah... I've got dozens of pictures if anybody wants to help me figure out what alot of these creasures are, *wipes another nose smudge off the glass*.
