First 20 gallon long build. (Pictures)

Hey everyone! This is where I will be writing about each step in the build of my first tank. I set it up about one week ago. It includes a Solormax T5 HO lighting system, two 425gph powerheads, heater, RO/DI saltwater from my LFS. I added 20 lbs of live sand and one 3 pound live rock.

I've added a bit of flake food to start the cycle and the brownish algae from the live rock has begun speading to the sand. I'm going to buy a test kit in a few days and will be tracking the chemicals soon. My plan is to eventually get two clownfish, some coral, and an interesting clean up crew. Keep it simple. Let me know what you guys think and thanks for all the support! ;D

P.S. I guess I should tell you that it is a 20g long. Lol, that is kind of important.

 

what size tank and what do you eventually wanna keep in it! remember go slow and ask questions!

 

Sounds like a great start. What do you mean by an interesting CUC?

 

Filtration? Skimmer? You dont need a skimmer for sure on a tank this size, but filtration is always a nice thing to have. personally and this is what I did on my 15 long, 2 aquaclear 70s with the aquaclear 30 impellers for slow flow, 1 koralia 425, one of the aq70's is for filtration, and one is a refugium, its also adds about 2-3 gallons of water to the system, you could also go sump, but its all up to you. I found the 2 pumps to be a bit much, especially with 2 aquaclears on it haha.

 

I've allways loved watching inverts more than the fish themselves. I have a 10 gallon freshwater breeding tank for red cherry shrimp and it is my favorite tank. Because there are SO MANY different types of shrimp, snails, crabs, etc. that can go into saltwater, I want to have a CUC that I want to sit and watch. One of the best ways to put off doing a paper is to sit with my face an inch away from the glass and watch their little hands poke around in the rocks and sand.

 

Good luck with your Tank! Sounds like your planning things out, which is good. Remember to GO SLOW.

 

Great start and I agree with the recommendation for some type of filtration and the (2) aq70s sounds like a good setup. Keep us up to date and post some pics.

 

I've started noticing a light dusting of brown algae like stuff everywhere. It started on the live rock and has moved to the live sand. Is this a normal part of the cycle? Or something else? Also, I've noticed a few spots of purple color on the live rock. What is this? Sorry about the questions, I'm just trying to know everything lol.

Also, I just got a digital camera, so look out for some pictures coming soon!

 

brown dust is Diatoms, this is good in means your cycle is starting! and purple spots are most likely coraline Algae, this is good too, it is a sure sign that your calium levels are good. what are you doing for filtration at this point?

 

I am going to use a hang-on filter from one of my old 10g freshwater tanks. I removed the biofilter from the back and cleaned in out completely. I placed it in the tank so it can build up some kind of bacteria on it. Once my cycle is finnished I'll place it in the filter and leave the top open so it can get light. I don't know if this will be enough filtration, but it should work. What do you think?