Newbie Help Please (with Pics) Frag Placement and Feeding

I have a 3 month old 20 Gallon Long.* Nitrates are usually between 10 and 20ppm, Nitrite and Ammonia 0, 76-77degrees. adjustable DIY LED.* To the back Right I have an in-tank Wet Dry by some company called Subcurrent (bioballs,Purigen,and blue floss/foam) with two output which create some flow. To the left I have a power head and left rear I have a diy Internal Chaeto Refugium (clear plastic box/drilled a zillion holes in it and put the output hose of a smaller powerhead). I'm doing a 4 Gallon a week water change (30% - I measured once and have only 15 Gallons of water since most of the tank is rock and substrate).
Live Stock: 2 juvenile Clarkii's, hermits/snails, Kenya Tree's, Asst Zoas, Red Cap, Frogspawn, Assorted Mushrooms, Hairy Mushrooms, Pulsing Xenia, Kryptonite Candy, Bali Slimer, Green Cup Mushroom, and Neon Green Star Polyps. Crushed coral substrate.
Am I doing anything obviously wrong in the way of positioning? All my zoa's are on the top, figuring they would like the extra light. I read that Kenya tree's (Some one gave me a bunch) are bad for hard corals so I tried to isolate them to the bottom left. I stuck the bali slimer to the top and the Kryonite top left thinking they require the light.

-I've been told not to dose (especially for a 20G) anything and water changes should be enough (I use Reef Crystals salt). This right?
-I've been feeding my Krypto and Green Cup Mushroom crushed algae wafers cause it's fun to feed. My Clowns get spectrum pellets once a day every other day. I have some Tetra Marine Flakes the i toss in occassionally. What should I be feeding which corals if spot feeding necessary? Anything for the Zoathids?



-I have no room for external stuff but was contemplating the internal Hydor Slim Skim Nano (would go in back left corner)but from the forums ppl say P.skimmers (in general) are not worth the space for a 20 Gal. Do you agree?
-I have some mushroom in the front right (red, green stripped, and some burgundy colored one) should I stick them on Rocks so that when I do my vacuuming i don't mess them up?


-Can I cut the Hairy mushrooms or just let it scrunch up like that? I had it on the substrate but moved it to the top when I noticed it wasn't looking as good. It was givin to me like that, both look stuck together. I read they melt easy so should i just leave them alone. Night and day photos.


Is 6 hours of light good enough?
I want to trade in one of my clowns for a juvenile black clown and also add a yellow watchman goby. I would have 1 clarkii, 1 black clown, and ywg? Over crowded?

Thanks in advance for all who are able to brave through my message. I'd appreciate any and all suggestions/observations.

James

 

Welcome to 3reef James.

You do not need to target feed the zoanthids.
I would attempt to provide an alternative to the tetra marine flakes. Try some quality frozen foods with Mysid shrimp, or cyclopeez or other meaty sea foods.
I can not comment on the lighting as I have never had LED's.
For your stocking, I see no issues as long as do the routine water changes. Two clowns and one YWG will be ok but that is the limit.
The mushrooms are fine the way they are, they just " scrunch " up like that normally.
No I do not believe you need to dose at this point.
Me personally I do not like the hydro slim skim nano, there are many other better alternatives.
It looks like a great start for only 3 months old. My only suggestion is to decide whether you want a tank dominated by soft corals or stony corals, a mixed reef is much easier in larger tanks. In small tanks the battle to keep the soft corals from over growing the stony corals can be troublesome. Mushrooms and zoanthids are slower growers and easier to keep in check. You will find you have a tank dominated by kenya tree and xenia quickly.

Good luck

 

Thanks Corailline. I will pick up some Hikari Mysis shrimp. My pictures don't show my counter top situation but I have a two inch clearance in the back and sides and my light is about 2 inches off the top of the tank. All of the really good skimmers require some space. I was leaning towards Hydor because of that (internal). Will any of the ones you had in mind work? 20 Long is about 12x12x30.

Thanks again.

 

Actually no, I was thinking HOB. I have never had much luck with internal small skimmers.

While a skimmer will afford you a greater margin of error, in my opinion it's not a must have on smaller tanks. Keep your feedings appropriate and your bio-load small with routine water changes and you should be able to forgo a skimmer, if need be. Hopefully someone else can chime in on a better in tank skimmer. I would also stay away from Sea Clones HOB skimmers.