Upgrading 10gal to 20gal!! YAA!!

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by HollyG, May 9, 2012.

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  1. HollyG

    HollyG Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    So, if there is one thing I have learned about this hobby it's that it is VERY addicting!!!
    My first saltwater tank (which was a 33gal) was a total fail! Me being a newbie I didn't pretty much everything wrong. I also didn't have you guys on this forum to help me either. So, then I pulled everything out of the 33gal and downsized it to my 10gal. Now that I know what I am doing and am having such a great success with my 10gal I now think I am ready for an upgrade to a bigger tank! Unfortunately I live in a basement apartment and my landlords don't want me going much bigger... so 20gal will have to do! My fixture will also fit a 20gal, so don't have to upgrade any lighting! Also, today I am trading one of my big pink green tipped frogspawn for a 4" metallic green torch coral with pink tipps! I have actually been wanting an anemone for a while but scared to get one... not because I think I will kill it... personally I think I could care for an anemone without issue in that area. I am actually scared because I have so much coral and if it decides to go for a walk it is going to kill everything in it's path. And the fact that my tank is only a 10gal. So, I am going to get a torch coral instead! I want to set it somewhere down between some rocks where it looks like it is an anemone! The metallic torches are just sooo beautiful too. And it only being about 4" at the moment gives me time to upgrade to my 20gal to give it more room before it grows too big. I want the torch to grow real big in my tank! Anyway, I will be documenting the switch from the 10gal to the 20gal. I'm picking up the 20gal today but I don't know when exactly the switch will happen. ;) So keep your eyes peeled!
     
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  3. SnooknRedz

    SnooknRedz Vlamingii Tang

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    Congrats! You'll love the added room, you gettin a 20 high or long? My 20 long was a neat little tank. It was a nice size. Either Way adding 10 gallons is a good thing!
     
  4. HollyG

    HollyG Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    I'm getting a 20gal standard (tall) or else my fixture wouldn't fit :p I'm excited! I can let the corals grow out more... Especially the torch I'm getting!
     
  5. GSUBiology

    GSUBiology Feather Duster

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    If you are willing to spend the little extra money, I would go ahead and get a 29G.

    They are a really good size IMO. ( not too far from the expenses of a 20G and much much better IMO)
     
  6. HollyG

    HollyG Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    The 20gal I'm getting is for free. A friend is giving it to me. Plus my landlord wont let me go any bigger than a 20 anyway. I did get my torch today though! Just beautiful! Gunna post a pic tomorrow when it opens up! :)
     
  7. jtnova13

    jtnova13 Bristle Worm

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    Congrats.

    I'd say if you can run a 10 gallon you should have no problem with a 20 gallon.
     
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  9. NanaReefer

    NanaReefer Fu Manchu Lion Fish

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    Yahooo for you Holly! I know how your feeling :) It was crazy when I went from my 8g bio cube to my now 26g bow front. Total awesomeness!
     
  10. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    Congrats on the upgrade.
     
  11. HollyG

    HollyG Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    So, I ended up doing the upgrade last night! I was too excited when I got the tank and couldn't wait! I took a picture of the set up this morning. The water is still murky and the main lights aren't on yet. No backing on it yet and still need to pick up 5lbs more of live rock. The tank isn't completely filled yet either. When I put everything in the 20gal it only filled the tank about half way, and I think that 50% of new water would have possibly shocked all my coral, or at least all my acros.
    View attachment 50423
    I only put 20% of new water (about as much as my water changes) and will be filling the tank over the course of about a week. Maybe less... I am just going to watch my coral and adjust things as need be acording to them and parameters. So far everything settled in about 3hrs after being placed in the tank last night. The frogspawns went back to normal, the trumpet had his feeder temticles out, and my zoas all opened up nice this morning. My feather dusters are all out too! So all good signs. Only one accident happened too. My green digitata got a broken branch, but other than that, all is well! I put EVERYTHING from the 10gal to the 20gal just to make sure the tank wouldn't be sent in a cycle. So far so good! The blue and purple LEDs are on to start off the day, and my frogspawns, my zoas, star polyps, torch, trumpet and poccillopora are all opening up normally!! My hammer seems to be opening, but he is always the last to fully expand during the day lol. I think I did everything right. The only problem I had last night was a
    temerature scare but all is well now! I was using a crap thermometer lol.
     
  12. HollyG

    HollyG Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    I was able to fill the rest of the tank without issue! Take a look at the picture! Looks great! Still slightly hazey... but should be perfectly clear tomorrow!
    031 (800x509).jpg