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Tyler's 20 gallon reef tank

post #1 of 17
10/16/11 at 1:36pm
Thread Starter 

Here are a couple pictures of my 20 gallon reef tank, let me know what you think and post any suggestions you may have. I have 2 misbar clownfish and a bumblebee shrimp goby, i run a 55 watt t5 fixture and have 2 small powerheads. let me know if you have any suggestions for additions or what you would do different

 

 

FULL TANK

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SIDE VIEW

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LONG-POLYP TOAD STOOL AND ASSORTED ZOA FRAG

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HAMMER CORAL AND MULTI-COLORED FROGSPAWN

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ASSORTED MUSHROOMS AND RICORDEAS

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RED/ORANGE ZOAS (BOUGHT YESTERDAY, NOT ALL THE WAY OPEN..BUT GETTING THERE..ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO GET THEM TO OPEN FASTER WOULD BE GREAT)

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FRAG TRAY (TORCH CORAL, FAVIA, AUSSIE DUNCANS)

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post #2 of 17
10/16/11 at 2:10pm
Lookin good.
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post #3 of 17
10/16/11 at 3:29pm
Thread Starter 

thanks, how do you think a bubble coral would look in it? and got any zoa suggestions?

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post #4 of 17
10/16/11 at 4:18pm

lol, I can't tell yah if it will look good in it. It's your tank and you should make those kinds of decisions. I like bubble coral, and I think they are pretty, but you shouldn't buy coral to impress people you don't know on the computer. Buy it because you like it.

 

I personally don't like xenia, zoanthids, protopalythoa, mushrooms, anthelia, etc. they take over like weeds. I really enjoy SPS corals more than anything - and the challenge of growing them. I enjoy leather corals and nepthia. I also enjoy duncans, elegance, fungia, carnations, goniopora, aleveopora, hammer coral, tubastrea, caulestrea, torch coral, frogspawn, ... the list goes on and on. lol. I just don't like the weeds. lol

 

There are some pretty zoas out there - purple people eaters, hornets, red something or nothers, and some blue ones that I like - but I'de rather pay the same money for a nice sized acro, monti, or pocciliopora.

 

 

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post #5 of 17
10/16/11 at 5:04pm
Thread Starter 

I'm definantly interested in a bubble coral, but i'm not sure if i have enough lighting and water flow for an sps like you mentioned, i've tried before and it died in a week or 2, but that was 6 months ago when my water wasnt as stable as it is now...but i run 1 12k and 1 22k atenic. My t5 lights total 55 watts and total i have 480 gallons per hour coming from my 2 smaller power heads...could you suggest an sps that may live under these conditions?

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post #6 of 17
10/16/11 at 5:08pm
Thread Starter 

well, is a favia considered an sps? cause i bought a small favia frag about 3 months ago and it's doing great and it accepts frozen food really well

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post #7 of 17
10/16/11 at 5:39pm

No, a favia is a type of closed brain coral, which is a Large Polyp Stony. You don't have the right conditions for SPS. They require pretty much double the lighting that you have and three to four times the amount of water flow. You MIGHT could get by with a montipora digitata, as long as you place it in an area with high flow. But then again, your lights aren't that great.

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post #8 of 17
10/16/11 at 5:42pm

Stick with some beginner LPS and softies... there's A LOT to choose from. When  you're ready to move on to SPS, get a bigger tank, better lighting, etc...

 

I have a 20g high SPS reef that I am currently working on, but I've had years of practice and experience under my belt. Not saying that you shouldn't try - Just that your tanks conditions will have to be modified.

 

Maybe I can help yah out on it if you are really interested.

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post #9 of 17
10/16/11 at 6:07pm
Thread Starter 

I may try some SPS in my 60 gallon or in my 90 gallon, but as for my 20 gallon I think ill stick to LPS, zoas, mushrooms, and softies...what do you think is the best additive or trace element to add for coral growth? currently I add the 2 part calcium and alkalinity b-ionic solution...any other suggestion on additive if any would be great...i also feed all corals that will accept food 3/4 times a week

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post #10 of 17
10/16/11 at 6:10pm
Thread Starter 

I really wanna get another cool zoa frag and a bubble coral frag and let my tank mature and grow...I know you said it earlier that you don't like zoas because they spread easily but that's what i personally love about them, i love the color that some offer.

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post #11 of 17
10/16/11 at 6:13pm
Thread Starter 

about 6 months ago I used a 150 watt metal halid on my 20 gallon but I ran into algae problems (maybe due to water perimeters or too much lighting), but now my parimeters are great and everything seems fine...which would be better for a 20 gallon high tank; a 55 watt T5 or a 150 watt metal halide?

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post #12 of 17
10/17/11 at 4:33pm
Thread Starter 

whats your advice on this one snakeblitz?

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post #13 of 17
10/17/11 at 5:23pm
I'll post my thoughts when I get home.
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post #14 of 17
10/17/11 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 

okay...or this option as well...save up to afford another fixture just like the one i have now to go from 48 wattsof hoT5 to 96watts of hoT5...lets hear what you think

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post #15 of 17
10/17/11 at 7:01pm

Is the 150w metal halide a viper clip on light with the fan?

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post #16 of 17
10/18/11 at 9:27am

looks beautiful!

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post #17 of 17
10/18/11 at 11:18am
Thread Starter 

thank you :)

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