Help deciding item's for U-build

dazed1

dazed1

Member
I can't seem to make up my mind for what to get from the U-build pacakage. I have a 20L that's been up for about 5-6 month's now. I'm running a 2X65W JBJ lighting with it. I had a Valentini puffer in it (only livestock) for the past 1 month. I've decided that i'd rather get some peaceful fish and corals.
I have added 1 stone with a small (very small) mushroom.
Water param's are good :
Amm : 0
NitrIte's : 0-10
Nitrate's : 0 .
Calc is kinda low (300-325). I then started adding a Kent's Liquid calcium and will be getting the water tested for it as well as ALK tonight.
I have about 7 snail's and 8-9 crab's in the tank. The crab's are hardly moving around. They mainly move about at night.
I also plan on getting another powerhead so there is a good enough water flow.
i plan/want to get the following. Please advise :)
1 - Aquacultured Fighting Conch (mainly for shifting sand)
1 or 2 (?) Scarlet Hermits
1, 2 or 3 cluster feather duter (should I ? )
1 Orange or Red Tree Sponge
1 Flame angel or Coral beauty (down the line6-8 month's)
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Bangaii Cardinal (not sure about this) OR 1 Aquacultured Percula or tomato clown
2 Ricordia Mushroom
1 Lettuce Nudibranch (not sure)
1 Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
1 Umbrella Mushroom
Now, it would be great if i could know which i could get and which one's not. Also if none listed, which I should :)
 
dazed1

dazed1

Member
Thank's ! Well, yes, i might have the ites and Ates confused :) .
I do have my own tests, just not the Calc and ALK. Which I will get soon.
Yep, not sure of the Angel, but just wanted to keep the option open if its right.
I will be buyin all this stuff from SWF.com and i think the bangaii's are tank raised's (aren't they ? )
But. Could I keep a bangaii and a clown ?? (ok, now i'm getting greedy :D )
 
quazi

quazi

Member
Ditto jamesurq. :eek:
Skip the sponges ( they are tough to keep alive, very challeging) and the Nudibranch. Why are you look at the Nudibranch and the Lawnmower Blenny? Are you having a algae problem?
Also, his suggestion of kalk is right on target. It will help precipitate phosphate, too. So, not only will it help with Ca and Alk, it may help with root causes of the algae to seem to be alluding to.
HTH
 
cliffrouse11bas

cliffrouse11bas

Active Member
If I were you I would not add a flame angel or coral beauty to your 20g tank. They do better in larger. Also you have a 20g which means you can have about 4inches of fish. You already have a puffer not sure if they are reef compatible or not, but I might would add one more fish, but that would be it...The general rule is 1 inch of fish per 5 gallons of water...I would go with scarlet reef hermits. How much Live rock do you ahve in your tank. They say one hermit or snail for every lbs of rock maybe a little less. I have also been told that a fighing conch would get to big for my 29 gallon so he will probably get to big for your 20..
 
dazed1

dazed1

Member
OK, no algae bloom as such. SO decided against the Nudi branch. is algae all the lawn blenny eat's ? I have low diatom's and algae on the glass. For the front and side's i usually use Mag-float to clean it. The rear i let it be .
Could I have some sort of Goby or Blenny that would help in moving the sand ? Also some that will not jump out since i don't have a hood :)
I will also get Kalk then today.
And yes, NO angel for me, I'm a BAD boy :eek:
I'm giving the puffer away today. So no puffy either.
Not heard alot about the fighting conch getting too big. If it does, i won't get that either. but i need something to move the sand.
Any more ? :)
This help's in terms of getting something that will be happy and live longer.:cool:
 
cliffrouse11bas

cliffrouse11bas

Active Member
nassauris snails or something like that helps the sand good that is what i am in search for now....No lfs around my area sells them I have seen them on the internet but not this site..
 
dazed1

dazed1

Member

Originally posted by jamesurq
Assuming you know how to dose it?? If not, read about it. It's fairly simple but not as simple as just dumping it in. You'll need to come up with a way to dose..> There's lots of simple ways of doing it.... If you need a simple one, let me know.
Also - don't buy the kalk made for marine tanks. Buy Mrs Wages pickling lime (available online). It's about 1/100 th of the price at 1.89 per pound.. Same exact stuff, just not labeled for a marine tank.
HTH
ok, thank's for tell me abt Mrs Wage's. Any place you know where i could get it ? (mayurb@ club3g.com)
Also i was kind of reading up on the label of kalk as to how to dose it. Any better way ?
 
quazi

quazi

Member
jamesurq, I am sorry I agreed with you? I am not sure what you are taking offense at. I humbly apologize :eek:
On the issue of kalk, once again jamesurq and I agree. Buy pickling lime, much cheaper and made for consumption standards, if that really matters. DO read up on kalk before using it. FWIW, I use a 2.5 gallon drinking water jug with built in spigot. I cut a hole in the top, and add 1 teaspoon per gallon (about 2.5 tsp, oddly enough), then drip it in to my overflow unit. I also mix the kalk with 1 tsp of vinegar, which dissolves it very well.
check out kalk infor here
Good luck!
 
dazed1

dazed1

Member
Ok, i get it on the kalk. Lots of reading to do !
No sponge's either now that i'm informed/educated.
Don't want just a pair of perc's. Want a variety. Any suggestion's ??
 
koiman6

koiman6

Member
I also have a 20L and i had a coral beauty. It prospered for three months then died of unknown causes. If you were to get an angel it would last for a couple months but ultimatley it would die and thats y im not getting another angel.
 
dazed1

dazed1

Member
Ah... i got Alk tested yesterday. Its high as per the tests was 9.6 (DKH?) . The rest of the thing's tested out fine. As in ammonia, nitrate's, nitrites. Did not test caclium since i had just tested it last week and have started adding liquid calcium.
Puffy is gone.
I bought kalk to buffer alk. But now am having trouble adding it since i do no have an auto top off or sump/fuge.
Is it ok if i get a syringe of some sort and add it every few hr's ?
I'll probably create another thread for this though.
 
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