New to the world of saltwater reef aquariums!

nick0604

nick0604

Member
So, I just started a 20 gallon saltwater aquarium. I added 30lbs of aragonite, 25lbs of live fiji rock that is currently helping the tank get cycled. I have a 100w heater, aquaclear 70 and an airstone to circulate water. A few questions I have been considering, it is almost at the end of day 1 and ammonia is at .25, nitrites are at 0 and ph is 8.2 or 8.3. Temp is around 77 degrees, specific gravity is 1.027. Okay now for my questions, how long will it take the tank to cycle? When should I add my 50/50 65 watt compact fluorescent light? And how often should I do water changes to cycle the tank? Thanks.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member

So, I just started a 20 gallon saltwater aquarium. I added 30lbs of aragonite, 25lbs of live fiji rock that is currently helping the tank get cycled. I have a 100w heater, aquaclear 70 and an airstone to circulate water. A few questions I have been considering, it is almost at the end of day 1 and ammonia is at .25, nitrites are at 0 and ph is 8.2 or 8.3. Temp is around 77 degrees, specific gravity is 1.027. Okay now for my questions, how long will it take the tank to cycle? When should I add my 50/50 65 watt compact fluorescent light? And how often should I do water changes to cycle the tank? Thanks.
3 weeks or more depending on how much waste decays off the live rock.
Add the light at any time it will all work out in the end.
Don't need any water changes, if the ammonia starts to drop before 1.0ppm it will be fine.
I would replace the airstone with a powerhead to reduce saltcreep.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Salt creep occurs when the water in an aquarium that contains salt splashes out of the tank, gets things wet, and after the fresh portion of the water evaporates, all that is left behind are salt crystals.
Salt is a corrosive substance, and therefore it can affect anything it touches. What degree of damage occurs primarily depends on how long an item is exposed to sodium chloride, and based on what type of material it comes in contact with, its effects are seen in varies ways.
•Glass, acrylic and plastic becomes "etched". Where the saltwater settles and dries, residual white water spots develop, and glass in particular takes on a foggy appearance.
•Electrical items corrode, especially metal parts of light fituxes, equipment power plugs and the outlets they are connected into.
•Unprotected bulbs become encrusted with a layer of salt, which blocks light from getting into the aquarium.
•Protective glass and acrylic light covers or canopies become encrusted, as well as etched, resulting in a reduction of light into the aquarium.
•Wood, cement, plaster board or drywall, drapes or curtains, carpet and flooring materials slowly erode away, and paint peels off.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
There are dozens of ways to cycle a tank and they are all effective for the most part. This is how I do it after years of refining the process --->
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by nick0604 http:///t/388674/new-to-the-world-of-saltwater-reef-aquariums#post_3429094
So, I just started a 20 gallon saltwater aquarium. I added 30lbs of aragonite, 25lbs of live fiji rock that is currently helping the tank get cycled. I have a 100w heater, aquaclear 70 and an airstone to circulate water. A few questions I have been considering, it is almost at the end of day 1 and ammonia is at .25, nitrites are at 0 and ph is 8.2 or 8.3. Temp is around 77 degrees, specific gravity is 1.027. Okay now for my questions, how long will it take the tank to cycle? When should I add my 50/50 65 watt compact fluorescent light? And how often should I do water changes to cycle the tank? Thanks.
Welcome to the site! Feel free to ask any other questions!
 
nick0604

nick0604

Member
when i top off water from evaporation do use salt or no salt in the water? Also what us a good stock kist for a 20g nano aquarium with 65w bulb?
 
morgan175

morgan175

Member
no salt when doing a top off. the salt remains in the tank and the water evaporates so replace with ro water. when doing a water change you have to replace the salt you removed. stocking list up to you and your research for what you want thats the fun.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by nick0604 http:///t/388674/new-to-the-world-of-saltwater-reef-aquariums#post_3429177
when i top off water from evaporation do use salt or no salt in the water? Also what us a good stock kist for a 20g nano aquarium with 65w bulb?
Top offs are done with fresh water, no salt added to the water.
This would be my reef tank idea for a beginner, 20 gals:
Fish
-Some kind of goby
-Pair of clowns
-3 chromis
Coral
-Basic, Easy corals: mushrooms, zoos, maybe xenia.
Inverts
A couple of shrimp, some snails.
But, this is YOUR tank.. design it how YOU want it to be... look at fish that you like; and then ask us about it on here!
 
nick0604

nick0604

Member
So, I have my light on now, one 65w 50/50 compact fluorescent and one 15w coral sun actinic light. I just got back from the fish store and purchased an emerald crab and 2 turbo snails. Are these a good clean up crew for now? Wanted to get shrimp but they didn't have any.
 
rainbow grouper

rainbow grouper

Active Member
Yes that CUC is o.k for now but when you get more stock it will be pitiful, also emerald crabs have a habit of picking on corals. The blue leg hermits are best, I say get about 20 when you get more stock .
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
If you just started the cycle you shouldn't be adding anything till cycle is done. Emerald crab and turbo snails eat a lot of algae, I doubt that you have any yet, I hope they live. Patience is the best when starting off in this hobby.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator

Top offs are done with fresh water, no salt added to the water.
This would be my reef tank idea for a beginner, 20 gals:
Fish
-Some kind of goby
-Pair of clowns
-3 chromis
Coral
-Basic, Easy corals: mushrooms, zoos, maybe xenia.
Inverts
A couple of shrimp, some snails.
 
 
 
But, this is YOUR tank.. design it how YOU want it to be... look at fish that you like; and then ask us about it on here!
2 clowns and 3 chromis, plus another fish is a lot in a 20G, especially one that only has a hang on back filter... IMO, this would be a poor stocking list.
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
I would not feed flakes they produce to much nitrate problems. I would use nori sheets or the sheets from the grocery store to make sushi from. Just place under a rock, they find it.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator

I have veggie flakes to feed them. I read that if there is no algae you can feed them that.
Return the critters. Your tank has not cycled and nothing really belongs in it yet. Adding food at the point will only cause more if a spike.
I know it's hard, but patience is key in this hobby, especially in the beginning.
Flakes, as a general rule, should not be used as food. It's garbage that just makes your water parameters bad. Once your tank cycles and gets established, your live rock will get some algae which will be able to support snails, etc. I'd recommend waiting until the tank is done cycling and then try a shrimp and a few Nassarius snails. Wait a week and then you can add your first fish. Monitor the tank and you might need more cleaners, I'd recommend a few Trochus snails. You can add fish in two week intervals and in between monitor to see if the extra bioload of the new fish means that you need more cleaners.
In a 20, you could do something like this (this is just an option, there's a million different fish combos that would work):
2 Ocellaris clownfish
1 firefish
1 tailspot or bi color Blenny
1 fire shrimp
2 peppermint shrimp
6 nassarius snails
5 Trochus snails
5 astrea snails (or 5 more Trochus, I prefer Trochus)
5 cerith snails
I'm not a fan of hermits, they like to kill snails for their shells.
 
nick0604

nick0604

Member
Forgot to mention I got my water from the lfs that was going out of business near me. I added new filter media and added stress zyme to get the filter started. Then a couple days later I added the live rock which was pre cured. Today I just added the 2 snails and 1 emerald crab. There is some algae already on the LR. Please let me know if this okay as now I am becoming worried.
 
nick0604

nick0604

Member
Just took the ammonia levels and they are between 0 and .25 ppm. Nitrites are about 0 and nitrates are at 0-10ppm.
 
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