Newbie with 20 gal.

[iowaboy]

Hello all, I am very new to saltwater fish/reef keeping. I have about 3+ experiance with freshwater so because I found a 10gal to replace the space breeding/healing tank the 20gal. is becoming a reef tank. Below is my list of what I have done research on and that I know should work.
Fish
1. Clownfish (Ocellaris) (X1-2)
Coral/Reef
1. Cult Coral
2. Star Polyps
Anemone
1. Bubble Tipped
2. Saddle Carpet Anemone
(what ever one I can get my hands on first)
OK any way, first question; I have some freshwater salt, will I be able to add iodine and use it as marine mix? Second I bought some play sand for the gravel I have been reading and read that it did work, will it? It says it is cleaned and scewed but I will probly clean it any way.
Please give me any suggestion you guys have.

 

[crypt keeper]

The play sand will work but it will take up to a year to get fully established. What you can do is going to a Local fish store and ask them for some live sand they may have in a display tank or coral set up. This will boost your sand. carib sea bags of live sand can be bought for $20 to $30 why not do that? Then ask the local LFS again for some established live sand. Safer and better looking in the long run anway.
IME I would go a tad bigger. 40 gallon breeder. They can be had for under $75 at most stores and this will give you way more options as far as corals and maybe a few more fish. Clown fish get a decent sized. 4 inches is the norm. 4 inch fish in a 20 gal tank isnt cool IMO.
40 gallon breeder set ups are some of the most gorgeous coral tanks I have seen when done right.
Have you looked into RO Units? Tap water just wont cut it for corals.

 

[uneverno]

Hi - welcome to the forum,
Couple suggestions:
Play sand is largely composed of silicates = bad. Nothing but trouble to be had there. Spend the money on some coral based "sand."
What type of lighting do you plan on using? Anemones require intense lighting and the two you mention are difficult to acquire in a size suitable for a 20g tank. In addition, they're not beginner critters. IMO, I'd wait on that. A captive bred baby clown is also the only one suitable for a tank that size and then only for a while. It will soon outgrow the tank + captive bred are unlikely to host an anemone.
That doesn't mean you can't have a cool set up, however. W/ a 20g tank, you can set up a fantastic reef w/ various polyps (Zoas, Palys, Stars etc.), easier to care for LPS corals, various shrimp, filter feeding crabs and smaller gobies, etc. If you have the appropriate lighting, SPS corals are a possibility as well, but only after time - again, not beginner critters.
Take a look at the Nano tank section. Some fantastic pics of what's possible w/ that size tank.

 

[pete159]

buy a bucket of salt and make saltwater. Use arag alive live sand.
if you want an a anemone you need bright lighting and lots of flow.
lots of flow in a 20g will blow the fish around. Also lighting costs a lot. Reef tanks need really good water quality, and thats hard to keep up in a 20g. As what stated an ro/di unit is good to have for a reef tank, I use one for my seahorse tank.

 

[iowaboy]

Thanks for the suggestions. Right now the problem with the sand is that the pet store down the street has none in and I not for sure with EarlMay. As for the Anemone I have done more research into it and I will not be getting one. Also the reef tank they have (under new owner ship) looks BAD, so a pre-paid Visa might be bought just for this. Now that I am learning more I am thinking of getting just the sand in and getting the gravity just right for next year, maybe getting in a few starting rocks and corals if at all possible.