Tyler's 20 gallon reef tank

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childress5tyler

Guest
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

SIDE VIEW

LONG-POLYP TOAD STOOL AND ASSORTED ZOA FRAG

HAMMER CORAL AND MULTI-COLORED FROGSPAWN

ASSORTED MUSHROOMS AND RICORDEAS

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)

FRAG TRAY (TORCH CORAL, FAVIA, AUSSIE DUNCANS)
 
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childress5tyler

Guest
thanks, how do you think a bubble coral would look in it? and got any zoa suggestions?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
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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childress5tyler

Guest
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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childress5tyler

Guest
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
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
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.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
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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childress5tyler

Guest
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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childress5tyler

Guest
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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childress5tyler

Guest
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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childress5tyler

Guest
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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