Reefoholic's New 20 Gallon

[Reefoholic]

Hey Everyone,

 

I have been a member on and off for almost 2 years now and I must admit that I have learned a great deal from WAMAS forums and members. I started my journey with a 8 gal. Biocube and upgraded to a 14 gal. Just recently I moved to a bigger apartment and thought that it was time to upgrade the fishes to a bigger home, too. So, I have purchased a 20 gal standard Aqueon tank and a cascade 500 canister filter and ordered new lights...

 

Here is a rundown of the equipment and the inhabitants:

 

Equipment

20 Gal. Standard Aqueon Tank

Cascade 500 Canister Filter

2 Powerheads

14 Gal. Boicube stock PC lighting (to be improved this Monday when the new light fixture arrives - Current USA Nova Extreme T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 4X24 Watt

4 timers, 2 as wavemakers and two for the lights

Inhabitants

1 Yellow Tang

1 Ocellaris Clownfish

1 Green Dragonet

1 Peppermint Shrimp

1 Emerald Crab

6 Hermit Blue Leg Crabs

2 Turbo Snails

1 Rock Anemone (Refuses to move to another spot so that I can use that wonderful space for something better)

1 Red Sponge

Corals

1 ORA Roscoe's Blue

1 Toadstool Leather Coral

1 Purple Gorgonia

Couple colonies of Xenias

Mushrooms and Zoos here and there

1 ORA Green Birdsnest

1 ORA Green Stylopora

1 ORA Montipora Spongodes

1 Orange Montipora Capricornis

1 Frogspawn Coral

 

I am not sure how to set up the wave cycles yet. If anyone has experience or suggestions on this please let me know. Also any suggestions or recommendations for feeding and care of the corals besides dosing calcium? I use Brightwell's Liquid Reef to sustain the calcium and alkalinity levels.

 

Please follow my log and provide your priceless thoughts and suggestions. As a newbie, I greatly learn from your guidance.

 

Thanks!!!

 

Reefoholic

 

 

And here are some pictures from the new setup:

 

Edited April 10, 2011 by Mehmet

[gmubeach]

I put a yellow tang in a 24 cube and it didn't live long also watch the emerald crab they can get agressive:) warmest wishes Troy

[Reefoholic]

Hey,

Thanks for your input! My yellow tang survived in a 8 gal, 14 gal and 20 gal now is def. an upgrade for him. I think he has adopted to the smaller tanks. I have had him for more than a year and a half now. As for the emerald crab, I don't see him that often anyway... I am a little scared of what he is doing in the tank as well.

 

 

I put a yellow tang in a 24 cube and it didn't live long also watch the emerald crab they can get agressive:) warmest wishes Troy

[onux20]

Tang police two posts away and closing....

 

It is good that you are upgrading, but I think most would agree Tangs need a little more room to roam.

 

I dont know if you are space/$$ constrained but these are great deals.

 

Just a thought.

 

Good luck with the new setup.

[Reefoholic]

Thanks Onux20,

Being new in this hobby I appreciate everyone's input greatly. For now, 20 Gal. is the biggest size I can do. The 55 gal. tank is a sweet deal but I don't have space unfortunately. Do you think the best is to exchange the Yellow Tang for another fish? Since he always looked happy and nibbled around I thought he was alright in my tanks.

[zygote2k]

Yellow Tang needs at least a 48" space to swim in. In reality, 48" is still a prison that it can pace back and forth a few million times in.

[Origami]

Welcome back, Mehmet!

[Reefoholic]

Thanks Tom! It is good to be back again!

 

Welcome back, Mehmet!

[Reefoholic]

So the Tang needs to go! I wouldn't want to make him suffer. Do you have any suggestions for fish? I was considering buying another Ocellaris Clownfish in the hopes that they would mate, but I am afraid of how territorial my Clownfish is. Ideas?

 

 

 

Yellow Tang needs at least a 48" space to swim in. In reality, 48" is still a prison that it can pace back and forth a few million times in.

[Reefoholic]

Guys,

 

What is a good coral food? Does anyone recommend using two-little-fishes marine snow? I think my Muriceopsis flavida (Purple Brush Gorgonian) is not getting enough food.

Cheers!

 

[Chad]

IME, the best coral foods are just pulverized "fish foods" or very small foods like the food Scott makes, Rod's food, Rogger's food, oyster eggs, golden pearls, etc.

 

I generally spot feed my gorgs each day when I finish feeding my seahorses with the water that I thawed mysis in... they exhibit a very strong feeding response to this and I have had pretty good luck with various photosynthetic gorgs (like muriceopsis) with this method.

[Reefoholic]

Thanks Chad,

How exactly do you spot-feed? I use a turkey baster but mysis shooting out of it seems to be very fast for them. And how exactly do they react to a feeding? the polyps close up or something?

 

 

IME, the best coral foods are just pulverized "fish foods" or very small foods like the food Scott makes, Rod's food, Rogger's food, oyster eggs, golden pearls, etc.

 

I generally spot feed my gorgs each day when I finish feeding my seahorses with the water that I thawed mysis in... they exhibit a very strong feeding response to this and I have had pretty good luck with various photosynthetic gorgs (like muriceopsis) with this method.

[Reefoholic]

BTW, water parameters today are:

PH normal, Ammonia and nitrates and nitrites are both zero and calcium is around 440 ppm. My ORA Montipora Spongodes hasn't opened up any polyps yet. It arrived in the tank two days ago tho. Ideas?

[Reefoholic]

Also ideas on HBO Skimmers? Coralife Super or Bak Pak 2?

[BowieReefer84]

Also ideas on HBO Skimmers? Coralife Super or Bak Pak 2?

I would stay away from Bak Pak 2. I had one, and they are loud.

 

Get this tunze nano http://www.marinedepot.com/Tunze_Nano_DOC_Protein_Skimmer_9002_In_Sump_Venturi_Protein_Skimmers_For_Tanks_Up_to_100_Gallons-Tunze-TZ5311-FIPSISVSUH-vi.html

 

It would go in the tank, but the footprint is small. I have one and it works well.

 

 

[Reefoholic]

Thanks for the recommendation!!! Looks like it would take up a lot of space tho. 13" high... It has received glowing reviews on Marine Depot website, too. I might as well order it then. I do need a Protein Skimmer before algae takes over my tank...

 

I would stay away from Bak Pak 2. I had one, and they are loud.

 

Get this tunze nano http://www.marinedep...SISVSUH-vi.html

 

It would go in the tank, but the footprint is small. I have one and it works well.

 

 

[Chad]

Thanks Chad,

How exactly do you spot-feed? I use a turkey baster but mysis shooting out of it seems to be very fast for them. And how exactly do they react to a feeding? the polyps close up or something?

 

I thaw a cube of mysis in a little salt water and suck it into a turkey baster, then squeeze the bulb and suck in some more tank water. I then squirt a little mysis out at a time to the seahorses, since the mysis tends to sink I need to suck more water into the turkey baster. When all the mysis is gone, there is just some "mysis water" left in the turkey baster which I feed the gorgs (and acans) with. I slowly squirt the water on the gorgs and the polyps react by "grabbing" which looks a little different than closing (like if they are bumped or something).

 

I find that if you work with the turkey baster bulb squezed in slightly so you can suck or squirt the contents it works much better.

[hypertech]

How long have you had that dragonet? I have one that eats frozen, and I'm lucky. If yours doesn't, he may have a hard time in a tank that small. Unless they eat frozen, they really need bigger tanks to support a large enough pod population to keep them fed.

 

Small tanks are great for some of the smaller more interesting symbiotic relationships that are hard to appreciate when they are lost in a large tank. For example, goby/pistol shrimp pairs are very interesting to watch.

 

Re your clown, your best bet might be to sell the one clown and get a pair of small clowns or an established pair. Its hard to know whether it is a female or male which would make it know what to get to try to pair them.

[Reefoholic]

Cool beans Chad! Thanks again! I will try to spot feed them tomorrow.

 

I thaw a cube of mysis in a little salt water and suck it into a turkey baster, then squeeze the bulb and suck in some more tank water. I then squirt a little mysis out at a time to the seahorses, since the mysis tends to sink I need to suck more water into the turkey baster. When all the mysis is gone, there is just some "mysis water" left in the turkey baster which I feed the gorgs (and acans) with. I slowly squirt the water on the gorgs and the polyps react by "grabbing" which looks a little different than closing (like if they are bumped or something).

 

I find that if you work with the turkey baster bulb squezed in slightly so you can suck or squirt the contents it works much better.

[Reefoholic]

Makes total sense! I have been supplementing with Cope-Pods. I haven't seen my Dragonet eating frozen food yet! He kinda sorta watches the mysis float around when I am feeding the other fish. Time will tell! If I see him weak or not as active, I will consider swapping him for something else. I am gonna look into Goby/Pistol shrimp pairing tho. Any kinda Goby would do?

 

 

 

How long have you had that dragonet? I have one that eats frozen, and I'm lucky. If yours doesn't, he may have a hard time in a tank that small. Unless they eat frozen, they really need bigger tanks to support a large enough pod population to keep them fed.

 

Small tanks are great for some of the smaller more interesting symbiotic relationships that are hard to appreciate when they are lost in a large tank. For example, goby/pistol shrimp pairs are very interesting to watch.

 

Re your clown, your best bet might be to sell the one clown and get a pair of small clowns or an established pair. Its hard to know whether it is a female or male which would make it know what to get to try to pair them.

[hypertech]

Well, there are lots of interesting gobies, but not all pair with shrimp. And, its important to get the right shrimp - for example a large shrimp species and a small goby is not a good pairing, vice versa. Do a search for it and you'll find lots of stuff.

 

For the mandarin, shut off the pumps and try to put food in front of it for the best chances. They don't all take frozen and even the ones that do often don't chase it down like the other fish. It has to just about smack mine in the face for her to grab it. You are going to go broke feeding it bottled copepods, so if it is a new fish and it doesn't take to teh frozen relatievly quickly, you may want to start thinking about a trade for something that is a better fit in a nano tank.

[Reefoholic]

My only concern is that my tank is not big enough for both of them. I have a deep enough sand bed but my rock work is not that heavy. I already have a peppermint shrimp. Do you think that would be a problem with the pistol shrimp?

 

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Well, there are lots of interesting gobies, but not all pair with shrimp. And, its important to get the right shrimp - for example a large shrimp species and a small goby is not a good pairing, vice versa. Do a search for it and you'll find lots of stuff.

 

For the mandarin, shut off the pumps and try to put food in front of it for the best chances. They don't all take frozen and even the ones that do often don't chase it down like the other fish. It has to just about smack mine in the face for her to grab it. You are going to go broke feeding it bottled copepods, so if it is a new fish and it doesn't take to teh frozen relatievly quickly, you may want to start thinking about a trade for something that is a better fit in a nano tank.

[hypertech]

Very unlikely. If there was, then the pepp might get eaten which isn't the worst thing anyway. They seem to have a useful life of a couple months at most. After that, they start eating fish food instead of pest anemone's and are always hiding. Plus, I have an unfounded theory that they pick at fan worms which would be a very cool addition to your tank. I always had trouble keeping them long term, but this tank with no peppermints, I am having no problems with my fan worm.

[Reefoholic]

I could not agree more about the fan worms and peppermint shrimp. I had the most beautiful fan worm, all purple and yellow and I discovered that he was getting smaller and loosing fans day after day. One night, I caught the shrimp feasting on it. Dirty little buggers!!! I also agree that after a certain size, they totally go for the fish food.

What is a easy and small enough Goby, any recommendations?

 

 

 

Very unlikely. If there was, then the pepp might get eaten which isn't the worst thing anyway. They seem to have a useful life of a couple months at most. After that, they start eating fish food instead of pest anemone's and are always hiding. Plus, I have an unfounded theory that they pick at fan worms which would be a very cool addition to your tank. I always had trouble keeping them long term, but this tank with no peppermints, I am having no problems with my fan worm.

[Reefoholic]

What about AquaC Nano Remora PS? Any ideas?