trevorspencer94
Active Member
Background: Hi all, I have previous experience with small and large freshwater tanks (currently have a decently stocked 72 gallon freshwater community with 20g sump (1/3 water changes weekly)) and am finally jumping into the saltwater world! I shuffled some of my tanks around, considered maintenance costs and start up costs, and decided that I would go with the 26 gallon bowfront tank. I already had this tank and it was easy to shuffle things around to empty it. I understand there is more leeway on a larger tank, but i have the time and im up for it!
The Tank: 26 gallon bowfront, not drilled, no sump/overflow, no filtration except the 30lbs of liverock from a local that has had it established for 5 years that I plan to put in the tank. I will make sure to have ample flow with two 528 gph powerheads to give me a 40x turnover rate inside the tank (too little? just right? too much?). the powerheads i currently have in my shopping cart but have not ordered yet do not have variable flow adjustments, should i consider this? I plan to start out bare bottom to avoid sand sifting around and to have an overall cleaner and simpler environment. stocking will be chosen accordingly. maybe sand could be added in the future if felt necessary.
Lighting: I have yet to choose lighting, but would love to find an as cheap as possible while still being decent way to get the 24" width and 20" depth of tank lit well enough for lps and softies. suggestions here??
Other Components: I'm going to diy a skimmer with a air pump rated for either 40 or 60 gallons and a wooden air stone. This will have to run in the corner of my tank, will try to hide it, along with a heater (probably 100W or 150W) with live rock. (my live rock is probably going to end up in the typical step shape for 3 layers, against the back.
Water: I plan to buy a 200 gal. box of instant reef salt from the start seeing as that box will only cost me $55 and should last over a year doing religious 10% water changes weekly. I was also going to buy one of those $70 4-stage RO water filters off of ebay. (seeing as 3 gallons a week will cost me $6 a month locally, this will pay for itself in a year and give me more potential benefit with a larger tank in the future)
Stocking:
1 Oscellaris clownfish
1 Bangaii Cardinal
1 Royal Gramma Basslet
1 Yellow tail damsel (as i am told they are the most docile damsel usually)
1 Green chromis
** the last two i have read mixed reviews and controversial reports of the behaviors as being better in groups or solo, im going to try solo because thats what space allows and it seems the definite jury is out.
I still need Clean Up Crew suggestions as I know nothing here, all i know is i want a reef safe RED colored shrimp haha. have to round off the variation of color in my tank.
Ask away if there is anything you would like to know that I am missing! THANKS IF YOU READ THIS FAR! haha i just felt like i needed to be thorough to get good information.
p.s. doing this all pretty low tech!
The Tank: 26 gallon bowfront, not drilled, no sump/overflow, no filtration except the 30lbs of liverock from a local that has had it established for 5 years that I plan to put in the tank. I will make sure to have ample flow with two 528 gph powerheads to give me a 40x turnover rate inside the tank (too little? just right? too much?). the powerheads i currently have in my shopping cart but have not ordered yet do not have variable flow adjustments, should i consider this? I plan to start out bare bottom to avoid sand sifting around and to have an overall cleaner and simpler environment. stocking will be chosen accordingly. maybe sand could be added in the future if felt necessary.
Lighting: I have yet to choose lighting, but would love to find an as cheap as possible while still being decent way to get the 24" width and 20" depth of tank lit well enough for lps and softies. suggestions here??
Other Components: I'm going to diy a skimmer with a air pump rated for either 40 or 60 gallons and a wooden air stone. This will have to run in the corner of my tank, will try to hide it, along with a heater (probably 100W or 150W) with live rock. (my live rock is probably going to end up in the typical step shape for 3 layers, against the back.
Water: I plan to buy a 200 gal. box of instant reef salt from the start seeing as that box will only cost me $55 and should last over a year doing religious 10% water changes weekly. I was also going to buy one of those $70 4-stage RO water filters off of ebay. (seeing as 3 gallons a week will cost me $6 a month locally, this will pay for itself in a year and give me more potential benefit with a larger tank in the future)
Stocking:
1 Oscellaris clownfish
1 Bangaii Cardinal
1 Royal Gramma Basslet
1 Yellow tail damsel (as i am told they are the most docile damsel usually)
1 Green chromis
** the last two i have read mixed reviews and controversial reports of the behaviors as being better in groups or solo, im going to try solo because thats what space allows and it seems the definite jury is out.
I still need Clean Up Crew suggestions as I know nothing here, all i know is i want a reef safe RED colored shrimp haha. have to round off the variation of color in my tank.
Ask away if there is anything you would like to know that I am missing! THANKS IF YOU READ THIS FAR! haha i just felt like i needed to be thorough to get good information.
p.s. doing this all pretty low tech!
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