Anthrilliel
Community Member
Well, I have always loved aquariums. I still remember buying my first goldfish in a bowl at a fair. Since then I have "responsibly" got increasingly bigger and more difficult tanks. I always stuck with freshwater. I told myself I need to keep that successfully then I could graduate to saltwater.
So I did.
I always stared at saltwater fish and after Nemo came out the itch got worse. I always heard so much jargon about them, how difficult they are, sumps, skimmers, doses, etc. I still don't know a lot but I have spent many hours watching videos and trying to do research. I found out you can possibly start small and simple.
I got a used 20 gallon with the works on FB Marketplace. I cleaned it with vinegar and many many rinses to get it sparkling clean. I set it up empty on its spot and then looked at it for a week to make sure I m actually doing this.
I gave in and got some sand and rock and salt.
The heater was a topfin that it came with and an Aquaclear HOB with sponge and biomedia. I was a good girl and did not buy anything alive. Even though that was my first close contact with corals. LFS was awesome and helpful.
I did a fishless cycle with dr Tim's one and only and ammonia.
While waiting for that to cook I got bored and bought some more rock.
Finally 3 weeks later ammonia dropped to 0. I was super excited but decided to wait one more week to make sure. And... this happened
I was disheartened but with help from this group I pushed through. I bought an inkbird temperature controller through Amazon and I loved it. I made sure to calibrate it in a cupful of ice and water. And set it up. I also got a set of nicrew marine line and sun sun powerheads.
The water cleared up and I did an 80% water change.
I begged a friend to use their discount at chewy and get me a RO/DI system. I absolutely love it. I opted for the 50 GPD side my tank is so small, and I keep an extra couple of gallon bottles to top off which is not needed very often since I have a glass top.
This is a night shot of my empty tank.
I finally got to pick a fish! To everyone's surprise I picked a clown! A smoked clown at that. I made my choice after dragging my husband to 3 LFS!
I drip acclimated him and the 2 snails I got.
A week later I both another clown
I was, and still am, finding my CUC balance. I added 3 more snails that I rarely see... and a blue damsel. LFS did he d do fine with my fish. They also said I could get a royal gramma. So I did!
I was devastated to find out that the blue damsel, was not a good fit for the community tank and he had to go back. That I did. And let me tell you! It was a pain catching him.
In his place I came home with a diamond goby and a shrimp!
It has now been about a month of stable water parameters with the fish in. I think it is the smartest thing to get some corals. I cannot help myself.
After an extensive inspection by the border patrol above the corals were unpacked and placed in roughly their forever spot.
There are some zoas in there too but have not had a chance for a photo as they are only half open. I check on them every hour or so. This is when I add the powerhead.
Most are looking good even in the first day. 3 days in a couple of then close up. Panic settles in my heart and look to r2r for advice. Not only that, my clowns are acting weird. One is at the bottom the other swimming up and down the corner of the tank. I test again and everything seems fine. I turn off the powerhead and try to get some more sleep (it was 3 AM).
I start cooking the saltwater in case I need to do a water change. Work gets in the way so I set up my home security camera on front of the tank so I can check in on everything from work.
Somehow everything seems better when I m back.... corals are coming back, clowns are swimming and eating like "normal" fish.
So now I am waiting to see how it goes.... i tested for voltage leaks and it was 0.074 which is apparently normal..
Water change and testing first thing in the AM.
Let me know what you guys think, suggest, any questions, concerns or emotional outbursts.
So I did.
I always stared at saltwater fish and after Nemo came out the itch got worse. I always heard so much jargon about them, how difficult they are, sumps, skimmers, doses, etc. I still don't know a lot but I have spent many hours watching videos and trying to do research. I found out you can possibly start small and simple.
I got a used 20 gallon with the works on FB Marketplace. I cleaned it with vinegar and many many rinses to get it sparkling clean. I set it up empty on its spot and then looked at it for a week to make sure I m actually doing this.
I gave in and got some sand and rock and salt.
The heater was a topfin that it came with and an Aquaclear HOB with sponge and biomedia. I was a good girl and did not buy anything alive. Even though that was my first close contact with corals. LFS was awesome and helpful.
I did a fishless cycle with dr Tim's one and only and ammonia.
While waiting for that to cook I got bored and bought some more rock.
Finally 3 weeks later ammonia dropped to 0. I was super excited but decided to wait one more week to make sure. And... this happened
I was disheartened but with help from this group I pushed through. I bought an inkbird temperature controller through Amazon and I loved it. I made sure to calibrate it in a cupful of ice and water. And set it up. I also got a set of nicrew marine line and sun sun powerheads.
The water cleared up and I did an 80% water change.
I begged a friend to use their discount at chewy and get me a RO/DI system. I absolutely love it. I opted for the 50 GPD side my tank is so small, and I keep an extra couple of gallon bottles to top off which is not needed very often since I have a glass top.
This is a night shot of my empty tank.
I finally got to pick a fish! To everyone's surprise I picked a clown! A smoked clown at that. I made my choice after dragging my husband to 3 LFS!
I drip acclimated him and the 2 snails I got.
A week later I both another clown
I was, and still am, finding my CUC balance. I added 3 more snails that I rarely see... and a blue damsel. LFS did he d do fine with my fish. They also said I could get a royal gramma. So I did!
I was devastated to find out that the blue damsel, was not a good fit for the community tank and he had to go back. That I did. And let me tell you! It was a pain catching him.
In his place I came home with a diamond goby and a shrimp!
It has now been about a month of stable water parameters with the fish in. I think it is the smartest thing to get some corals. I cannot help myself.
After an extensive inspection by the border patrol above the corals were unpacked and placed in roughly their forever spot.
There are some zoas in there too but have not had a chance for a photo as they are only half open. I check on them every hour or so. This is when I add the powerhead.
Most are looking good even in the first day. 3 days in a couple of then close up. Panic settles in my heart and look to r2r for advice. Not only that, my clowns are acting weird. One is at the bottom the other swimming up and down the corner of the tank. I test again and everything seems fine. I turn off the powerhead and try to get some more sleep (it was 3 AM).
I start cooking the saltwater in case I need to do a water change. Work gets in the way so I set up my home security camera on front of the tank so I can check in on everything from work.
Somehow everything seems better when I m back.... corals are coming back, clowns are swimming and eating like "normal" fish.
So now I am waiting to see how it goes.... i tested for voltage leaks and it was 0.074 which is apparently normal..
Water change and testing first thing in the AM.
Let me know what you guys think, suggest, any questions, concerns or emotional outbursts.
Last edited:
water change day today.
