20 gallon nano budget build

[Dev795]

Alright guys! Building my son a 20 gallon nano tank and i just can’t wait!! I only have the tank and a aquaclear filter for now. In the middle of building the stand! I will post photos later

 

[don_chuwish]

Sounds like a fun one! Best wishes and welcome aboard!

 

[Dev795]

Alright everyone, I’m sorry it has been a while!! I have hit a financial bump and looks like it will be a while before i can finish starting this up, i try to attach some current photos of my 100 gallon..still trying to figure out what’s the cause of the brown algae/diatoms not going away, tank is 11 months now.

 

[Peace River]

It looks like someone is fascinated by the tank just the way it is!

take your time. There is no rush and many times you are better off waiting will the tank stabilizes until you start adding very many corals, etc.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hi

future reefer in training I see. The big tank looks good, I don’t see any iss from that distance.

like peace said, no rush. I will mention, I love the aquaclear. Depending on the size and how it is used it may be all you need, it just take planning in the set up stage.

keep us updated. Again, no rush.

 

[Dev795]

Thanks guys
Currently on the 100 gallon the equipment is
2 sun sun wave makers 800 gph
Upmc 300 watt heater and a Aqueon 150 watt heater
Marineland c-360 (canister filter) eventually want to upgrade to a sump
And a octopus HOB protein skimmer 1000
Battling cynobacteria-maybe it’s Dino’s haven’t been able to figure out which one it is yet
Ammonia is 0, nitrite-0, nitrate 20, ph is 8.2
Haven’t been able to test for anything else tell i end up buying some test kits
I’ve adjusted my lighting schedule to 4hr in full spec and then about 2hr before and after mainly on blue(lighting only has two modes)
Water change 20% every two weeks
Feeding once a day half a cube of frozen food of dif varieties(i let it defrost in a cup of tank water then use a net to filter the water out
I’m in no hurry as I’m still learning any suggestions?

 

[Dev795]

It’s coming together again slowly!! Learning on building the stand and having flush edges is a bit harder then it looks, going to take this apart and redo it with some extra tools to have it 100% square and even... anyone have recommendations for a light that won’t break the bank?? Tank that’s going up is a 20g tall.

 

[Dev795]

Just picked up this baby and ordered new resin and filters ect can’t wait to get this going just finished the frame of a saltwater mixing station also

 

[j.falk]

Alright guys! Building my son a 20 gallon nano tank and i just can’t wait!! I only have the tank and a aquaclear filter for now. In the middle of building the stand! I will post photos later

It’s coming together again slowly!! Learning on building the stand and having flush edges is a bit harder then it looks, going to take this apart and redo it with some extra tools to have it 100% square and even... anyone have recommendations for a light that won’t break the bank?? Tank that’s going up is a 20g tall.

Here's my 20 gallon nano I built last year. It's basically the exact same setup you are working on. 20 gallon tank, homemade 2 x 4 stand, Aquaclear 50 filter, 2 Hydor Koralia 240s for flow and surface agitation...and for the light, I ended up going with an AI Prime HD puck.

Simple setup and very easy to maintain aquarium.

 

[Dev795]

Ahh the mixing station is all together, the water changes on the 100g are wayyyy simpler now

 

[Reefer40b]

Ahh the mixing station is all together, the water changes on the 100g are wayyyy simpler now

Ah yes good old mixing station! makes life a little easier!

 

[Dev795]

I have added some zoas to the 20 gallon along with some green star polyps thanks to @boacvh
Going to let them grow out a lil bit and frag them to place in my 100g
Thanks @boacvh !!

 

[Dev795]

Here is some photos of the 100g taken recently! I’m not sure if i can have two tank threads haven’t figured that one out yet

 

[boacvh]

I have added some zoas to the 20 gallon along with some green star polyps thanks to @boacvh
Going to let them grow out a lil bit and frag them to place in my 100g
Thanks @boacvh !!

No problem! Hopefully they grow as fast as they grow in mine!! Look forward to the grown out pics!

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hi,

Looking good. You can start another thread for your new tank. Same as you started this one

 

[Dev795]

Update on the 20 gallon, my 180g is sadly no longer with us, but i have this 20g I’m slowly filling in, i have a lot of zoas on the frag rack that i will add to the lower “rock” island in a week or two, parameters for alk and ca are starting to lower every week after water change so going to start dosing soon! Here are some pics with just my blue T5 about 15 minutes after coming on.

 

[Dev795]

Well i had surgery about two weeks ago! haven't been able to do a water change but it is working out as my nitrates have been super low, i am not going to touch the tank as it seems to be growing in well, i just fragged some zoas from my frag rack and will be giving them away for free in a couple weeks!!

 

[Dev795]

Not touching the tank other then to frag the frags, moves some zoas down from the frag rack to grow them in, GHL is slowly dying back, having to dose every three days and coraline grows like crazy!! Can’t wait to have a larger tank again at some point....i really do miss have my tangs and my 180g...one day if i win one or some how win a few thousand dollars haha
Here is some photos, just going to let it grow in and not touch it unless i have to touch it, haven’t done a water change in a few weeks bc of surgery so parameters have all been stable and nitrates staying 0-5
@boacvh your frags you gave me have been helpful and i have been fraging them and giving them away!! Sucks i no longer have my large tank but all is good for now. They grow like crazy but as you know when the other tank left, most of all the corals i had left with it