20 Gallon Reef: From Freshwater to Saltwater

[rapurcell85]

I have been keeping freshwater tanks for about 7 years now, culminating with a CO2 injected, planted 40 gallon tank. I also have Mbuna cichlids and a nano shrimp tank.
Here are some pictures of the shrimp, Blue Diamond Neocardina and Tangerine Tigers.

I have a few more years than that in the reptile hobby as well, keeping a few geckos, frogs, and most recently our axolotl, Neon.

After months of research and watching YouTube videos by BRS, FragBox, and Reefbuilders, and several other great creators, I decided to take the plunge with a 20 gallon nano tank. This is my journey.

I started at the build at the end if December. I'll have a few posts taking me from then to where I am now. I leak tested the new tank in the garage, and here are my 2 youngest "helping" me drain it out.

I'll cover my equipment and initial setup on the next post. As I continue on this journey, I'm happy for all feedback and help I can get. Until then, cheers!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Best of luck with the new Saltwater tank!!! Love the axolotl you have in the freshwater!!

 

[rapurcell85]

After the water test, I began building the aquascape. I used dry rock from my local fish store. I started with a pile of rocks.

After some feedback from a Facebook group, I decided to redo it as a negative space aquascape, and was much happier with the results. There are more caves and swim throughs on this scape.

I glued and epoxied everything together. It is two main structures with a few single rocks in the scape as well.

For equipment, I have a 20 gallon aqueon aquarium, an AI Prime light, Tidal 55 filter, an Aqueon Pro heater, and Nero 3 wavemaker.

I filled the tank with RODI water and added Fritz RPM salt. I added Arag Alive Figi Pink sand for substrate, and added the rocks.

I played around the AI light settings and Signature series, and ended up using a shorter, less intense version of the Dmitry Tumanov settings. I like that it has a both a bluer and a whiter period during the day.

 

[rapurcell85]

The progress continued. I acquired Fritz Turbostart 900, and we went off to the LFS and bought a clownfish. My kids immediately dubbed him Nemo. He took pellet food immediately, and gets fed frozen mysis or brine shrimp once or twice a week. I am able to split a cube between him and my freshwater fish, so I am able to manage not overfeeding without worrying about splitting a frozen cube.

 

[rapurcell85]

Fast forward a few days, and I ordered a jar of Galaxy Pods and a thing of Ocean Magik from Algae Barn. I also got two 2" cubes of Marine Pure in the order. I put the cubes in the HOB filter, and dosed half the pods into the filter and half in the display after lights out. Before adding, I stopped the filter and all the pumps, and kept them off for about half an hour. A week or so later, and I had a dino outbreak, but it never got bad. Here is a picture of the worst it got.

It stayed this way for a few days, then slowly receded. I'm not going to say they are gone, but the bloom never got out of control. I'm a believer in the recent BRS posts about pods helping fight the uglies. I can't say it's a cure all, but I think it is definitely worth considering.

 

[rapurcell85]

Well, Nemo settled in, and I got drawn into a Live Sale on Top Shelf Aquatics. It turns out when you buy one coral at a time, you don't realize how many corals you are buying. I ended up with 10 corals.

Green Stem Duncan

Mystery LPS Frag that ended up being an Evergreen Galaxea

Three types of Candy Canes (YSACursed, Kryptonite, Mint Green)

Two Leptastrea (JF Spitfire and TSA Jade)

And three mushrooms (TSA Crossfire and 2 rainbow ricordea)

I also got 2 red leg hermits, 4 Astrea snails, and 4 nassarius snails.

I know, I know, I have gone too quickly. I went overboard, but so far, everyone is doing good, and its been over 2 weeks since they came. More soon! Cheers!

 

[MikeCRK]

Well, Nemo settled in, and I got drawn into a Live Sale on Top Shelf Aquatics. It turns out when you buy one coral at a time, you don't realize how many corals you are buying. I ended up with 10 corals.

Green Stem Duncan

Mystery LPS Frag that ended up being an Evergreen Galaxea

Three types of Candy Canes (YSACursed, Kryptonite, Mint Green)

Two Leptastrea (JF Spitfire and TSA Jade)

And three mushrooms (TSA Crossfire and 2 rainbow ricordea)

I also got 2 red leg hermits, 4 Astrea snails, and 4 nassarius snails.

I know, I know, I have gone too quickly. I went overboard, but so far, everyone is doing good, and its been over 2 weeks since they came. More soon! Cheers!

yeah, bit rushing alright. You got the first plague, any trace of green algae? You have a lot of headroom with this hardscape, any specific corals you would like to house in that section?

 

[rapurcell85]

yeah, bit rushing alright. You got the first plague, any trace of green algae? You have a lot of headroom with this hardscape, any specific corals you would like to house in that section?

I haven't seen any other major signs of algae. Right now, my plan is for potentially a gorgonian of two in the back and hammers and frogspawn in the middle areas. I'm planning to hold off for a while before getting anything else.

 

[MikeCRK]

I haven't seen any other major signs of algae. Right now, my plan is for potentially a gorgonian of two in the back and hammers and frogspawn in the middle areas. I'm planning to hold off for a while before getting anything else.

Yeah, let it settle for a while so the bac colonies can cope easier
Red legged hermit with 'Nemo' will be fun for kids, only Dory and Ariel would be missing

 

[rapurcell85]

Yeah, let it settle for a while so the bac colonies can cope easier
Red legged hermit with 'Nemo' will be fun for kids, only Dory and Ariel would be missing

LOL. I've already been asked about Dory. Had to explain that Dory was too big for our tank. Haven't been and about Ariel, but I could see that one coming. I'll have to find a red headed fish for that.

 

[MikeCRK]

LOL. I've already been asked about Dory. Had to explain that Dory was too big for our tank. Haven't been and about Ariel, but I could see that one coming. I'll have to find a red headed fish for that.

There is always a workaround hahaha

cheap as dirt on Amazon xDDDD

 

[rapurcell85]

About a week after arriving and all the corals appear to be doing well. Nemo continues eating well. Fed a half q cube of frozen mysys shrimp mid week and about 1/8 tsp of Reef Roids on Friday with a 15% water change on Saturdays. Nitrates are hanging out around 10 to 15 ppm. Ca and Alkalinity seem stable to I may try to extend out the water changes to every other week.

Full Tank Shot

Mushrooms

Candy Canes

Leptastrea

Duncan and Galaxea

 

[rapurcell85]

Been a while since I've done an update, and I've added new coral, fish, inverts, and equipment. New coral has come from Unique Coral and World Wide Corals. Both orders are doing great. Added a frogspawn, two hammers, cyphastrea, pipe organ, leptastrea, a turbinaria, and a small micro lord garden. Fish and inverts have come from a couple of LFS. In addition to the clownfish, I have added a green chromis and a royal gramma. Invert wise, I've added cerith and trochus snails, a peppermint shrimp, and a cleaner shrimp. Things appear to he settling in nicely. Heres some pictures.

 

[rapurcell85]

Here's an updated Full Tank Shot. I bumped the amber hammer when moving some rock, so it's not been happy. Otherwise, the green hammer and the frogspawn are doing great. I'm also trying to bring back my candy canes and leptoseris. I think I had them on bad spots and they receded way back. Any tips for these corals would be welcome.

 

[MikeCRK]

it has been a while since last photo

Any chance for the non-blue photo?

 

[rapurcell85]

it has been a while since last photo

Any chance for the non-blue photo?

I'll grab one tonight when the whites come up.

 

[Rugops]

Following!

 

[MikeCRK]

yeah I am snooping here as I got my bigger tank already wet. and aiming at getting similar corals to yours

 

[rapurcell85]

yeah I am snooping here as I got my bigger tank already wet. and aiming at getting similar corals to yours

You'll have to let me know when you start your build thread so I can follow along. How big you going?

 

[MikeCRK]

You'll have to let me know when you start your build thread so I can follow along. How big you going?

Thanks! I already started documenting (I have good memory but short hahaha)

This is the new one (48G): CLICK
And here is the cube I am learning on and test (also my future QT): CLICK, I was also posting some bits for the new one there. Generally speaking an experiment on ocean water.

Did not want to spam your thread with my threads