JB 20 gallon build

jcburdette2 · Feb 13, 2017

Hey everyone, new to the forum.
This is my second go around with a nano tank. I had a 10 gallon tank several years ago.

don't mind the linkin park album in the background. this was 2007 or so. I was also still at home with my parents.

My oldest is almost 5 now and my wife and I decided this would be a great thing to start up for helping with homeschooling and something to look at and enjoy that doesn't involve a screen.

keeping it simple for now on this build. bought all brand new equipment and stand.
-aquaclear 70 powerfilter
-current orbit LED
-100w heater
-koralia nano 425 (on order)

we bought live sand (20lbs) and rock(13.5lbs) from the LFS in Richmond (not really local for us as its in hour drive)

been running the tank for a few days. been showing my oldest all the testing and using the refractometer.
anyways. we are excited. below are a couple pics of the new tank.
cheers!

Maritimer · Feb 13, 2017

Welcome aboard, Jcburdette2!

The tank looks promising ... and the mission made me smile. Like your child, my granddaughter (age six-and-a-half) has a curious mind, and loves anything to do with science. Test kits? Yes, please! Microscope for Christmas? Best _ever_!

Enjoy the wonder . . .

~Bruce

jcburdette2 · Feb 15, 2017

Just received power head. Going to mess around with placement to see what's optimal for now. Suggestions are welcomed!

Preme · Feb 16, 2017

Welcome
Sounds like a nice build!

jcburdette2 · Feb 16, 2017

Powerhead placement for now. Will probably order another one in a week or so. Lots of brown algae growth on the rocks. Will be doing "science tests" with the oldest this evening and update our chart to track the tank cycle.

jcburdette2 · Feb 21, 2017

We have been doing our water tests every other day for about 12 days now. pH is good at 8.2. ammonia has been steady at .25ppm. nitrite has been at 0 and nitrates have been at 10( I may have the two backwards). We are currently using the APi basic test kit.
still waiting on the cycle to complete. we used the Bio-spira when putting in the LR, sand and water at the advice of the LFS to help speed up the process.
Lessons being learned now for everyone is patience.

jcburdette2 · Mar 3, 2017

About 30 days into our cycle. Last week or so there's been alot of this green hair algae growing on the one rock. Just wondering if this is something to try and take care of now or it will be taken care of during the cycle. Thanks!

Kerwin1721 · Mar 7, 2017

I'm thinking about setting up something similar for my son. What type of media are you running in your filter?

jcburdette2 · Mar 7, 2017

I'm just running the foam and the biomax at the moment. Once I get a few things in the tank Im thinking of just running the foam with carbon and eventually buy one of those reef glass nano skimmers

jcburdette2 · Mar 7, 2017

Just a note. We are still in the cycling process. Haven't tested in a few days so interested to see when we do our tests later this evening

Mr.Rocc · Mar 7, 2017

Welcome bubs!

jcburdette2 · Mar 8, 2017

We had been out of town for a few days and got back to see alot of algae growth. Performed our tests and everything was at 0. Did a 50% water change today and did tests again a couple hours later and still have readings at 0 for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. It's been about 5 weeks since we started running the tank. I think we are ready to start stocking it up slowly. We haven't decided on what fish to start with yet. So suggestions are welcomed

jcburdette2 · Mar 8, 2017

jcburdette2 · Mar 10, 2017

Well, we went out and picked up these little guys at the LFS. Been watching them for a few weeks now at the store. Will be getting the CUC in the next week. Probably should have done the opposite order, but you k ow what they say about hindsight. Our daughter is super excited