My 20g Reef Tank

[MossyFroggyLove]

Hey guys, I decided to make thread about my tank since it is my only tank. It is a 20 gallon tank.
Dimensions: L×W×H, 24×12×14

Lighting:
1. Spectra m029, 30w, running at 100%, fixed on the right panel.
2. Spectra sp20, 20w, running at 80%, fixed on the left panel.

Pumps/flow
1. 120L/H canister filter
2. 60L/H pump for aquarium chiller
3. 3000L/H wavemaker

I have about 6kg of sand (1.5 inches deep), and three liverocks. Here is a pic of how my tank is setted up.

This is my chiller, pipes go through a hole in the rack's wall.

This is my canister filter. I know its cluttered and i might clean itup but not sure when.

These are my lightings. I know thepic is quite bad.

Here isa pic of the full tank.

I will be as active as possible on this thread. Any new additions or the like will be updated here. If you guys have any suggestions, I would be more than happy to try out. As well as any opinions or advice.

 

[TheNative192]

Congrats nice tank

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

I do have a green hair algae problem. The ones that are long enough i am able to pull out, but most of it is to short for my fingers. My hermit crab and trochus snail hardly does anything. Do you have any suggestion? I am not very good with mollusks, they keep dying for some reason, only one trochus is surviving.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I do have a green hair algae problem. The ones that are long enough i am able to pull out, but most of it is to short for my fingers. My hermit crab and trochus snail hardly does anything. Do you have any suggestion? I am not very good with mollusks, they keep dying for some reason, only one trochus is surviving.

Urchins! I also would start doing water changes if you aren't already doing those

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

Urchins! I also would start doing water changes if you aren't already doing those

Urchins? Hmm, i used to have a tuxedo urchin quite a long time ago but i lost it in a fireworm attack. Are urchins easy to keep? My nutrients are rather low except for my po4. And will an urchin starve in my tank? Can i feed aquarium grade nori with garlic extract (this was intended for fish use)?

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

I dont think i would want urchins. I've read they're really sensitive to salinity changes. Sounds a little scary to me. Has anyone had any experience with true strawberry crabs? Looks like a much hardier option. I've read on google that it eats hair algae and bubble algae and wont disturb anyone if it is well fed. Anyone had any experiences with this?

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

Just cleaned up my tank a few mins ago and tried to hand feed the corals and my camel shrimp. And, realised, hand feeding the corals is sooo much more easier then to use a coral feeding tube/turkey baster. The camel shrimp wasnt all that scared of me too. Also, i have a little experiment i want to try out. I will update u guys when the 'thing' i ordered for the experiment arrives.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

Ok! Experiment done. So basically i added 500ml of phytoplankton at once, this is 4-5 times more than the usual amount i would add.

Here is the pic without phyto.

Here it is with phyto.

The camera doesnt do justice. The tank was literally green. But it only lasted about 20mins.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

My toadstool was closed for a long time, and this morning, I think this flatworm is the culprit. Can anyone id this?

Currently it is in this measuring cup. If it really is a pest, i can feed it to my aiptasia.

 

[rayadog]

I can’t tell if this is Rhabdoceola or Planaria. Planaria can be bad depending

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

I can’t tell if this is Rhabdoceola or Planaria. Planaria can be bad depending

Ph. Its white wkth black spots. I will try to get a better pic later

 

[Sam7]

Ok! Experiment done. So basically i added 500ml of phytoplankton at once, this is 4-5 times more than the usual amount i would add.

Here is the pic without phyto.

Here it is with phyto.

The camera doesnt do justice. The tank was literally green. But it only lasted about 20mins.

ya way too much for you tank at once

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

ya way too much for you tank at once

I know! It was just an experiment and the tank handled it. Next up 1000ml, then 1500ml.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

Ph. Its white wkth black spots. I will try to get a better pic later

So here are the better pics of the flatworm. Literally took me 30 minutes to get such a good pic.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

I dont think that poor flatworm was bad. Unfortunately it had died and i just fed its dead body to one of my palythoas.
Anyways, I am going to my lfs tommorrow. I plan to get a new wavemaker, some chemicals that i am running low on, and perhaps some corals. Do you guys have any coral suggestions? Some thing that is easy.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

Went to my lfs today. Ended up not getting a single coral, even though they had some mad deals for certain acans. I got myself a new wavemaker, paired it with the older one to create a more random flow. Got some salt as well as Microbe Lift Nite Out II (my best friend). Also got some coral food that my lfs recomended. But, i should say, all the prices have increased quite a bit in just 2 years. I also got an emerald crab to take care of my bubble and hair algae as well as an orange lip conch to sift my sand. Here are some pics of the things sold at the lfs i went today. I know it is a lot of pics but they're too good to leave out. There were originally 38 pics but i tried to narrow it down to 20.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

Update.
My emerald crab had disappeared for the past 2 days. No idea where it went, didnt even see it pop up at night. Then, yesterday while i was cleaning the tank, lets say i was a bit naughty and tried to pick my banded shrimp up and i got absolutely pinched, lol. My hermit crab is an absolute pain in the back, keeps bullying my corals. I dont know why but he tends to this for a few days everytime after he molts. Just cleaned my tank up today and realised that brushing a wavemaker in the sink is much easier.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

Update.
Emerald crab did reappear but then disappeared and never came back. No idea where it went. My lfs had a year end sale, so 25% discount for all corals. So, i got a green torch and a fireworks clove coral. I have tried 3 times with torch and all of those times they died. But, each time they died i learned something new, so now, i am trying for the 4th time with a 3 head torch. I hope it will be safe and grow. Here it is

What do you guys think about it? Any tips on how to keep it thriving?


Also, my conch started showing signs of hunger despite the sand looking full of detritus. But, i was not risking it and started feeding. And now, i am having to feed it a 1"×1" piece of nori everyday! Here it is eating some nori

Other than that, things seem to be fine.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

Update
Realised my emerald crab only comes out at around 2 am. Also, my camel shrimp just died due to improper molt. Also, again, Happy New Year everyone.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

The torch coral died. I am not sure why, probably too much flow.