Reefer Matt’s 20 Gallon Nano Reef

Reefer Matt · Jan 25, 2026

I am going to document this 20 gallon nano tank and how to setup a basic thriving reef for less! Starting with the tank: The tank was gifted to me from my dad, and the stand from my daughter. I didn’t even ask for them, lol! The wavemakers I already have laying around, and will either be Jebao or Hygger. The rock will be old live rock that I threw outside two years ago! The only thing I don’t have is the lights, which I will look into a Hygger option. This tank will be a softy/lps tank, but will progress at a natural and nominal pace. Feel free to follow along!

tbrown · Jan 25, 2026

Reefer Matt · Feb 16, 2026

So far I am $0 into this tank! I know not everyone has rock laying around, but I had some old liverock from my previous tank I tore down two years ago. Next will be sand, water, and pump to begin the cycle!

X-37B · Feb 16, 2026

Cool thread!
I have done something similar with what I had laying around.
13g tank-20×12.5×12.5
16hd
Tidal 35 filter
Hygger heater
Hygger 12 watt crossflow
Custom 1 liter ato, lol
Magnetic sand, lol, it's turning purple
Few pieces of live rock from my other systems
Frag rack
2g WC every 2 weeks
Esv 5ml daily

Only new piece was the crossflow
Frag rack is in now. I will get a pic when lights come on.
System is 2 months.
9 frags and a tiny bubble tip that slot onto 3.

Reefer Matt · Mar 17, 2026

It’s finally time to add sand and water! And you know another video is being made!

Reefer Matt · Mar 17, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANK #6! So far I have $9 in this tank! I know not everyone has the resources I do, but you really can really reduce the cost of a tank by asking around and scrounging!

rayadog · Mar 17, 2026

Shhh! I’ll be had if I that’s how much my tank could’ve cost. Nice job! What will the light be? Or still searching around?

Reefer Matt · Mar 17, 2026

rayadog said:
Shhh! I’ll be had if I that’s how much my tank could’ve cost. Nice job! What will the light be? Or still searching around?

Lol!

This tank obviously won’t be pretty on the outside, but I hope to make it nice and affordable on the inside. I’m going to invite Hygger and try their products on this (I have a heater already), and would like to see if their marine tank lights can grow coral. So I may try these and see which is better for the tank. If they don’t work out, I’ll look at something else. Right now I’m cycling with Microbacter 7, a raw shrimp, and an Ammonia Alert badge for testing.

Reefer Matt · Mar 29, 2026

Dang this cycled quick! Less than two weeks! I wonder if it was because this rock was outside in the weather for two years?

3-19-26:

3-29-26:

tbrown · Mar 29, 2026

Reefer Matt said:
Dang this cycled quick! Two weeks! I wonder if it was because this rock was outside in the weather for two years?

3-19-26:

3-29-26:

Only two years??? I think mine was outside for 4 or 5 years when I got around to using it. I rinsed it good though and pulled the grass that was growing.

Reefer Matt · Mar 29, 2026

tbrown said:
Only two years??? I think mine was outside for 4 or 5 years when I got around to using it. I rinsed it good though and pulled the grass that was growing.

Yeah, I put it in my wife’s flower garden!