AwkwardlyLargeDragon
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2025
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 14
- Location
- Los Angeles
- What state or country do you live in
- California
Hey!
I'm brand new to the saltwater aquarium hobby, I've been keeping freshwater tanks since as far as I can remember. My dad always had fish tanks even from before I was born! I got more interested in fish keeping after discovering aquascape and nature style aquariums. I've been doing that for the past 10 or so years but only recently hit my stride on it. That being said I started keeping more advanced aquascapes and livestock that required RO water and figured RODI was only a short push away and if I'm making freshwater I might as well give saltwater a go! I'm also a scuba diving instructor so the fish/plant/coral obsession runs pretty deep for me!
I retrofitted an old UNS System to saltwater and holy moly. This is much more addictive then freshwater, a totally different vibe and style of keeping. I'm completely obsessed! I've got a 20g Cube, with primarily zoa, paly and mushrooms at the moment. Recently added a super cheap torch and hammer to see how they do. Running for about 6 months.
Let me know your thoughts! I have a clean up crew but no fish or showcase livestock yet, would love some suggestions for a light bioload! I was thinking a group of sexy shrimp and possibly a pistol goby pair. On the freshwater side I am very shrimp dominant so, very happy with shrimp only but would be delighted to try some nano fish here.
Attached is a picture of the tank right after the lights turned on. I'm still figuring out the best ways to photograph this so please forgive the poor quality.
Here are a few closeups of some of the starter corals I've got going
I'm brand new to the saltwater aquarium hobby, I've been keeping freshwater tanks since as far as I can remember. My dad always had fish tanks even from before I was born! I got more interested in fish keeping after discovering aquascape and nature style aquariums. I've been doing that for the past 10 or so years but only recently hit my stride on it. That being said I started keeping more advanced aquascapes and livestock that required RO water and figured RODI was only a short push away and if I'm making freshwater I might as well give saltwater a go! I'm also a scuba diving instructor so the fish/plant/coral obsession runs pretty deep for me!
I retrofitted an old UNS System to saltwater and holy moly. This is much more addictive then freshwater, a totally different vibe and style of keeping. I'm completely obsessed! I've got a 20g Cube, with primarily zoa, paly and mushrooms at the moment. Recently added a super cheap torch and hammer to see how they do. Running for about 6 months.
Let me know your thoughts! I have a clean up crew but no fish or showcase livestock yet, would love some suggestions for a light bioload! I was thinking a group of sexy shrimp and possibly a pistol goby pair. On the freshwater side I am very shrimp dominant so, very happy with shrimp only but would be delighted to try some nano fish here.
Attached is a picture of the tank right after the lights turned on. I'm still figuring out the best ways to photograph this so please forgive the poor quality.
Here are a few closeups of some of the starter corals I've got going
