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Started the 2nd Tank up

A Nem / Clowns and Weed Coral Tank!
Introduction
So, we set up a 2nd Saltwater tank. My wife always wanted an Anemone, I although I like them, there was no way I was going to unleash one in my display. My nephew had a 13.5 evo he kept at our house, but after a few years he decided to break it all down and start over again, he had 1 designer clown left that he said we could keep, so naturally my wife felt bad because he was alone, so she bought a smaller Gladiator clown to keep him company..lol.

Problem was both clowns were being kept in a box in my display, then of course my wife said..."Hey...we can get a nem now!..right, so of course we got a Rainbow BTA nem, and in the box it went with the 2 clowns in my display tank. (I already have a maited pair) so no way they were gonna be released. Kept all in box for a month.

My wife after having a few Betta Tanks, decided she wanted to upgrade to a planted tank a year or so ago, so she got a 10g tank and started there. Well after much success, it was time for her to go bigger, so we compromised...she got a 20g tall tank, and we converted the old 10g tank to a Nem/Clown/Weed Coral tank.

I did the Skip Cylcle, added 2 pieces of Cycled WET ROCK from my LFS, 2 pieces of live rock from my tank that i purchased originally from Tampa Bay Saltwater that had been in my display for over a year, new arag-alive sand, a sicce nano wave maker and a fluval HOB filter. I did dose Microbacter7 and half of the small fritz turbo start, although I probably didn't need it.

Lighting is a Glowrium black box from Amazon, and its pretty good for the price, I also have a bigger one on my 40GB display to add to the AI Prime 16 HDs, IMHO, these dang lights are just as good as the AI Blades and a quarter of the price.

Waited about 6 days to add the 2 clowns, next day added the RBTA, and everything has been going good. Past Sunday added another Green BTA and 3 frags of Yellow Clove Polyps. CUC Crew is 2 Nasarius snails, 2 Zebra snails, 1 red leg hermit. Also in future I would like to add a Pistol shrimp and Goby to pair, and that's it for livestock. Of course i will be adding some pom pom zenia and other Zoas as well.

So far so good, and tonight, my tank glass was covered in Pods.
Do you have a video of your tank?
Video soon.
A Nem / Clowns and Weed Coral Tank!

Aquarium Profile and Equipment

What type of saltwater aquarium is this?
Mixed Reef
Total Water Volume
10
When did you start this tank?
Feb 28, 2026
What is your aquarium made of?
Glass
Aquarium Length (inches)
20
Aquarium Width (inches)
10
Aquarium Height (inches)
12
Aquarium Overflow/Drain
No Overflow
Aquarium Sump
NO Sump
Aquarium Stand
Used one from my nephews 13.5 Evo
Aquarium Controller
NO
Protein Skimmer
NO
Aquarium Reactors
  1. None
What types of equipment are you using for water flow and circulation?
  1. Wavemaker
  2. Surge Device
Water Flow and Circulation Equipment List
Sicce Nano Voyager, also HOB filter provides flow.
Aquarium Lighting
  1. LED
Lighting Equipment List
Glowrium
Dosing Equipment Detail
None yet.
Auto Top Off or ATO
NO
Aquarium Heating and Cooling
  1. I am using a heater or heaters
Water Temperature
76
Heating and Cooling Equipment Detail
Aquatop Pisces
Additional Equipment Detail
Fluval AC20 HOB filter.

Aquarium Water Chemistry and Parameters

pH Level
8.1
Specific Gravity
1.25
Nitrate or NO3
10ppm
Phosphate or PO4
0.7
Calcium
450
Alkalinity
9.0
Magnesium
1350
Salt Brand
Fauna Marin
Trace Element Dosing
Not yet, too new, but will eventually add Brightwell Replenish and Red Sea ABCD

Aquarium Natural and Mechanical Filtration

Substrate
Sand
Substrate Level
Shallow
Live Rock
12
Live Rock Type
All LIVE... 10lbs from LFS, aquacultured life rock, and 2lbs of Tampa Bay Saltwater live Rock, from my tank.
Nutrient Export
  1. Carbon
Water Changes
YES
Water Change Details
Right now, once/week, eventually once every 2 weeks
Additional Maintenance Details
Not much, cleaning glass, looking at all the Pods growing, its still new, so, minimal maintenance right now.

Aquarium Tank Inhabitants (fish, coral, invert etc.)

Fish List
  1. Clownfish
Total Fish
2, but will be 3 when Goby and Pistol shrimp are added.
Coral List
  1. LPS Coral
Total Corals
3
Invert List
  1. Crabs
  2. Snails
Total Inverts
5
Livestock Detail
2 clowns 1 designer, 1 Gladiator
Livestock Quarantine
  1. No Quarantine
Favorite Fish
Royal Gramma
Favorite Invert
Red Leg Hermit

Aquarium Nutrition (fish, coral, invert etc. feeding)

Fish Feeding Frequency
Multiple Daily Feedings
Coral Feeding Frequency
Every Other Day
Fish and Coral Feeding
  1. Pellet
  2. Frozen
What brands of foods are you feeding?
Umm... all of them, I believe in Variety...Mysis, brine, rods food, pe mysis pellets, prime reef, mega marine etc.
Auto Feeder
NO

Additional Aquarium Information

What do you think are the keys to your success in reefing?
Well, for this tank? Started off with Live Rock only...oh man, my 1st tank....BIG MISTAKE!! I Started with Dry Rock only, and ...after almost a year of heavy ugly stage, I almost quit...lol.

Gumbies R Us

God, Bouldering, and Reefing
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Awesome! Congrats on starting a second tank!
 

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