This tank has been up and running for ~1 year now and I'm still at it so I figured I would finally do my first post. I never had an aquarium as a kid, this really is my first tank. I would like to upgrade to a bigger tank at some point and am trying to buy lighting, a controller, etc. that will not need to be purchased a 2nd time when that happens.
My goal is to have fun, take it slow, enjoy the tank, learn a lot.
Equipment
Tank: Standard Petco 20H
Skimmer: Tunze 9003
Light: Kessil A360X
Flow: MP10, Tunze powerhead
Controller: Apex Classic
Rock: ~20 lbs live rock
Sand: Caribsea fiji pink, 20 lbs
Filtration: AquaClear 50...until it died
Refugium: none
ATO: me
Livestock
2 clownfish
1 yellow tail damsel
CUC
1 fighting conch
1 hermit crab
1 urchin
Future aspirations/plans:
11/18/2019: Got set up with live rock & salt from Aquatic Treasures in Watertown (closest fish store to me at ~15 mins from my house).
4/14/2020: recently added the yellow headed goby, he kept the sand in excellent shape.
5/15/2020: The clownfish hanging out.
5/15/2020
6/30/2020: everyone still doing well, I had high hopes for that hammer but lost it after moving the tank from old house to new. I was so silly too - put fish/corals/sand/rock in like 5 buckets. Then I just had to put the pieces back together on the other side. And I did...mostly. Also lost a brain coral which was like my favorite. Fortunately I have avoided spending too much on individual corals at least in the beginning.
9/24/2020: New house, new rockwork. For my next tank I'll do the scape first. I read about saltwater tanks for 6+ months before taking the plunge with a freshwater -> saltwater conversion, but the business about doing the scape with dry rock was something I missed. But it's okay, there are worse mistakes I have made. And having loose rocks has its advantages.
I like this photo because it shows every fish in the tank (at the time). Sadly, I lost the firefish for reasons I don't know, and I lost the yellow headed goby shortly thereafter - I suspect because a 20g is not big enough for him. He was doing OK, but then I got busy and stopped feeding his heavy sinking pellets every day, I think that may have put him over the edge.
In any case - I have been reading the advice on BRS for a year plus and appreciate everyones' insights and debates. Thanks for reading!
My goal is to have fun, take it slow, enjoy the tank, learn a lot.
Equipment
Tank: Standard Petco 20H
Skimmer: Tunze 9003
Light: Kessil A360X
Flow: MP10, Tunze powerhead
Controller: Apex Classic
Rock: ~20 lbs live rock
Sand: Caribsea fiji pink, 20 lbs
Filtration: AquaClear 50...until it died
Refugium: none
ATO: me
Livestock
2 clownfish
1 yellow tail damsel
CUC
1 fighting conch
1 hermit crab
1 urchin
Future aspirations/plans:
- Get and grow out some easy to grow corals that can add a lot of color like RBTA or GSP.
- My CUC could use some augmentation. I need some algae eaters. I had 5 bumblebee snails at one point, they did a great job on the rocks. Or I am considering a good algae eating fish.
- I have about 20 lbs more Pukani. I wouldn't mind cycling it and building a more dramatic scape. Though, not sure if I should just get a bigger tank and do the more dramatic scape properly with dry rock.
- At some point, I want a bigger tank. I have been eyeing 50-60 gallon AIO tanks, or something like a RSR 250.
11/18/2019: Got set up with live rock & salt from Aquatic Treasures in Watertown (closest fish store to me at ~15 mins from my house).
4/14/2020: recently added the yellow headed goby, he kept the sand in excellent shape.
5/15/2020: The clownfish hanging out.
5/15/2020
6/30/2020: everyone still doing well, I had high hopes for that hammer but lost it after moving the tank from old house to new. I was so silly too - put fish/corals/sand/rock in like 5 buckets. Then I just had to put the pieces back together on the other side. And I did...mostly. Also lost a brain coral which was like my favorite. Fortunately I have avoided spending too much on individual corals at least in the beginning.
9/24/2020: New house, new rockwork. For my next tank I'll do the scape first. I read about saltwater tanks for 6+ months before taking the plunge with a freshwater -> saltwater conversion, but the business about doing the scape with dry rock was something I missed. But it's okay, there are worse mistakes I have made. And having loose rocks has its advantages.
I like this photo because it shows every fish in the tank (at the time). Sadly, I lost the firefish for reasons I don't know, and I lost the yellow headed goby shortly thereafter - I suspect because a 20g is not big enough for him. He was doing OK, but then I got busy and stopped feeding his heavy sinking pellets every day, I think that may have put him over the edge.
In any case - I have been reading the advice on BRS for a year plus and appreciate everyones' insights and debates. Thanks for reading!