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First post! New 20g nano, saying hello and need advice...

Discussion in 'Waterloo / Cedar Falls Area' started by tony_s, May 17, 2009.

  1. May 17, 2009 #1
    tony_s

    tony_s Inactive User

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    Hello all,
    I would like to first introduce myself. I am from Mason City, and travel to Waterloo/Cedar Falls frequently as it is a pretty short drive. I have been keeping a Lake Malawi 55g Cichlid tank for a while now but I would like to try my hand at saltwater. Saltwater tanks are the reason I wanted to get into the fish keeping hobby to begin with.
    I have a 20 gallon tank that i have no need for at the moment so I wanted to convert it to saltwater for my first attempt. I thought about buying a biocube or a nanocube but just decided to us a tank I already have. I am going to get the live sand in the next week or so, same with powerheads, hydrometer, and a new heater. Im not sure I will be buying a filter because I have read that doing an all natural filtration is best for a smaller size tank. What do you guys reccomend? A protein skimmer, a filter, a skilter, or none? The thing I am looking for most is cured live rock from an established tank because I want to try to eliminate my chance of getting pests such as mantis shrimp and bristle worms. I wouldnt need the live rock for another few weeks to a month or so if anybody is looking to get rid of some.
    My last question, (for now lol), is I do not have great lighting on this tank right now, just a regular flourescent hood. So while I let the tank get going, put some fish and a cleanup crew in their is the regular lighting okay for the moment? Eventually I want to make this a reef tank, but I cannot do that for a bit longer until I get the money for a nice lighting system. So in the meantime is the regular lighting sufficient?
    Thanks so much,
    Tony
     
  2. May 17, 2009 #2
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Welcome to the club and to saltwater :)

    If you're just going to have fish, the light you have now will be fine. Of course for corals, you'll need to upgrade. Yes, get a protein skimmer regardless of whether you're just going to keep fish or coral. Skilters are cr*p, so don't bother, just get a good skimmer, and some live sand and/or live rock for filtration. I'd recommend getting mostly "dead" rock (but clean) and seeding it with a few choice pieces of live rock from someone local. In the future, adding a sump with additional water/rock and some macro algae will help with filtration even more.

    Good luck!
     
  3. May 17, 2009 #3
    tony_s

    tony_s Inactive User

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    Thanks for having me!
    Definately, I plan on adding corals eventually, that is when I can afford to upgrade the lights. For a bit just fish and live rock/sand, so its good to hear that my junkie lighting will be good for now. Any good skimmers you all reccomend for a tank of 20 gallons? And by dead rock what do you mean? The pet store here in town has what they call "live rock" but I was told by somebody else it is just base rock? If thats what you mean? (I think they were selling it for $8.99/lb which seemed pretty steep to me, correct me if thats a decent price please.) Also to make sure I have the proper equipment I know I need a heater, hydrometer, powerhead, and skimmer. Is there anything else I am missing?
    Thanks again,
    Tony
     
  4. May 17, 2009 #4
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    A question often asked for tanks that have been used for fresh is whether or not you have dosed copper. This can be absorbed by the silicone and leached back into your system. Just a thought :)
     
  5. May 17, 2009 #5
    tony_s

    tony_s Inactive User

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    I am not sure what you mean by dosed copper. I take it you mean a way to rid the tank of copper? If so, how do I go about that? If I absolutely have to I would be willing to buy a new tank.
    Thanks
     
  6. May 17, 2009 #6
    dewdad

    dewdad Inactive User

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    Hi Tony,

      Welcome to the club. I have a 15gal. tank that I have crushed coral, about 15 to 25 lbs of live rock, two fish, (tomato clownfish-keyhole angle) and a few mushrooms. I think there is still an emrald crab to but I haven't seen him for a couple days. Lighting is a coralife compact florecent 65 watt, filter is two whisper power filters, a #3 and a #2. This tank has been up and doing just fine for about a year. I allso have a 65gal. with all the power heads,skimmer,sump as well but I started with the 15.The bigger you go the more it cost. You can get a lot of your wish list things should we say right here on this site if you watch for it. As for dead rock that is live rock that has been out of the water and dried out so it has no life left on it. Any questions you have just ask, someone will help out. Again welcome it sounds like you are already hooked.  
     
  7. May 18, 2009 #7
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Base rock is generally thought of as dead rock, i.e. the beneficial bacteria and life is not on it/within it anymore. Depending on how long it was dried and how it was dried etc will depend on how long you should "cook" the rock to get all the bad/dead debris out of it. If you just throw dead rock into a tank, it will slowly release all the nitrates, ammonia, phosphate etc from all the dead debris. Google cooking live rock/base rock etc and see what you come up with. Basically, you put the rock into a covered tub for a number of weeks with a powerhead and make water changes to try and get the gunk out of the rock before adding it to your tank. That's why it's ideal to buy live rock from an established tank and that's why the price is high. If you get from a local reefer, the price will generally be around $3 or so a pound. base rock would be cheaper still......
     
  8. May 18, 2009 #8
    tony_s

    tony_s Inactive User

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    I have a friend who bought some stuff because he was going to try a saltwater tank. I guess he isnt as motivated as he thought he was. He has some once "live sand", but I am sure the bacteria in it is dead now. He set the tank up, with the sand, saltwater, powerheads, heater, everything but never put a fish or live rock in it. Is it possible to seed this with good live rock as it is possible to do that with the dead rock? Or should I save myself some trouble and just by new live sand? Lots of questions, sorry! But I intend to have this tank running by the end of the month and don't want to mess anything up.
     
  9. Jun 2, 2009 #9
    DavidM199

    DavidM199 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    hey Welcome to the club I live down here in waterloo. You shouldn't have a problem with seeding some dead sand from a little be of live. Keep us posted on your progress
     

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