- Location
- Long Island
Hello Everyone! I am new to the hobby. I have had freshwater tanks in the past however; this is my first saltwater tank. I have done a lot of research in the process.
I purchased for 40 dollars a tank setup however, the tank is only 20 gallons (I purchased it via craigslist). It is a 20 gallon high tank, with an oak stand. The tank has a Bak Pak 2 protein skimmer, a Whisperer EX 30 filter, an air filter with the air stone attached, and 20 lbs of live rock for filtration.
I have actinic lighting (although, I am embarrassed to say how little wattage I have). : /
Inside the tank I also have a 100w tetra fin heater, a mini hydrometer, a thermoter (which always has a reading of 78 degrees), approx. 1.5 inches of live sand, and instant ocean salt (current level at 1.023). I initially used tap water and dechlorinated it. Since then, I have been performing a 10 percent water change (2 gallons) every Wednesday with bottled water.
The nitrates, nitrtites and ammonia are perfect. The tank cycled for one month before I purchased my first fish. I allow all the specimens to properly acclimate.
I purchased a false percula clown. I then purchased a pulsing xenia frag (which is growing very fast), 3 lunar eclipse zoo polyps (they are doing well), a spider vein paly (which is losing some of the green color), an orange eye chalice (which I hate to say is doing poorly) and 4 acan heads (which are doing well). Every morning I give them Kent marine purple tech. My rock now has coraline growing nicely on it.
I purchased about two weeks later, a female mandarin dragonette. Since I purchased her I have introduced approx. over 7,000 copepods (although, I believe most have been depleted) and 40,000 rotifers. Currently, I am breeding the copepods in a tiny refugium. I feed them phytoplankton every few days. Every once in while, I hatch brine shrimp to feed to the fish. Approx. two weeks later I introduced a clean-up crew of 15 blue-legged hermit crabs, 5 snails, and a large skunk cleaner shrimp. At the same time, I purchased a beautiful Dwarf Flame Angelfish. All the specimens get along well.
Although, I have only had the tank for two months I am looking to upgrade to a 40 gallon tank. I would like to give the fish more room.
Does anyone have any ideas about a possible setup? Although, I love the Solana system, I am on a very small budget (I am a college student attending Fordham, Lincoln Center). I was thinking of purchasing a 40 gallon-high tank and stand setup with a power compact light ballast. I was then going to use the 20 gallon tank I currently own to create a sump. When I purchase the tank and light setup I then want to purchase a crocea clam and more corals.
Also, if anyone is selling a tank please let me know. I am located in West Babylon, Long Island. Thanks in advance. I am also thinking of attending the frag swap!
Justin
I purchased for 40 dollars a tank setup however, the tank is only 20 gallons (I purchased it via craigslist). It is a 20 gallon high tank, with an oak stand. The tank has a Bak Pak 2 protein skimmer, a Whisperer EX 30 filter, an air filter with the air stone attached, and 20 lbs of live rock for filtration.
I have actinic lighting (although, I am embarrassed to say how little wattage I have). : /
Inside the tank I also have a 100w tetra fin heater, a mini hydrometer, a thermoter (which always has a reading of 78 degrees), approx. 1.5 inches of live sand, and instant ocean salt (current level at 1.023). I initially used tap water and dechlorinated it. Since then, I have been performing a 10 percent water change (2 gallons) every Wednesday with bottled water.
The nitrates, nitrtites and ammonia are perfect. The tank cycled for one month before I purchased my first fish. I allow all the specimens to properly acclimate.
I purchased a false percula clown. I then purchased a pulsing xenia frag (which is growing very fast), 3 lunar eclipse zoo polyps (they are doing well), a spider vein paly (which is losing some of the green color), an orange eye chalice (which I hate to say is doing poorly) and 4 acan heads (which are doing well). Every morning I give them Kent marine purple tech. My rock now has coraline growing nicely on it.
I purchased about two weeks later, a female mandarin dragonette. Since I purchased her I have introduced approx. over 7,000 copepods (although, I believe most have been depleted) and 40,000 rotifers. Currently, I am breeding the copepods in a tiny refugium. I feed them phytoplankton every few days. Every once in while, I hatch brine shrimp to feed to the fish. Approx. two weeks later I introduced a clean-up crew of 15 blue-legged hermit crabs, 5 snails, and a large skunk cleaner shrimp. At the same time, I purchased a beautiful Dwarf Flame Angelfish. All the specimens get along well.
Although, I have only had the tank for two months I am looking to upgrade to a 40 gallon tank. I would like to give the fish more room.
Does anyone have any ideas about a possible setup? Although, I love the Solana system, I am on a very small budget (I am a college student attending Fordham, Lincoln Center). I was thinking of purchasing a 40 gallon-high tank and stand setup with a power compact light ballast. I was then going to use the 20 gallon tank I currently own to create a sump. When I purchase the tank and light setup I then want to purchase a crocea clam and more corals.
Also, if anyone is selling a tank please let me know. I am located in West Babylon, Long Island. Thanks in advance. I am also thinking of attending the frag swap!
Justin
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