Any tips for keeping a 20g reef?

[fishymommy]

Hello! I just got my 20g long switched over to a mini sw reef. Its been running for about a week now and I have:

2 clowns (Cora and Bennie)
1 cleaner shrimp (Kratos, God of MOAR)
1 Emerald Mithrax crab (hitchhiked on some live rock)
Bak-Pak 60g reef ready skimmer
4x24 actinin/10K with lunar Current USA light
20lb of live rock
1-1.5 in of live sand
All params awesome thumbs2:

So, any tips? I want a mini reef that can have as many awesome corals as possible while being tough and easy to care for. Color is always good as well as nifty shapes and stuff. Any suggestions on corals?

Also, what is the rule on anemone's? I've researched and my new light should be plenty for an anemone in such a shallow tank. Also, my mother-in-law has a small anemone that I'd be allowed to have. I've read some places that you're suppose to wait before adding an anemone.

Why is this? Is it a necessity or is it ok to add the anemone now? I have no other corals (except for a small kenya tree) so it could move to wherever it wanted to find its "happy spot" without worrying about it stinging anything. The anemone is very small/young so is only about an inch across with little 1/4" tentacles. Eventually it is suppose to be a long tentacle anemone.

Can I add this anemone now? What do you suggest?

Again, any other tips, ANYTHING AT ALL would be awesome!!! :hmm3grin2orange:

Thanks

[Fishguy2727]

Definitely wait a while before getting an anemone. The tank is way too young to be considered stable. 'Stable' for a week means little more than 'no problems yet'. Keep an daily check on the parameters.
Is the live already cured?
I would add more live rock, at least another ten pounds.

[fishymommy]

Yep, live is cured and full of good critters. I saw a 6" bristle worm crawl out the other night. CREEPY!! haha. What does it mean to have a stable tank? What does the anemone need in the tank for it to be healthy for him?

[Fishguy2727]

Anemones are very sensitive to any sort of low water quality problems. A tank this young is simply not mature enough to risk such a sensitive animal. And if an anemone dies in such a small tank it can cause the water quality to go so low so fast it could kill everything else.

After a few weeks of the tank up and running with absolutely no problems (no ammonia or nitrite and minimal nitrate (under 10) then you can consider an anemone. Many people would say that an anemone should be added for at least six months.

What type of anemone do you plan on getting?

[Kyle]

Your tank is still young, Id wait awile. Most will say 6 months. Ive had the same problem with patience in my tank. Are you willing to risk everything in your tank if the anemone dies? Let everything settle and work out a stocking plan

[fishymommy]

I would really like her first anemone (she has 4 in her tank now) I think she called a pink/purple bubble tip anemone. Not sure though but it deffinitely has a slight purple hint with little purple tips on each tentacle. The other option is a little baby long tentacle anemone that is being constantly pestered by its two "older brother" anemones so it can't ever spread out and grow.

So, does this rule apply for all soft corals? or can I start stocking while I wait for the tank to mature? any coral suggestions for me?

[sid101]

Your fist anemore can go inside as soon as you get balance in your tank just like fishguy2727 i agree that you should wait for the tank to really get stabilized but there's no need for waiting six months until adding your anemone, local fish shops i know add anemones to the display tanks 1 month after cycling is completed and powercompacts are the amount of light you need for an anemone, there are some anemones that can only thrive or at least survive under MH lamps but not all, thatis where research comes into play.

I think a 20g is kinda small for an anemone but if you control it's feeding you can have one easily, just research what you are going to get.ç

Looking forward to see a pic of the future adition =).

Have a great one!

[MonkeyPox]

Without proper lighting, anemones will spread out, sometimes 12".
I wouldn't really recommend one for a 20g tank nor to one this new. If you do get one, bubbles are the easiest to care for.

[Drumachine09]

Don't get a condilactus gigantae, they grow muuuuch too large for a 20 gallon.

[AABatteries]

Do you have a CUC? If not, you should get one. You won't be disappointed with the BakPak, I run one on my 20g reef.

[fishymommy]

umm.. whats a cuc??

[Kyle]

clean up crew, snails, hermit crabs, etc

[fishymommy]

well.. i have one emerald crab, a cleaner shrimp, one little hermit crab, two snails, and one huge bristle worm for sure. Is that good or should I get more?

[Kyle]

Well a lot of people will choose hermits or snails, as hermits might pull the snails out for their shells. I put about a dozen extra shells in the tank to prevent this. In my 34 I have about 8 snails and 6 hermits

[fishymommy]

where can u get more snails? do stores like petland have them for sale?

[atomicjade]

Most pet shops with SW sections should have snails.


Also this is a bit off topic but I have a Stone Crab named Kratos!

[sid101]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

seems to be a great place, i can't buy there because i live in another country but seems to be a great place besides i have only read good things about that site in reef forums.

[JaredCBell]

Don't get a condilactus gigantae, they grow muuuuch too large for a 20 gallon.

Dont they only grow to 12 inches max?

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Yes, but they are also quite aggressive, don't normally host clowns, and typically wander around the tank all the time.