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20 gallon tank duable?

3K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  teddyzaper 
#1 · (Edited)
Hey everyone,
So I need you experience here folks! I am in fact begging for your help with this. We are in the process of looking for a new house which was something we were going to look at only next year. Good news is, the sooner we move, the quicker I can get myself that 75 gallon tank I have been wanting to start up for the last 6 months.

My question is this...and I'm honestly sorry for asking because I know its something that's been beaten down A LOT on the forum.

I came across a brand new 20 gallon tank for a couple bucks and was thinking into turning it into a small freshwater tank for an upstairs office, all while still starting that 75+gallon, saltwater tank once we move in. Now I just thought of this and saw that smaller ones have been started, but would it be a ridiculously complicated or difficult task to try to keep a small 20g tank saltwater tank balanced enough to keep corals and a couple fish???

I'm actually really liking the idea to start something small, but I do realize that the smaller the container, the more difficult it is to keep the water balanced vs a much larger tank with more water. Also keep in mind that I have never in my life started a saltwater tank. I've owned a few goldfish and THATS IT. So even the basics I'm going to be needing some help with.

I really want to hear some honest answers. I'm completely ok using this 20 gallon as a saltwater.

Thanks for taking the time to read this over. Love to hear what you all have to say :)
 
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#2 ·
well as i have stated in other posts this is really a topic that gets opinions flying on both sides of the argument... 1st of yes it is possible to start a 20 gallon nano
yes it is possible that it will be a little harder to maintain at first unless you are vigilant and read up on everything you can FIRST...
more volume will always create more stability and many will say 55 gallons or larger... however after alot of reading my self and gathering opinions from many resources i personally think that a 20 gallon nano reef is very doable... i my self started a 29 gallon not that long ago and intent to expand it with a 20 gallon sump.. not based on need as much as desire and ease of care for the larger volume.
again no one here (myself included) is you only you can decide if the challenged that come with a smaller tank are things you want to and are able to contend with. also looking at cost is another factor... do you want to set up this 20 and turn around to set up the larger tank later basically investing twice? some items will not be usable on the larger tank.... do you want to get a stable environment and keep the 20? or later transfer everything and potentially crash the tank starting from scratch?
just tossing things out for you to consider.....
 
#3 ·
Hey! thanks for the reply! definitely a lot of things that I had not thought about. Thanks so much for bringing all this up. It has brought up a few things which I had not thought about. Even if I were to turn this tank into a mini salt water tank it will have to move into the new house and THAT im not sure I am going to be ready to do after taking so much time and effort into trying to make it work.

Might end up doing a small and large saltwater, but you definitely helped think of a few more things I had no considered. Goldfish it is for now :lol:

Thanks a lot :)
 
#4 ·
gold fish bring their own issues such as the fact they grow really big and should have around 10-15 gallons per fish and heavy filtration.... check out the fresh water section for more on this topic....
any how i was not trying to discourage yo just wanted to show some of the many details involved.. again i personally think a 20 would be a ton of fun and the whole salt water experience as a whole is an out standing and exciting adventure....
 
#8 ·
I have 15 gallon with Refugium and skimmer, so it stays pretty balanced and clean, Only thing i have to worry about is the same as above, salinity and water level, and of course i check the temperature regularly. But thats easy stuff, i have a water level marked on my refugium so thats a piece of cake, and for salinity i just use a hydrometer, and when its high i just take out some water and put some fresh tap back in which usually is when its low any way so its all coincidently done at the same time :D...a CUC and live rock will help you greatly too....Good Luck
 
#9 ·
you have to understand, you pay for what you get in saltwater. in freshwater you may buy a canister filter that is $59 and then see one that is $100, but you really are just paying for the name, in saltwater a %59 skimmer will make a light tea skimmate whereas a $200 will have dark brown skimmate. The saltwater will cost a lot more then the freshwater. you will need a nice light around $150, a nice skimmer around $175, a heater $30, salt at a continueing price, water test kits, and much much more! it will be more expensive to do a 75 gallon but if you price it per gallon it will be A LOT cheaper! i know your anxcious, and i was to, but honestly i would wait and then set them both up when your in your new house, so not only can you get the shape of tank you like, but it wont have to be as stressed with a move, and its incredibly hard to move it, u need trashcans, bater powered heater, and battery powered ariators


im not trying to discourage you, just stateing the facts, make sure you like the shape of the tank, because ive ended up taking down 2 FW tanks because i didnt like the shape.

you should read this: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/...-filtration-101-how-differs-freshwater-31955/
 
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