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noobie needs some help.

2K views 11 replies 4 participants last post by  zachhay11 
#1 ·
hey guys i wanted to convert my 20 gallon tank to saltwater and i wanted to get an arrow crab. i also wanted to get alot of inverts along with some other fish like cardnals, gobies, damsels, dottybacks and i wanted to know what stuff i'm gonna need.
i currently have-
gravel which i'm gonna switch to sand. wanted to use playground sand since i'm on a tight budget.
rock, which i will also get a stedy collection of liverock over the cycling period and after the cycle.
a 20 gallon size bubbler. i have a 50 gallon size too if its benificial to use that one instead.
a 20 gallon hang on back filter. i have a 50 gallon size filter also if it'll work better i'll use that instead.
a fluresent light with 2 40 watt bolbs(probably not going for coral ever)
a lid of course
test equipment

now here is a list of the fish i want. this is a wishlist btw not for sure on anything.
arrow crab(deffinantly want)
cleaning shrimp
any type of crabs
starfish
sea urchin
possably some dottybacks
cradnals
gobies
clowns
jawfish
enginear gobie
damsels

if there is anyother fish or invert you think might also be doable please comment. and also would it be benificial to use the 50 gallon filter and bubbler?
 
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#2 ·
Hi Zach, an engineer goby will grow way to large for your setup, consider some smaller gobies. Only get 1 damsel as they are aggressive to each other if kept in confines spaces. Also, if I was you I would choose between 1 type of dottyback, and 1 type of cardinal since your list may be pushing the limits a bit. It would be best to use a hang-on-back protein skimmer rather than a hand-on-back filter (assuming it doesn't include a protein skimmer). But a HOB filter should work fine. The bubbler wouldn't really do anything other than pump a little more oxygen into the water, so it would be more for aesthetics. Hope this helps :).
 
#4 ·
I have to be brutally honest with you. You do not have any of the needed equipment for a successful saltwater aquarium. It is certainly possible to do a very basic marine aquarium of 20 gallons, and stock it with only 2 or 3 very small fish, doing weekly water changes. However, this concept only applies to VERY simple FISH ONLY systems, keeping only the EASIEST of fish to be kept in a marine aquarium. In your case, this would mean Clownfish, Damsels, and Dottybacks. Inverts would be completely off limits in a system like this.

The correct method for long term success in a marine system is to use live sand, live rock, and a protein skimmer. None of the equipment that you currently have for a freshwater aquarium would be used in a saltwater system. I suggest that you spend some time looking at the successful aquariums set up by members of this forum. You can find threads on these setups on the "Pictures and Videos" area of this web site. Each of these systems, regardless of size, utilizes these same basic principles.
 
#11 ·
It is true that many people set up aquariums without using live rock. In my experience over the last 15+ years in keeping marines, these people rarely have any level of sustained success. Live rock is the stability of your system, and fish are much more difficult to sustain in aquariums set up without live rock. I believe over the long term you will find live rock to be the less expensive option.

On a 20 gallon aquarium you won't need an expensive skimmer, but you do want something that is high quality, because you will save a lot of money in the long run. A good skimmer will dramatically reduce water changes, as well as save you money on buffers and calcium supplementation. I would suggest the Coralife hang on unit:
Super Skimmer with Needle Wheel - Up to 65 Gallon | Venturi Models | Protein Skimmers | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com
This is the most cost effective unit for under $100 that you will find. Most of the other hang on designs are rather ineffective in comparison.
 
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