SeaSerpants 20g Long

[SeaSerpant]

Hey All,
Some of you may remember a young immature boy signing up on this site nearly six years ago, he was about 13 yo and ambitious. Well, that boy has grown up a little and is onto smaller and better things.

Just a little backstory before i get started. I've had multiple aquariums in the past. It started with a 10g fw, then a 20, then a 55, then up to a 120g fw tank. Then salt got in my veins and the 120g fw became a 120g sw. Now fast forward a few years and i've moved out, started uni (2nd year civil engineering) and i've finally settled down enough to start the next step in my journey, a 20g long.

I was going to wait until the next nano tank contest but i don't know if i can wait that long ;)

I plan to custom make my own stand as well as canopy for this tank. I hope to keep it as a slow build so that i don't rush into anything and cause the entire system to crash.

I currently have:
20g Long (30x12x12)
koralia nano(may not use)
fluval marine 24" leds

I'll upload pictures in the near future, they'll be not to good quality since i only have a phone to work with, but it'll give you a better picture of my plans.

Thanks All for looking!
SeaSerpant

[SeaSerpant]

I finished Midterms on friday and to celebrate I spent 12 hours this weekend building a stand and canopy for my aquarium. In the midst of doing this i also sectioned off the back piece of the aquarium for some AIO sump action.

I wanted the end product to be something sleek and easy on the eyes so i opted for no handles on the doors, so one of the covers on the side is actually attached with cabinet rollers and catches to keep the false cover in place. There is about an inch and a half at the back so that the wires can go behind the tank and into the stand where they will attach to the power bar.

Here are some pictures of my stand build:

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0388_zps778e3621.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0388_zps778e3621.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0389_zps2cfb381f.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0389_zps2cfb381f.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0391_zps20184ce9.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0391_zps20184ce9.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0393_zpsd6aefea2.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0393_zpsd6aefea2.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0394_zpsf2aac130.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0394_zpsf2aac130.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0395_zps4a9f8cf8.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0395_zps4a9f8cf8.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0396_zps97e282d0.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0396_zps97e282d0.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0397_zpsd9023921.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0397_zpsd9023921.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0400_zps1a7b8a6e.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0400_zps1a7b8a6e.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0404_zps6205eade.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0404_zps6205eade.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/IMAG0405_zps93ab59b3.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/IMAG0405_zps93ab59b3.jpg.html)

[SeaSerpant]

Here's the view of the sectioned off part of the tank:
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0406_zps269fca4a.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0406_zps269fca4a.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0407_zps67473a4c.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0407_zps67473a4c.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0408_zpsf37b3338.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0408_zpsf37b3338.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0406_zps269fca4a.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0406_zps269fca4a.jpg.html)

[SeaSerpant]

I guess i should post a little about the tank:

Equipment:
Fluval Sea Skimmer
150w Heater (overkill i know but i had it left over from the 120g)
Fluval Sea LED Marine lights (24")
Pump - may be replaced depending on the amount of flow

I hope to put in the sand and possibly live rock if school and extracurricular activities go well!

If you have any questions or suggestions let me know!
Nice comments are always welcome as well.

Thanks
Seaserpant

[AdamsB]

Looks really good! I have a 20 long and was considering the same thing. But now I don't want to because it won't look this good! :) when do you plan on stocking? And what with?

[mrhasan]

I guess i should post a little about the tank:

Equipment:
Fluval Sea Skimmer
150w Heater (overkill i know but i had it left over from the 120g)
You might want to not use that overkill heater. Heaters are one of the prime source of tank crashes by overheating since apparently, heaters don't fail while its at off position. I prefer the heater to be connected to a controller or be underpowered. Just an extra $20 for peace of mind. I wouldn't go above 50W for that tank.
Fluval Sea LED Marine lights (24")
Pump - may be replaced depending on the amount of flow

I hope to put in the sand and possibly live rock if school and extracurricular activities go well!

If you have any questions or suggestions let me know!
Nice comments are always welcome as well.
You might not always get reply with that line. We all love to appreciate and criticize at the same time :lol:

Thanks
Seaserpant

Great tank :) I have a special spot for 20L tanks since that was my first ever reef tank :)

[SeaSerpant]

Adamsb
I plan on stocking after the tank has cycled for a bit, maybe in a few weeks, we'll have to see how it goes :) As for stocking it's going to be a mix coral tank with some unique fishies. What kind of fishies you say? I do not know. I'll let you know when i do ;)

Mrhasan
Thanks for the quick tip. Now that i'm mulling it over i may just shell out the little extra to save myself from an unwanted headache down the road.
I'd rather have criticism than a nice comment any day :) It's easier to know what to do with!

[SeaSerpant]

Just a quick update. Water and liverock added to the tank and everything is running smoothly :D
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0425_zpsd96cdfd2.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0425_zpsd96cdfd2.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0426_zpsd08be6db.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0426_zpsd08be6db.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0427_zps91f78445.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0427_zps91f78445.jpg.html)

[MarieH]

Hi Very cool, looks awesome.

[Magickiwi]

Looking good buddy.

[SeaSerpant]

Thanks guys! Now it's time for the long wait for the cycle to go through. Anybody have any suggestions for a good chemical plotting system (so i can plot graphs of nitrate, nitrite, ect.) Hopefully something more interactive than excel :)

[AdamsB]

I think that would be a pretty neat home for a pistol shrimp goby pair. There's a few to pick from depending on availability. J&L would be/is my go to store. I have the candy cane pistol with a banded high fin goby. As for coral, I'd do rare zoas with a couple of lps mixed in. But that's me :)

[SeaSerpant]

AdamsB
Yasha hase goby and a pistol shrimp was on the top of the list! How did you know? ;) And i've always loved the look of sexy shrimp.

As for corals i want to get a nice large frogspawn or torch coral for the very front of the tank in that empty space and i plan to do a nice mix of zoas, mushrooms, lps sps the works.

[Dyspnea]

I like the aqua scape! 20L is a nice size aquarium. I miss mine from long ago.

[SeaSerpant]

Thanks Dyspnea!
I haven't had a 20g in years and it seems like the perfect size. i made sure to leave the aquascape open for the addition of corals :D

[SeaSerpant]

Just a quick update with fts. I bought a Rio 1400 waterpump with a flow rate of over 400gph which will do great for my purposes and was a better alternative than the 160gph Maxijet 600 i had sitting in there.

Here are the chemical readings thus far:
Ammonia - 1
Nitrate - 5
Nitrite - 0.3
Ph - 8.2

Looks like the cycle is well under way and i'm looking forward to the end. Although i'm not going to rush it.

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0428_zpsc8e449c4.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0428_zpsc8e449c4.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0429_zps8880fba1.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0429_zps8880fba1.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0430_zpsde87d9b1.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0430_zpsde87d9b1.jpg.html)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0431_zps07236694.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0431_zps07236694.jpg.html)

I made sure to leave lots of room for corals and additions :D

Thanks for looking!
SeaSerpant

[SeaSerpant]

Just realized that half of my picture links aren't working since i moved the albums around on photobucket so i'll be sure to fix that tonight!
Update:
Ammonia spiked to about 1 or 2 last week and has constantly at 0 (or what i assume is zero on the nutrafin test).
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 5
I also had a sizable diatom bloom which makes me happy to see. So i added 3 hermits, 2 astereas and 2 ceriths. Hopefully the tank will stable a little bit more by the weekend and i'll be able to add a bit more.
Just as a side note, the Fluval skimmer is doing it's job well but it's constantly putting microbubbles into the water column, but hopefully that should go away when the skimmer breaks in.
Thanks For Looking
SeaSerpant

[SeaSerpant]

The first stage of the cycle is over! The ammonia has settled down to 0 and has held there firmly for over a week. The nitrate has been going between 5-7ppm and the Nitrite is 0.1 or less.
I added a CUC a week ago and last weekend i bought 2 clowns as well as a hammer and yesterday i introduced a bubble coral in the hopes that it will host the clowns without being desimated!
As always here's some shots of the tank now :D
(you can't see it in the photo but i've been having quite the problem with microbubles, most likely due to the skimmer breaking in)

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0441_zps8259e5a0.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0441_zps8259e5a0.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0442_zpse15984ed.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0442_zpse15984ed.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0443_zps28d0006d.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0443_zps28d0006d.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0444_zpsf2834cd1.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0444_zpsf2834cd1.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0445_zpsdebbbf00.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0445_zpsdebbbf00.jpg.html)

[SeaSerpant]

Hey All! Sorry for the long wait between posts, school really got on my ass and i still have 2 more finals on friday, but i was able to finally get some time to write up a post!

I'll start with the pictures that everyone loves!
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0004_zps3a2a38b6.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0004_zps3a2a38b6.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0005_zpsc325a10c.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0005_zpsc325a10c.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0006_zps870d5e7a.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0006_zps870d5e7a.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0007_zps587c0f80.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0007_zps587c0f80.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0008_zps20a2b286.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0008_zps20a2b286.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0009_zps1a6b8c77.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0009_zps1a6b8c77.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0011_zps65873732.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0011_zps65873732.jpg.html)
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad23/javanden/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0012_zps5d99c334.jpg (http://s918.photobucket.com/user/javanden/media/20G%20Stand/20G%20Tank/IMAG0012_zps5d99c334.jpg.html)

[SeaSerpant]

My bubble coral began receding and i checked the params and i had gotten a second ammonia spike, so i did a quick water change and i've added some cheato to the back part of the tank to reduce extra nutrients and so far the bubble has bounced back a little.

The current habitants are:
Corals:
Zoas
Palys
2 types of cloves (small purple ones and the bigger kind)
Not too sure what the long stalky one is
toadstool
gsp
bubble coral
torch coral
xenia
mushrooms

Fish/Invertebrates:
6 hermits
2 ceriths
4 astrea
2 turbo
1 green emerald crab
1 Sexy shrimp (always by bubble coral)
2 Clownfish

Hope i covered everything!
(ps- i get a new phone this weekend, so hopefully that means better pictures, and some things look more sickly then they actually are since i just did a water change)