20g Long: Plans, Build, Adventures

[gemini]

Right now I am in the basic planning stages, with some thoughts becoming more concrete but before I write anything down in stone, I wanted to have some criticism, thoughts and ideas from others.

The tank is, as the title implies, a 20g long (30x12x12)

My thoughts as of now go something like this:

20g Long with a black back

15 pounds of aragonite sand (not live) (already bought, unopened)

1 small cup of live sand from a very established tank

Cpr bak-pak skimmer (already have)

Maxi jet 1200 for the skimmer

4-8 bulb T5 HO fixture

2x koralia 2s

OR
2x Maxi Jet mods

Stealth heater

Uncured, dry rock

....

...that I will make live with 5-10 pounds of VERY live rock

I think thats about it. However, if you have anything you think I should add or change, please let me know so I can compare the choices.

Thank you,
Xavier

Disclamer: All of these pictures are from the web, not me!

 

[jlt23]

Have you thought about a HOB filter for carbon and additional flow? Something to consider. What you have listed sounds good.

 

[gemini]

I thought about getting a small HOB, but I think just putting a bag of carbon (like the carbon for an aquaclear) in the output side of the skimmer to remove micro-bubbles and save the plug and space taken up by another thing hanging off the side.

As far as the additional flow, I think the flow from either one of the choices above would be enough for basically anything I wanted

 

[crazydante23]

The k2 are gonna take up alot of coral space. I have in my 60g and feel it is to big.

 

[gemini]

I have thought about that downside of using the Koralia pumps, but the dispersed flow seems, to me, to be worth it. I figure that hiding the pumps behind the planned aqua-scape should not be too difficult.

 

[crad190]

sounds like a good plan so far

 

[gemini]

crad190: Thank you. I am hoping that this tank stays, even with possible changes, a "good plan."

 

[gemini]

Update: I got the Maxijet 1200 a couple weeks ago. Sorry about not updating soon.
progress is being made.

Im not sure if i want to put the Maxijet 1200 in hte ten to break it in untill the 20 is up

 

[gemini]

The tank is really coming along. I have put most of the rock in the tank, as well as 15 pounds of sand. The Cpr Bak-Pak is running, and i put a Seio m820 (laying around) for some flow.

all i need now to really start it is a lighting fixture, and some water conditioning drops because i used tap water to start it.( I know, I know )