Is it possible

[thebrick]

Is it possible to make a nice 20 gallon saltwater tank?

[Gump]

yeah... thats not hard. ive seen amazing 10 gallon tanks. It all depends on how much $$ you want to spend.

[thebrick]

ooo very cool. I was under the assumption they had to be large. Very good news

*starts the research now*

Thanks

[Reefneck]

Possible? Yes. Intelligent? No. Cheap? Fagetaboutit.

Void if aquarist is very experienced in saltwater fishkeeping.

[thebrick]

I just want to learn how to do the salt water deal. Figured small tank would be good. Hmm what size do you recommend for learning. i dont want to go 55 or anything. possbily a 30 or 40??

Eventually ill go bigger, but for now i just want something smaller i can learn how to do it all on.

[Bear]

i started with a 40 and everything went fine, but I wouldn't go for the 20, too much instability

[Gump]

I wouldn't put your toes in the water until your ready to jump all the way in.

[Reefneck]

Originally Posted by thebrick

I just want to learn how to do the salt water deal. Figured small tank would be good. Hmm what size do you recommend for learning. i dont want to go 55 or anything. possbily a 30 or 40??

Eventually ill go bigger, but for now i just want something smaller i can learn how to do it all on.

Ok, (steps up to microphone)......Is this thing on??

1st! This is the exact opposite way anyone should attempt to "learn" saltwater/marine fishkeeping! The smaller the volume of water you have the easier it is for a small problem/mistake to wipe out everything you may have worked hard for and make a lot of people give up and say "It's too hard"!

It's not hard.....It's "involved". I like the word involved because it means there is a lot to something. It's a challenge to even be successful with a nice size marine display. It's, IMHO, Dumb to try to do things the hard way first.

You should start out with nothing less than 50G of total water volume including the sump. If that is just not possible a 40G would be the only other size smaller I would consider recommending. Learn the basics the easiest way with the right size and type of equipment. Then if you want to try the more challenging smaller tanks you can without fear of killing everything.

Want to know a secret? I recently setup a 12.7G Nano Cube of my own so I could better speak from experience. I also have 3 75G reefs, a 55G reef and a 120G reef in my home. The 12.7G is by far the biggest PITA out of them all and is currently for sale for next to nothing so I can get rid of it. Water changes and testing every single week is taking way too much time I could be spending with my family. With all the other tanks I do 20% water changes once a month and test everything weekly. No trouble at all. Not true with the Nano.

Trust me on this one....Start larger. Then go smaller if you really want to. You'll thank me soon enough.

Keri

[thebrick]

Thank you very much Reefneck. Looks like a 40-55 tank is on the to buy list. I want to take this very slow and create a NICE looking tank.

Ill research as much as I can but im sure ill still have questions unanswered, so look for more posts in the future

Thanks again.

[Reefneck]

Always glad to help if I can! Sometimes I come across a little rough but it's not meant that way.

If you have any questions at all we are all glad to offer any advice we may have so post away. There are many helpful & Knowledgeable people here that are always happy to answer even what may seem to you or me like dumb questions. There are no dumb questions.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Keri

[Damon]

Now that was a great post Keri..........

[Reefneck]

Originally Posted by Damon

Now that was a great post Keri..........

Wow, No "Blushing" smiley? lol

[Ice]

HOLY CRAP ! ! ! Yeah - that is a great response, Reefneck !

[Reefneck]

Originally Posted by Ice

HOLY CRAP ! ! ! Yeah - that is a great response, Reefneck !