Equipment question(s)!

[Iconz]

Alright! As most of you know, I've been working on my first tank setup. Its a sumpless 20g High that will include a HOTB fuge and an external coralife 65g skimmer. Below, I'm going to list everything that I have (equipment wise) so far, and if you all can, please advise me on what other equipment that I may need or want to consider.

Current Stuff:
20g High glass aquarium w/ black trim on top and bottom.
Custom built Stand
TopFin 20g rated Heater.
Coralife 65g SuperSkimmer
AquaClear HOTB Filter to be used as a Refuge.
Digital Thermometer
2x Maxijet 900 powerheads
4x24 T5 Setup w/ 2 acentics an 2 reg bulbs. W/ ballast
3x Led Lunar Link nocturnal blue lights.
RO/DI unit: AirWaterIce Typhoon 3
Mag Float
American DJ 8 Port power center.
TDS Tester
Refractometer
Custom built canopy.
10x computer fans
12v dc converter for fan power.
Red Sea Marine Master Test Kit
Red Sea Reef Master Test Kit
2x 5 gallon water cooler containers (never used)
Also, I have pending plans for an ATO unit and the equip for that is still being determined.
__________________________________________
I think that's it.

Specific questions:

What all do I need for a QT / Hospital tank? Heater?... etc...
What all do I need for feeding?
What all do I need for water changes?
What all do I need for mixing SW?
What else may I need in general?

Thanks a ton!
-Justin

[greg97527]

you dont need any of that...just send it on over to me and ill "dispose" of it for ya


how about a uv sterilizer?
sea squirt feeding tube for anemones etc.
you may want to use egg crate (light diffuser panel) under your sand so if you get a sifter it wont cave in the rocks.

[Iconz]

Hmm, explain the beneifit of the egg crate under the sand... I know sifters can cause a fatal avalanche, but how does the egg crate prevent or help prevent it?

[greg97527]

laying the egg crate and then some sand to bring it level with the top of the egg crate and then placing your LR and then the rest of the sand is what I meant so that the avalanche won't happen.

[graphixx]

jd, I think you pretty much have it all covered!!! as for a QT tank all you need is a heater and maybe a powerhead. I also like to put a few fake plants in there. just to give them a little shelter.
And for feeding I would get some mysis shrimp (frozen) and a good quality flake food. to start, you might have to get specific for some animals. but I think the 2 above will be a good start.
for water changes you will need something to siphon old water out of the tank. and then a good clean bucket to mix saltwater in and a powerhead to mix the new saltwater and that is pretty much it buddy.
YOU ARE WELL ON YOUR WAY BUDDY!!!!

[Iconz]

Cool! So for mixing/qt will cheapo walmart PH's do fine?

Bucket... will a rubbermaid container work? I think a 5gal bucket may not be big enough, but a 10gal rubbermaid would... whatcha think?

[Iconz]

greg (92527), so, the rock laying on the egg grate is less likely to fall? sorry to question so much, but it seems to me that if a burrower can get under the rock while its on the glass, it can while its on the egg create as well....? Or, am I thinking wrong and in a normal situation, the LR doesn't go on the tank bottom but instead, it actually sits on some sand?

[greg97527]

normally people add sand and then live rock.
the egg crate i believe is 1/4 inch squares which is almost impossible for say a diamond goby or brown bar to dig down and get under the egg crate because of all the weight from the live rock sitting on top of it. so if you set in the egg crate then put sand up to the level of the egg crate, then ur LR and then the rest of the sand he can only dig down to the top of the egg crate and cant get below it to cause an avalanche. one of our LFS has it exactly like this in the 550 gallon display and it works great, they also have a huge amount of LR in it. no collapse yet.

[Iconz]

cool, i understand now. That would also help some if an avalanche did happen, in that it would help soften the blow that the falling rocks would deal on the bottom glass.

[greg97527]

well i didnt even think about it protecting the glass lol i guess ya learn something everyday even when you learn from your own teachings hahahaha.