20 Gallon CRS Tank "Out into the open"

5305 Views 39 Replies 11 Participants Last post by sdwindansea, Jun 4, 2017

awesometim1

Discussion Starter · Apr 19, 2017 (Edited)

2

Hello everyone!

I'm going to start a journal for my 20 gallon high tech shrimp tank!!!

Just got most of my equipment in and super excited for this new build. I haven't kept a fish tank in over 3 years and I wanted to go all out on this tank so I went the high tech route. Below is the list of equipments I'm using (I'm going to do detailed reviews along the way on how they perform)

Filter: Marineland Bio wheel 200
Heater: Aqueon 100 watt heater
Fertilizer: Nilocg Thrive
Lighting: Beamswork Pent LED 24"
Substrate: Petco Black Sand
Co2 regulator: Aquatek
Everything else co2 related: Aquatek
Aquarium: Aqueon 20 Gallon glass tank

Stay tuned for updates!!!

*A snapshot of the equipment I got in so far.

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awesometim1

Discussion Starter · #2 · Apr 19, 2017

Seems like my tap water is of good quality... apparently no chlorine in it either...

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clownplanted

· #3 · Apr 19, 2017

20 Gallon High Tech Shrimp Tank

awesometim1 said:
Seems like my tap water is of good quality... apparently no chlorine in it either...

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I wouldn't test those strips with the chlorine. Mine also showed white. But get a water report and you will have. Unless you get water from a well??

I would look up your specific water report.

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Hitaiwan666

· #4 · Apr 19, 2017

Waitttt. CO2 and HOB filter? Don't you want to invest in a canister? Isn't that a waste of co2?

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Nlewis

· #5 · Apr 19, 2017

Hitaiwan666 said:
Waitttt. CO2 and HOB filter? Don't you want to invest in a canister? Isn't that a waste of co2?

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No.

awesometim1

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 20, 2017

I'm pretty sure a a ceramic diffuser diffuses co2 without wasting it. Also I'm on a budget so can't be spending couple hundred on a canister

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Doc7

· #7 · Apr 20, 2017

Hitaiwan666 said:
Waitttt. CO2 and HOB filter? Don't you want to invest in a canister? Isn't that a waste of co2?

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Even with a canister, some people (like myself in my old tank) like to run high surface agitation. It adds maybe a couple dollars a month to CO2 usage but the additional oxygenation of the water allows even higher CO2 concentration with less fish stress.

So you lose more CO2, but you add more to make up for it, plus some more for the plants, plus some oxygen for the fish. I dug it. If I go high tech again I won't hesitate to do the same.

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Hitaiwan666

· #8 · Apr 20, 2017

Doc7 said:
Even with a canister, some people (like myself in my old tank) like to run high surface agitation. It adds maybe a couple dollars a month to CO2 usage but the additional oxygenation of the water allows even higher CO2 concentration with less fish stress.

So you lose more CO2, but you add more to make up for it, plus some more for the plants, plus some oxygen for the fish. I dug it. If I go high tech again I won't hesitate to do the same.

Got it. Thanks for the explanation.

GrampsGrunge

· #9 · Apr 20, 2017

When I first set up my first version stream-soil dirted 20, I had the outflow of the AC200 set up to disperse the CO2 off a chopstick diffuser into the inflow chute of the filter. it worked really well as a matter of fact, and I was using a 1.3 liter DIY yeast sugar CO2 generator with about a bubble every 3 or 4 seconds. Didn't seem to be wasting much CO2 either.

Presently using a Xy-2822 double sponge with a hole in the elbow for the diffuser, and a small powerhead grinding the little bubbles off the diffuser finer, almost perfectly invisible diffusion.

Still growing plants well.

awesometim1

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 21, 2017

20 Gallon High Tech Shrimp Tank

Update:

The Beamswork light finally came! The light stand took a little time to get it adjusted perfectly but made it work in the end. Plugged it in, turned it on and BOOM! Let he light shine! This thing is crazy bright! I will see if it grows hc though... here are some pictures of the light in action.
Also, I'm going to set up the tank either this weekend or next week so stay tuned!

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clownplanted

· #11 · Apr 21, 2017

20 Gallon High Tech Shrimp Tank

awesometim1 said:
Update:

The Beamswork light finally came! The light stand took a little time to get it adjusted perfectly but made it work in the end. Plugged it in, turned it on and BOOM! Let he light shine! This thing is crazy bright! I will see if it grows hc though... here are some pictures of the light in action.
Also, I'm going to set up the tank either this weekend or next week so stay tuned!

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Very nice. What beamswork model did you get? Looks nice.

Never mind. I see you got the pent. Should get some good light from it for sure.

I have a couple beamswork DHL's and DA Fspec's that will be here next week and will be doing a ton of par readings on my 20 gallon long and 60 gallon. But shhhhh don't tell anyone. Going to be a surprise

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awesometim1

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 21, 2017

clownplanted said:
Very nice. What beamswork model did you get? Looks nice.

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It was this model:

Beamswork DA 6500K 0.50W Series LED Pent Aquarium Light Freshwater Plant Discus (60cm - 24") https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4FS6ZU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Arw-ybKV463P0

Half the price of a Finnex planted plus, but I'm not sure about the performance. I will have to test it out. I had it on for like 20 minutes now and it got pretty warm...

Anyway, I'm going to be reviewing this honestly and from a high tech POV

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clownplanted

· #13 · Apr 21, 2017

awesometim1 said:
It was this model:

Beamswork DA 6500K 0.50W Series LED Pent Aquarium Light Freshwater Plant Discus (60cm - 24") https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4FS6ZU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Arw-ybKV463P0

Half the price of a Finnex planted plus, but I'm not sure about the performance. I will have to test it out. I had it on for like 20 minutes now and it got pretty warm...

Anyway, I'm going to be reviewing this honestly and from a high tech POV

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Nice. I just updated my previous post.

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Agent69

· #14 · Apr 21, 2017

If you're gonna go high tech I would reccoment against that petco black sand I would return it and get something like some fluval stratum or eco complete if you're on a budget.

awesometim1

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 21, 2017

Agent69 said:
If you're gonna go high tech I would reccoment against that petco black sand I would return it and get something like some fluval stratum or eco complete if you're on a budget.

Yes. I researched a lot about this and even thought about going aqua soil but then again I am dosing NilocG Thrive ferts and probably will be purchasing root tabs so I don't think there will be a problem. Thanks for the suggestion though.

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clownplanted

· #16 · Apr 21, 2017

awesometim1 said:
Yes. I researched a lot about this and even thought about going aqua soil but then again I am dosing NilocG Thrive ferts and probably will be purchasing root tabs so I don't think there will be a problem. Thanks for the suggestion though.

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Should just do DIY root tabs with osmocote plus and some 00 gel caps. So easy. What I did and works great. Sand is no issue with root tabs. Heck I use gravel only in my high tech 60 gallon and use the root tabs. Works perfect.

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awesometim1

Discussion Starter · #17 · Apr 22, 2017

3

The Aqueon versa top finally came! Looks fantastic and is very functional. Highly recommend.

Here are some pictures:

Front view:

Back vinyl?/plastic part that can be cut:

Hinge/ Front view:

This item is by far the best 12 bucks I spent on this tank

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awesometim1

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 24, 2017

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Finally got the tank set up yesterday. Co2 is set up also. Any criticism on the hardscape is welcome. Planning to do an iwagumi scape with hc.

First experience with co2, wasted some gas and almost froze the adapter, but finally got it to work lol. I used teflon tape and the nylon washer in between the reg and the adapter. Setup is functional.

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Nigel95

· #19 · Apr 24, 2017

You need to buy a badass main stone and more stones with different sizes. Use the golden ratio / rule of the two thirds with 1 focal point. This is the eye catcher point where the view will "start" (on the main stone).

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awesometim1

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 28, 2017

2

20 Gallon High Tech Shrimp Tank

The HC FINALLY CAME IN!!!

This is one cup from eBay but it's A LOT when planted... it seems like it was grown in gel... I wonder if this would affect the growth in a real tank? What are you opinions?

Anyway... after almost an hour I got them planted. Hopefully they'll take off !

One cup was PERFECT for my uses in the 20 Gallon high.

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