Step-by-step
Step 1: Buy core equipmentTank with overflow or AIO setup (
Innovative Marine Nuvo 20,
Fluval Sea Evo,
Waterbox AIO 20), 50W heater, return pump if not AIO, refractometer, salt mix (Reef Crystals or
Red Sea), 20 lbs aquacultured live rock, RODI source.
Step 2: Set up day 1Rinse aragonite substrate, add 1-2 inches. Mix saltwater in a separate bucket: 1.025 SG with refractometer. Aerate 12 hours. Add to tank. Place live rock dry-stacked (do not glue first 2 weeks).
Step 3: Cycle (weeks 1-4)Live rock alone provides ammonia source via die-off. Test ammonia + nitrite + nitrate every 3 days. Cycle complete when ammonia + nitrite both 0 + nitrate present. Run carbon for one week before adding fish.
Step 4: Add CUC week 5Cleanup crew first: 5 turbo or trochus snails, 3 nassarius snails, 3 blue-leg hermits, 1-2 cleaner shrimp. They graze the diatom bloom that follows the cycle.
Step 5: Stock week 6First fish: a single ocellaris clownfish (or pair). Quarantine in separate tank 21 days first if possible (copper treatment) - prevents tank-wide ich/velvet outbreak.
Step 6: Stock week 8Second fish: yellow watchman goby + tiger pistol shrimp pair (best symbiotic relationship in the hobby), OR firefish, OR royal gramma. Stop at 2-3 fish total in 20g.
Step 7: Weekly maintenanceSunday: 5-gal RODI top-off ATO. Saturday: 4-gal saltwater change (20%). Wipe glass with magnet. Test salinity + ammonia + nitrate weekly. Replace mechanical media monthly.
Step 8: Year 1 milestonesCoralline algae starts to spread (purple/pink encrustation on rocks) at month 3-4. Live rock becomes biodiverse host for copepods + amphipods at month 6+. Consider adding soft coral (zoa, mushroom) at month 6 if parameters stable.