For Christmas I got the honey a used 32G tank. Came with overflow and sump with bio balls, skimmer, 30lb LR, 30lb LS, 1 yellow tang, 1 spotted hawk, 1 blue damsel, 2 tomato clowns, air pump, 2 little power heads and 2 20w lights. I plan to add coral to this setup and to add two 65w pc's. Overall the move went fine, there was another tang but he didn't look good after the move and died two days later. When I did the move I left the sand in with some water, I moved the rocks in plastic boxes with water. The rest of the fish look good and are doing fine. Eating lots with good color and look happy with thier new home. The yellow tang is like 3 1/2" or so. Is he too big for this tank? Is there too many fish for this tank? The honey wants a little "nemo" and I like the marine betta but I'm thinking the nemo won't get along with the other clowns and the betta mite be too many fish. I've read the bio balls should go and is the air pump needed? The tank was up for like two years before move and moved it on the 23rd. How long before I can say system is stable and add more stuff? Like shrooms, coral and fish? I've been feeding two times a day one frozen cube ea time, is this ok? It seems like they are always hungry. I only have one timer should I have two? So the blue light stays on longer than the "day" light. My LFS wouldn't baby sit and will not trade. FYI the damsel gets picked on by all the fish except the smaller clown.
I got a used tank
- Thread starter billyzbear
- Start date
I would just slow down and not add anymore fish to this system. Not now at least. Wait a month or so. Adding fish quickly is a recipe for disaster in a new setup. IMO a yellow tang needs much more room than 32gal. If it were me, I wouldn't put anything in this tank that would increase the bio-load.
List of problems (Used tanks come with them, so don't fret).
This tank isn't ready for corals. That's #1. From your description, there is nowhere near enough light or enough flow for corals in this tank. That's okay, it's fixable, but it will cost you a couple of extra bucks.
#2, though more important, you just moved it. You're going to need to watch the water quality and make sure that it remains stable.
#3. Take back the tang. He gets too big. Also no more clownfish for you. Your tomatoes will most assuredly kill nemo. You have all the clownfish you can ever have until both tomatoes pass on.
To do list to make this system ready for corals: You need a protien skimmer, better lighting, and probably a water filter of some kind as well before you can think about adding corals to this system. For skimmers look into aqua c and euro reef (do not buy a seaclone or a prism, waste of money, yeah these two skimmers I've recommended are spendy, but they are good skimmers and you will not be disappointed). For filtration units, do a search on ro/di (reverse osmosis and deionization) units on ebay. You can find them at a decent price on there. For lights, I recommend going to power compact flourescents. They will be sufficient for most things you would want to keep and won't dent your pocket book too badly. Look into the coralife aqualight or the custom sea life powercompact/moonlight fixtures. Get the one that fits the exact length of your tank and you should be good to go.
Hope this helps and good luck!
J.
This tank isn't ready for corals. That's #1. From your description, there is nowhere near enough light or enough flow for corals in this tank. That's okay, it's fixable, but it will cost you a couple of extra bucks.
#2, though more important, you just moved it. You're going to need to watch the water quality and make sure that it remains stable.
#3. Take back the tang. He gets too big. Also no more clownfish for you. Your tomatoes will most assuredly kill nemo. You have all the clownfish you can ever have until both tomatoes pass on.
To do list to make this system ready for corals: You need a protien skimmer, better lighting, and probably a water filter of some kind as well before you can think about adding corals to this system. For skimmers look into aqua c and euro reef (do not buy a seaclone or a prism, waste of money, yeah these two skimmers I've recommended are spendy, but they are good skimmers and you will not be disappointed). For filtration units, do a search on ro/di (reverse osmosis and deionization) units on ebay. You can find them at a decent price on there. For lights, I recommend going to power compact flourescents. They will be sufficient for most things you would want to keep and won't dent your pocket book too badly. Look into the coralife aqualight or the custom sea life powercompact/moonlight fixtures. Get the one that fits the exact length of your tank and you should be good to go.
Hope this helps and good luck!
J.
Came with overflow and sump with bio balls, skimmer, 30lb LR, 30lb LS, 1 yellow tang, 1 spotted hawk, 1 blue damsel, 2 tomato clowns, air pump, 2 little power heads and 2 20w lights.
I do have a skimmer, Lifereef. It's so-so from what I have read. I just bought a better pump for it. If it doesn't perform well I'm thinking of making a new one. 2 power heads and the return (quit one 4000 with two nozzles) isn't enough water movement? I would have to give the tang away or get a bigger tank. When an adult, would a 60g tank be ok? At what size should he go? Bio balls and air pump, ya or na? How much would you feed these fish? I leave some romain lettuce in there for the tang and he loves it. I do plan on getting a ro/di unit for water changes but I also have 7g of saltwater ready for next change. Should I get another timer? The lights I already planned on when I got this tank. Oh ya, woud a lawnmower benny be good for cleaning? Should I get a star fish? Not sure on clean up crew. Right now the water and tank look clean, no algae.
I do have a skimmer, Lifereef. It's so-so from what I have read. I just bought a better pump for it. If it doesn't perform well I'm thinking of making a new one. 2 power heads and the return (quit one 4000 with two nozzles) isn't enough water movement? I would have to give the tang away or get a bigger tank. When an adult, would a 60g tank be ok? At what size should he go? Bio balls and air pump, ya or na? How much would you feed these fish? I leave some romain lettuce in there for the tang and he loves it. I do plan on getting a ro/di unit for water changes but I also have 7g of saltwater ready for next change. Should I get another timer? The lights I already planned on when I got this tank. Oh ya, woud a lawnmower benny be good for cleaning? Should I get a star fish? Not sure on clean up crew. Right now the water and tank look clean, no algae.
Ah ha! You might just have enough watermovement for corals indeed. But I'm still not sure about those lights. Are they standard fluorescent tubes or power compacts or vhos or...? If you're not sure, could you just tell me the brand and name of the fixture you are using?
No fish right now, give the tank a little longer to settle in and make sure you didn't release any toxins into the water column during the move.
As far as the tang. This is a tough choice for you isn't it? It's been hard for me too. These are beautiful fish... and they are so graceful and elegant when they move through the water that they are very hard to resist. If you are planning to set up that 60 gallon tank some time in the next six months, then you might be able to keep the tang. If not, go ahead and find another home for this one, and acquire a different yellow tang when you have set up the larger tank. These fish really are better left to larger systems where they have plenty of room to race around the tank to their heart's content.
Lawnmower blennies have an iffy success rate. A lot of it has to do with the way they are captured and handled before they get to you. You can try one, but be sure it is eating at the lfs before you take one home, and do wait a little while longer to let the tank settle for the move.
Also, remove the bioballs. With live rock, you don't need them and they will just create problems for you in the future. Shouldn't need the air pump with good flow, but do hang on to it in case you need it later for things like mixing saltwater.
J.
No fish right now, give the tank a little longer to settle in and make sure you didn't release any toxins into the water column during the move.
As far as the tang. This is a tough choice for you isn't it? It's been hard for me too. These are beautiful fish... and they are so graceful and elegant when they move through the water that they are very hard to resist. If you are planning to set up that 60 gallon tank some time in the next six months, then you might be able to keep the tang. If not, go ahead and find another home for this one, and acquire a different yellow tang when you have set up the larger tank. These fish really are better left to larger systems where they have plenty of room to race around the tank to their heart's content.
Lawnmower blennies have an iffy success rate. A lot of it has to do with the way they are captured and handled before they get to you. You can try one, but be sure it is eating at the lfs before you take one home, and do wait a little while longer to let the tank settle for the move.
Also, remove the bioballs. With live rock, you don't need them and they will just create problems for you in the future. Shouldn't need the air pump with good flow, but do hang on to it in case you need it later for things like mixing saltwater.
J.
The lights right now are just two 20w fo's but plan on getting two 65w pc's in a few months so I can do coral. Hopefully in a few months I'm going to have a 60g folr setup and the 32g will be reef/fish. I told the wife awhile ago that the yellow tang is going to be too big for this tank and we should get a bigger one for just fish and so far is ok with it. She also liked a clown trigger and a tusk that will not mix with coral. She doesn't want get rid of any of the fish so another tank is going to be an easy sell. I was out getting fish food today and was eyeballing a coral beauty for 20. I know I'll wait a couple more weeks until I add anything. But really, should I get some clean up crew and what about another timer?
Wouldn't recommend adding any new fish to this tank until you have another place to put the tang, then the coral beauty might be a good choice for your system. Tangs are pretty territorial, and really should be among the last fish added to any system. He might decide that any new fish you put in are invading his space and mark them for termination.
I am glad that a bigger tank is going to be an easy sell for you though
I would definitely grab a few snails and maybe a couple of scarlet reef hermits to get your clean up crew started. I think you will find that inverts are sometimes more interesting than watching the fish. This should tide you over for a while ;-)
J.
I am glad that a bigger tank is going to be an easy sell for you though
I would definitely grab a few snails and maybe a couple of scarlet reef hermits to get your clean up crew started. I think you will find that inverts are sometimes more interesting than watching the fish. This should tide you over for a while ;-)
J.
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