my first tank

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone, I'm a newbie and just wanted to share my first tank. Any comments are welcomed.

50 gallon tank
2 Aquahead 70 powerheads
Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel (is this any good?)
35 pounds of LR
36" Coralife Aqualight

The tank just cycled and so far I have a couple of shrimps, several hermit crabs, and just added a clownfish and a mushroom.

I'm going for a reef aquarium. I don't have the lights for a BTA, which is something that I would like. I haven't decided if this is something I'd like to add into my tank, but if I do I'll have to upgrade my lighting system first. I'm open for suggestions as far as MH.

 

[MajorJoey]

Nice Rock lays out very weLL 8)

 

[Anonymous]

thank you. I had a lot more rocks before, but I removed them because I want some room for fishes and for easier maintenance. I hope I have enough rocks for filtration.

 

[Anonymous]

17 April 2007

 

[shavo]

it looks like you have a decent amount for filtration it looks like there is alot of surface area and nooks and crannies and all. I think you will be fine,
how much does that one big one weigh?

looks good, like to see how it all turns out

 

[Anonymous]

Shavo, thanks for the comment. That large rock is 15 pounds. I just bought an additional 10 more pounds, which is found on the left side of the tank. I think I'm done moving around the rocks. After I do some rock work my protein skimmer starts spewing out air bubbles into the tank. I have a Coralife Super Protein Skimmer. Any ideas why the bubbles occur?

 

[shavo]

not really, air bubbles from moving around the tock? not sure about that one.

is it a hang on the back skimmer?

 

[Anonymous]

Shavo,

Yes it is a hang on skimmer. I think when I stir up debri in the tank the skimmer has problems and then spits out fine air bubbles into the tank. I just have to wait for the skimmer to clean the water.

This is a picture of the tank today. I ordered new lights, 36" Outer Orbit 2x150 w T5 and should arrive this Thursday. I know anemones choose their own location, so I tried to find a spot it would pick. This spot needed a lower lip to hold up a BTA, so I molded it out of epoxy. I think its sufficient and hopefully a Rose Tip BTA will think so too. I'll pick a BTA on Friday and then I think I'll wait for the tank to settle in.

Due to impatience I have encountered a few losses. I lost 2 Oceleris Clowns, 2 cleaner shrimps (no more shrimps in the tank), and some hermit crabs (which is normal). The 2 Clowns died from low PH level. I've been using RedSea's test kit and I really don't feel confident about my tests. My readings for PH and Alk has always differed from my LFS but since I use Salifert for Calcium and Phosphate and those tests has always matched the store's results. My PH was around 7.9 for the past two weeks and explains why my oceleris weren't eating. I have the Salifert PH and Alk tests now so I can make more accurate doses of buffer. My water is at a low of 8.1 right now. I forgot to check the levels later on the day, but my guess is 8.3 which is good. I check my levels daily and change water when nitrates get to 15. I'm trying not to wipe out the tank

Since my PH is fine I was surprised to see my last cleaner shrimp dying today. The other day the other shrimp died and the cleaner shrimp ate it. He's been active and cleaning the other fishes and then died today. I wonder if its because of lack of algae?

Today I brought home a maroon clown. It may get a little too big for my 50 gallon. The coral beauty continues to survive and the Kole Tang I got a week ago isn't as shy anymore. My water parameters seem to improve but I can see how my tank hasn't been established yet. After I get a BTA I'll wait for the water to become established before I start adding in hard corals.

 

[mr_X]

what sea salt are you using to get a 7.9 reading?
when do you check your ph, morning or evening? (it will be less in the am)

i would wait a while before i got an anemone. a bta is not going to do well in that brand new tank, especially if you are losing fish and shrimp.

 

[Anonymous]

You have a nice looking setup, but I would slow way down. You are adding things to quickly and will likely see them all die. You need to let the tank mature before you add a BTA. It will most likely not survive at this point. You have a great looking tank, but need to remember the key to success with saltwater tanks is PATIENCE. Good luck and keep posting pics.

 

[jahorgos]

^what he said.

 

[Anonymous]

For the initial setup I used Marine Environment salt. For water changes I purchase salt water from the store, and I think they use Instant Ocean. I tested the PH this morning and it read 8.0 which is a little low. I'll check it again when I get home tonight.

I know you guys are right about waiting a little longer before getting a BTA. So hard to resist

 

[Anonymous]

Last water change was performed on April 20.
The recommended range was given to me by my LFS
PH (8.2-8.4)
Alk (3.0-4.5)
Calcium (350-500)
Phos (0-Trace)
Nitrate (0-20)
Salinity (1.022-1.025)

April 20th results (After water change)
PH 8
Alk 2
Calcium 500
Phos 0
Nitrate 10.2
Salinity 1.023

I checked my PH this morning and got 8.0 I just got home and my lights have been on for 12 hrs... I have a timer but I haven't been using it. I keep them on around 10 hours because I love sitting in front of the tank. Here are tests results now

April 30
Ph 8.3
Nitrate just over 10
Calcium 500, a bit too high
Alkalinity meq/L 4.46 (Do I need to do a water change because of this?)
Phosphate <0.03
Salinity 1.023

Alk changed a lot in a short period. I wonder if that shocked the shrimps to death? The clowns died before the Apr 20th water change. But still, levels are better than before.

I got a Briare on Sunday. I peeled it from its rock and super glued it to the side wall and rocks. They weren't showing any signs of life and today a couple of pieces I was worried about came to life, but the large piece has not. It may not have recovered because the large piece is at the bottom of the tank.

I wonder if the coloring on the rocks are due to dead spots or something else.

Here are tonight's pictures.

Thanks again for everyone's comments

 

[Anonymous]

more pics

 

[shavo]

I can't agree more with what people are telling you. You are going at a fast pace and the tank seriously has to mature. If you feel like spending money why don't you get a better skimmer for now?

I like the kole BTW I hope he makes it!!!

 

[jandree22]

7.9 is low, but not low enough to be the cause of death for the clowns alone, IMO. What I'd suspect more is your Ammonia (NH4) and NO2 (Nitrite) level, which is quite toxic, prevalent in new immature systems, and you don't seem to be checking for it. How long was the tank 'cycled' as of April 16th? Perhaps I'm wrong but this may be a suspect to check for. If you're not familiar with the Nitrogen Cycle, you definitely need to read up on it.

Trust me, I was VERY impatient when I started... and it cost me. Frustration, money, and innocent critters lives I'm sorry to say. It's extremely tempting, I know, but for the interest of your wallet, the fishies, and your continued motivation and success in the hobby... try to follow the advice and take your time... and READ like there's no tomorrow while you wait. You'd be amazed with how much stuff there is to learn. I've been in the hobby for years and I'm still learning (and with VERY few exceptions, so is everyone else)

I wish you best of luck... you do have a nice tank started there!

 

[Anonymous]

Yes I like the Kole too. He was shy at first but now he's used to me and is rather active.

I looked at the calendar and wow I did add a lot in little time. My tank cycled on the 16th. I don't have a test kit for Nitrite or Ammonia. The times I've gone to the store they said it's fine, but for the past week I only asked them to check for Ph and Alkalinity since they were a problem. I'll be at the store this Friday and I'll have my water checked again.

Since my water parameters improved and is reaching the recommended levels I assumed that my tank is ready for livestock. Am I to understand that because the tank hasn't fully matured my water parameters can change to toxic levels without notice?

I'm still unsure about how my shrimps died. A couple days prior I did add marine buffer. I followed the directions to increase PH by 0.3 by slowly pouring the cup of mixture into the tank. The next day PH was still reading a little low and I added more buffer to raise PH by 0.2 After that my PH was reading 8.1-8.3 and then my shrimps died. Did I add in too much buffer at once?

I'll hold off on adding new livestock. In the meantime I can research sumps and see if I'll benefit more from adding a sump and refugium.

I added another pic that I forgot to attach yesterday.

 

[jandree22]

Well, basically, the nitrogen cycle works like this in a fresh system. First, fish waste and decay from fish and dead organisms on your live rock will be converted to Ammonia and nothing else. Ammonia is the most lethal of the three. Then after I’m thinking maybe two weeks, additional bacteria grow in the water and they can take the cycle one step further and convert it to Nitrite, a somewhat less toxic chemical to the fish. Finally, the nitrogen cycle is complete and established in 4-6 weeks (total) and the types of bacteria grow to convert the Nitrites to Nitrates. Nitrates are much less toxic to fish and are what you deal with in an established system. Nitrates will build slowly, and drop back down after your water changes… Nitrate will be kept under control by your bi-weekly water changes.

What most people do to start a saltwater tank is buy a cheapie damsel for $3 and put him in there all by himself. Reason being, damsels are nearly indestructible and small. The little bit of waste they produce is what’s needed to kick start the whole cycle. Then after about 4-6 weeks after the bacteria is established for the nitrogen cycle, it’s okay to start adding more fish…. slowly (don’t plop 6 fish in there at once). Adding additional fish slowly allows the bacteria levels to grow in order to handle the additional load. While on the subject, I must make a point that damsels are despised fish by many. I’ve never had too much bad luck with them, but they’re known for being aggressive little buggers. Many will remove them after the 6 weeks is up or start off the tank with a different fish to cycle.

The X factor that you’ve got going is that you’re using live rock. This will cut your cycle time down significantly so long as your rock wasn’t exposed to harsh elements (cold and air) for too long. LR already has these bacteria, so you may get a very good head start in the process. Bottom line, the only way to tell for sure is to test your water. Once again, the way the cycle goes is at first Ammonia will spike then level off, when it levels off Nitrite will spike then it too will level off, leaving you with the end product of Nitrates which are much less toxic and kept under control by routine water changes.

Somebody feel free to correct or add to any of this if I missed anything.

 

[Anonymous]

The key to this is testing your water for the duration of the cycle. PH, ALK, Ammonia, Nitrite, and nitrate. It may take 2 weeks it may take 2 months. The only way to know is to test teh water parameters. Instead of using a damsel to cycle you can also just throw in a small piece of table shrimp and let it cycle the tank for you. That way you are not using a live critter, and you don't have to try to catch teh little bugger after the cycle when you don't want him in your tank anymore.

Starting a successful marine tank takes time and patience. Read read and read.

 

[Anonymous]

I did a water change last night, May 1st and these are the water parameters as of May 2nd just before the lights are turned off.

Ph 8.4
Alk 4
Cal 465
Phos trace
Nit <5

This is the best it's ever have been. Am I correct to estimate my brain coral will double in size within a year? I don't think the current position will accommodate that size, so I moved it up higher.

My lights come in Thursday =)
Andy