FishProfiles.com Message Forums

As of right now, I am hoping that I can let me tank sit for like 3 weeks without bothering it. I still had a question on my filter. Is my penquin filter 330 strong enough to keep my tank clean or should i think about getting something else to help? I do have the red sea deluxe protein skimmer, but do not know how to add on the biological part? Can you guys help me out?

That filter shoudl be fine. HOB filters are really not NEEDED, they are just a nice addition. Sorry, can't help you with the skimmer.



Dan

So my rocks will do the job of the biological filter part. How many snails and scarlet hermit crabs would you reccommend for my 55 gallon tank? I have about 2 emerald crabs, 3 scarlet, 4 snails, and coupe of blue and strip crabs. Anything else that I would need to help keep my tank clean ?

Some places suggest as many as 1 hermit per gallon. I think 1 hermit for every 2 gallons is more realistic. Same basic rules for snails as well.

I would say 20 to 30 hermits, and 10 to 20 snails should be fine.



Dan

Man, I just barely got my new light. It's amazing! It's a power compact. I got it for only $100 from my friend. There are 4 65 watts lights. Not sure what kind but two is bluish looking. Man, this salt water thing is pretty cool man. Thanks for helping me out guys. I am thinking of adding a cleaner shrimp. Should i add it yet or should i wait? Will it have any affect on any of my other inverts? I still want to get that sand sifting star, but dont know if i should yet. I really want to. What you guys think? My tank is looking better every day when i look at it.

Patience. I would wait still. As it is looking better, it is comleting the cycle, and cleaning itself. This is a good sign. But, I would still wait another week, before adding anything. Then start out slowly. Try just one thing at a time.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

Wait on the shrimp, they can be sensitive to changing water conditions.



Dan

Alrite, I'mma wait then, thanks guys. Any other wise words for the NOOB?

Alrite, I have just gotten a sand sifting star, but it hasnt moved since i got it. It just dug it in self in the sand and is still there. Is there a problem?

It may take soem time to acclimiate, give it a day to two to see what it does.



Dan

It may take some time to acclimate, as it may have found a rich food source, and is just happy where it is currently.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

Well, i saw my sea star moved today. So i guess it just found a rich food source. My tank is getting pretty filled up with algae. I have like 2 emerald crab and like 7 snails. Is this all i need to clean up my tank or do i have to manually clean myself too? My tank is looking dirty now. So i was just wondering if i could also be too much light.

You will have to do some cleaning yourself. But you can also get some small hermits, like zebra, blue, or scarlet hermits.

Dan

I got some of those hermit crabs, but i dont see them doing anything. I see my emerald crabs working, but not my hermit crabs. Maybe they are, but i dont see it. I dont know.

That's generally all they do, crawl around and eat. If you watch them real close you should se them picking at the rock and sand.



Dan

Here are a coupe pics of my tank right now. I think it is still cycling.

http://www.angelfire.com/hiphop3/tangov559/salt1.JPG
http://www.angelfire.com/hiphop3/tangov559/salt2.JPG

Lots of nice rock there. That brown stuff will start to clear up soon.



Dan

Yeah, those brown stuff are algae. I am hoping my clean up crew will hurry up and clean up the mess. When do you think i can get a anemone and a couple of clowns? I am hoping that it is pretty soon. Another question. Will a clean shrimp eat algae too?

I would wait a while on the anemone. Because they are mostly water, changing water conditions effect them a lot. So you want your tank very stable.

I'm not sure if a cleaner shrimp will eat algea. Mine eats flakes and blood worms when I feed the tank.



Dan

Alrite, about my protein skimmer. Should i be setting the skimmmer on high to get all the stuff from the LR. RIght now i have it on low. SO it is slowly skimming the water only. Im not sure, but my water is not crisp clear like i want it. What can i do about this?

I would run your skimmer 100%.The faster you get your water quality in check the more stuff you will save on your live rock.Some things just will not survive the cycle.As far as clarity some filter floss and some carbon in a HOB filter will do wonders.

Not sure what you are asking about high and low on your skimmer? As you just need to get it dialed in right, and then leave it at that setting all the time. You should be gettting some real dark green gunk in your catch cup on your skimmer. If it is clear at all, you need to adjust your settings on it. What you really want is a high output of air and bubbles, the tinier the better, and then a "moderate" water flow. Skimmers do not need to run 800 gals/hour of water through them. It is hard to explain how to set one up properly. But the main thing is, you have a collection cup, that has dark green/black gunk looking stuff in it, and it really stinks to smell it, kinda curls your nose hairs if you know what I mean. If your skimmer is too high, it will take extra water out as well, and then the gunk in the cup will be more clear and watery looking.

HTH....

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

Alrite, its been 2 weeks now. My tank's ph is stil only at 7.8. Should i still wait longer? This seems to be taking forever.

If possible, have the water tested at your LFS to make sure your test kit is correct. 7.8 seems a bit low, my tank is about 8.3 or so. What is your gravity at?



Dan

OK, this may be a mute question and may have already been stated, I just can't remember, and have too many threads to read yet, lol

What kind of substrate do you have? And what chemicals/trace elements/minerals, have you been adding, or better yet, what is everything you have added to your tank? What is your tap water ph? What salt mix are you using?

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

My gravity is not at the proper level. I think it is because i keep topping off my water. My tank has live sand. My tank consist of invertabraes, 1 damsel, and a maderin goby. i am not sure wat my ph of tap water is, but what is the normal?

Your gravity should be around 1.023 and your PH should be in the area of 8.3



Dan

should i go and buy more salt and just pour it in there? Is that a good idea and will it affect any of my stock?

That would be a very bad idea.

Rapid increases in salinity can be harmful to the fish, in that it will tax their internal organs trying to eliminates the salts from their systems. Your best bet is to increase the specific gravity through water changes, with a salt solution slightly higher. This will slowly increase the overall salinity in your tank, without shocking your fish.

John

Mix up new water at 1.030 and then do a water change. This will slowly up your gravity to where it should be.



Dan

And I wish you would have consulted us on the Mandarin gobie. As I fear you LR and tank size are not going to be good enough for him. As well, they are not very hardy when it comes to water parameters being off.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

Thanks. i no about the goby. I will try to do the water changes to increase my salt level. When you top off your water with RO, is it suppose to change your salt sanity?

When you top off due to evaporation you simply use fress water. Salt does not evaporate. So as water evaporates the salt levels will go up slowly, then as you add fress water, it will drop again. This is why it's very important to keep the tank topped off all the time.



Dan

Are you suppose use RO water to top off the tank or regular tap water? My salt level is too high. What am I suppose to do to fix that?

Use RO water. To lower your salt level, remove a gal of water from the tank and then top off with RO water. Keep in mind that if you have a 10gal tank, removeing a gal of water will have a much greater impact on the tank then if you have a 100gal tank. If you remind me of the size, and your salt level I can give you an idea of what to remove.



Dan

My tank is a 55 gallon and my salt level is 1.030. How much should i remove?

Figuring you have about 50 to 51 gals of water in that tank, removing 2 gals of water from the tank, then topping off with fresh water will drop you to 1.028. Then wait a day and do it again, that will drop you to about 1.027. Do this until you get to the desiered gravity. Dont try to do it all in one day. The drop needs to be slow.



Dan

But i have to use RO water only or can i use regular tap water? What if i let the water sit in a bucket for a few days. Will that do the trick or RO water the only way to go?

Tap water can have phosphates, and this will cause a algea bloom. Your best bet is to keep using the RO water.



Dan

My just tested my water.

pH 8.2
ammon 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0

Is this correct? Iv seen Nitrate a like 10. Is there a problem with my readings?

It would be odd to have your nitrats at zero. You shoudl have a slight reading. Other then that your readings look good, and your cycle is complete.



Dan

Okay, my tank is doing well. Now I don't know what to do anymore. Is there anything that you guys reccommend that I would need in my tank as of right now? How would I know when I am ready for corals?

I would suggest you get your clean up crew in order. Snails, small hermits, shrimp, and a starfish or two.



Dan

Well, right now I have a crew. Here's what they are: Emerald Crabs 2
Scarlet Red Hermit Crabs 5
Blue Hermit Crabs 8
Zebra Hermit Crabs 3
Common Hermits 9
Snails 23
Sandsifting Star 1


What do you think? Anything else that i need? What would happen if i put an anemone that is what they say to be catious with in a reef tank? Is a condy anemone safe in a reef tank?

I didnt see it at the beginning of the thread, but I didnt look too hard.

What type of lighting do you have? It may restrict if you can even get an anemone.

Right now my light is a power compact 65 x 2 and 65 by 2 acntinic. Is this light suitable for anemones? Another question that i have. Where should i put my two power heads. I have one on the left side towards the top pointing the top water. My other one is on the right side like in the middle blowing towards the middle. Are these good spots?

Many people put them in the back corners, then point them to the front middle in a X pattern. I put one high, and the other pointing down a bit to get get more water movment at different levels. If you have dead spots, you can either add another power head, or change the direction a bit.

Dan

Man, algae comes back fast. I mean like a day or two only. Do you guys have the same problem as me? How do you guys deal with it? What kind of snails can sandsift too?

Nassarius Snails will sift sand.



Dan

Do you guys have bumblebee snails? What's good and bad about these snailS? What about hermit crabs? Which ones do you guys most recommend or have had the best luck with?

I have a few, hardly ever see them, and really don't know what they do, never looked them up. I got them by mistake once.

As for hermits, I have zebra, blue, and scarlet hermits. Stick with the small micro hermits, not the big ones.



Dan

What you guys think about this? I bought a signal goby like two days ago. When i first got it, it was sifting sand really good. Since last nite I cant seem to find it. Do you you guys think that it is dead? Or is it just hiding for a few days. I just seems wierd how it can just perish from the tank.

i think you should stop buying fish

Some times fish can hide real good. It could be gone for days before it shows up again. Some have been convinced they lost a fish. Then went out and bought a new fish, only to find they now have twe fish. Just watch for it over the next week or so.



Dan

That could be a possibility. How much does anemones cost? Not planning to get anything new right now. No money but just want to research.

Depends on the type. From $20 to over $100.

They can be almost any price, depending on the kind you get.

Dan

Well, what about the sabae and bubble tip? How much does those cost?