My new hobby - Page 2

eggerstout · 08-31-2008, 08:32 AM

I would take it slow and probably return the anemones like previously noted, I'd lose the chocolate chip starfish and get brittle star. Do some research and be informed for your pocketbook's sake and for the animal's sake.

PackLeader · 08-31-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamikaze8302

as for the flow, i have two power jets, a protein simmer, a filtration system with a bio wheel. and i will be adding more rocks it just at the place they did not get their new shipment in due to the weather. the lighting i bought were some bulbs at the pet shop, i do not know what type but its for the marine life and coral. i am looking into getting a mh, just trying to find a good place to purchase it.

What kind of power jets? Also, how large is the tank? Hard to tell by pics but it looks like maybe a 75 or 84 gallon tall? Your going to need at least 20x turn over rate of flow (so if its a 75 gallon your powerheads should be at least a combined 1500 gph, and thats for the easy stuff. Im running 1400 gph in a 40 gallon and that could be considered minimal to medium flow).
You will need better lights to keep anemones. Also, they are going to need to be fairly powerful due to having the tall tank.
And as stated before, your going to need at least 1 pound of rock per gallon, and 1 pound of live sand per gallon of water, just to start. Probably more if your not going to run a sump or fuge.
Once you get all that in there, your going to have to wait at least 6-8 weeks before you start to add fish or inverts, then do that one at a time about every 2 weeks or so, while watching your parameters closely.
As stated before, I would try to take the stuff back and get store credit for it. With how young the tank is and your current equipment, most likely everything is going to die. And if one of the anemones or the cucumber die, then the real problems begin. It can take weeks just to get the toxins out of the tank, let alone establish the cycle again.

kamikaze8302 · 08-31-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackLeader

What kind of power jets? Also, how large is the tank? Hard to tell by pics but it looks like maybe a 75 or 84 gallon tall? Your going to need at least 20x turn over rate of flow (so if its a 75 gallon your powerheads should be at least a combined 1500 gph, and thats for the easy stuff. Im running 1400 gph in a 40 gallon and that could be considered minimal to medium flow).
You will need better lights to keep anemones. Also, they are going to need to be fairly powerful due to having the tall tank.
And as stated before, your going to need at least 1 pound of rock per gallon, and 1 pound of live sand per gallon of water, just to start. Probably more if your not going to run a sump or fuge.
Once you get all that in there, your going to have to wait at least 6-8 weeks before you start to add fish or inverts, then do that one at a time about every 2 weeks or so, while watching your parameters closely.
As stated before, I would try to take the stuff back and get store credit for it. With how young the tank is and your current equipment, most likely everything is going to die. And if one of the anemones or the cucumber die, then the real problems begin. It can take weeks just to get the toxins out of the tank, let alone establish the cycle again.

its a 30 gallon tank, two power jet 660gph. i have had the aneoome for over a week, i have live sand and ~9 lbs of live rock.

{Nano}Reefer · 08-31-2008, 01:20 PM

you really need to take all of the living things to your LFS before you kill them

GoToSleep · 08-31-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamikaze8302

Hi 3reef, I had just recently setup the tank and has been running for about a month...let me know what you guys think, any advice would help

Welcome to the hobby

. I hope that this thread has not completely demoralized you yet. I know that 1 month in I would have been really bummed to read / hear things like this about my new tank. Please understand that your new friends are passing on advice that was painfully learned and folks just want to see you have an easier time than they did.
I had a lot of beginner's dumb luck when I got started because my first and second tanks were both already established when I bought them from others. My third tank was a combination of the existing 2. When I think back to the many mistakes I did make, I really wish that I'd had access to all the great advice on 3reef (thanks, Matt for maintaining this

). There are plenty of people with SW tanks who don't follow or are unaware of the wisdom here but those folks wind up losing more fish and haivng more heartburn. Hang in there, go slow, and have fun.

pharmrjohn · 08-31-2008, 02:40 PM

Yup, I am in agreement with everyone above. Take it all back. I don't have a problem keeping one damsel. But that would be it. Base rock is a good idea. It is cheaper and your tank is already seeded. Packleader has good numbers to go by for a FO tank. You will probably need about 45 to 50 lbs of LR in a reef tank.

But that Sea Cucumber and the anenomes will kill everything if even one of them goes.

You need to take a step back and see exactly what you want to do. FO or Reef. Then what do you want to do if you want to do a reef tank. LPS, SPS, softies, all of the above. What kind of inverts do you want to keep? All of these will dictate what kind of fish you will put in there. You only have 30 gallons to work with. That is probably three fish total....and nothing large.

In terms of hardware, if you do not have it yet. Research it first. There is a lot out there you need to learn. But that is why you are here. If we seem a little harsh, it's because we want you to succeed and learn from our collective mistakes. Believe me, every mistake you have made, there is someone here who had made it too. So go slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow.

Rock on and Peace.......John.

Bunner · 08-31-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharmrjohn

There is a lot out there you need to learn. But that is why you are here. If we seem a little harsh, it's because we want you to succeed and learn from our collective mistakes. Believe me, every mistake you have made, there is someone here who had made it too. So go slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow.

excellent advice!!! I would suggest just reading to start and then asking many questions!!! the more you ask the more you learn! also...

Welcome to 3reef!

kamikaze8302 · 08-31-2008, 09:33 PM

i understand what you guys are saying. i appreciate all of your help. but another question i have is that why are the anemone and the sea cucumber still alive? i had the anemone for about 2 weeks....? and the stores that i purchase them from won't allow me to return them.

PackLeader · 08-31-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamikaze8302

i understand what you guys are saying. i appreciate all of your help. but another question i have is that why are the anemone and the sea cucumber still alive? i had the anemone for about 2 weeks....? and the stores that i purchase them from won't allow me to return them.

I am not familiar with keeping a cucumber, so I wont comment on that one.
But with the anemone's you are basically starving them to death. It can take a long time (mine made it about 4-5 weeks). Without the proper lighting and flow, it cant take in all the nutrients it needs. It is a slow, gradual process. I would guess in a week or two you will start to notice that they will no longer want to stay attached to anything. Then, the tentacles will start to shrink and retract. If you notice that happening, flush them immediately.

GitsieLouWho · 08-31-2008, 10:33 PM

Any good LFS will take back the creatures for their own good if you explain the situation, even if you dont get any money back it is whats best for the little guys.