Hello to all

nanonewby · 07-13-2006, 12:57 AM

My name is Mical (Micheal). I bought a 12 g tank from my lfs as a christmas present for my daughter. She wanted a star fish, and to tell the truth I have always wanted a saltwater tank. My husband said it was a bad idea and so did everyone else I talked to. I am determined to make this work but I have about given up a couple times. As I previously posted I have 6 lbs LR, CC, hermits, snails, a colt polyp that has lasted through a lot, a green star polyp that has died back. I add Nano AB. I change both my charcoal and h20 every three weeks (with water out of my brita filter). I test my tank and my replacement water and the PH is usually 8.2/3. Nitrites, nitrates, ammonia are all consistantly negative. My salinity is in the green on the hydrometer, I don't remember the numbers, .22 to .26? I have not had more than three fish at a time. I had a neon goby and a fire goby both lasted a long time, maybe three months. I have killed three nemos, (tank raised percula), a sexy shrimp, a coral banded shrimp, a pajama fish, a pulsing fresia, two star fish, two feather dusters, I sure there are a few more. I have a few questions. Where do you guys get your fish. Online or your lfs? Is my brita filtering my tap water enough? Should I give up on my 12 g tank? I have seen some of your amazing pictures. Thanks for your help

coral reefer · 07-13-2006, 02:12 AM

Hello and welcome to 3reef!
You have your work cut out for you with that small a fish tank. Also you have quite a large bio-load as well. The bigger the tank the more forgiving and room you have for error. Can you invest in a larger tank?
Some suggestions to help you out are as follows:
* Do some reading about the saltwater hobby
* get a protein skimmer
* get a bigger tank, at least to start with til you get comfortable and gain
the essential knowledge for success.
* in the near future invest in an RODI filter.
* do a water change more than once every three weeks. I do a water change every week(5%-10% of total volume)
As far as where I get my fish, I have always bought my livestock at local pet shops. I am going to try purchasing livestock on line and see what happens. Alot nicer fish and corals can be found on line. I'm just a little weary about them arriving stressed or dead etc. Plus alot of times I may not be able to get here when the fish etc. get to the house!
Good luck! The saltwater hobby is a very rewarding and beautiful hobby.

nanonewby · 07-14-2006, 09:17 AM

[IMG]

[/IMG]

I hope this picture posts okay. Now that I bought the tank I feel pretty stuck. It is a lot of money to upgrade and husband is already gritting his teeth when he sees what I have spent. I would like to make this tank beautiful. I was doing h2o changes every week, after my tank had cycled, and I was having a tish of ammonia. things were dying. Now that my tank is more established and stable I will try 10 % instead of 1/4. every week. I will also age my water 48hrs or try distilled. No more new fish or inverts for me for awhile. Thanks for your help

nanonewby · 07-14-2006, 09:22 AM

oops no picture I'll try again later

Bruce · 07-14-2006, 09:47 AM

You can upload pictures right to 3reef if you wish. At the top left click on "Photos" then click upload.

Matt Rogers · 07-14-2006, 10:16 AM

I agree with coral reefer - do small water changes weekly on your nano. I have a 20 gallon nano and recently due mostly to a business trip I went 3 weeks without a water change and I lost a fish I had for nearly 2 years and my hard coral. Stick to weeklies!

Welcome to 3reef too!

There is info on uploading photos here:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/faq.php

nanonewby · 07-17-2006, 12:27 AM

Thanks Bruce thanks Matt. Do you guys have protien skimmers for your Nanos? Ar they just quarentine tanks? What kind of lighting? I have not upgraded my Nano Cube dx. From what I can find to read about the Nano is provides moderate flow and light. I don't have an overgrowth of algae, my corals look good. What do you mean by a heavy bioload? parrot head paradise guy are you refering to my LR, cleaner crew, corals? What it seems like a few people have a lot more stuffed in their nano. Last question what do you have in your nano, FO, reef, ect? I live as mainland as you can get. No oceans. LFS around here do not always have what I am looking for. I think saltwater.com is good, they have the only 15 day gaurantee. I haven't actually ordered corals from them just some hermits and snails. I can't imagine ordering on line is a good idea without a quarentine tank.
Thanks for letting me pick your brain

jonathan · 07-18-2006, 01:33 AM

welcome to 3reef

nanonewby · 07-18-2006, 04:17 AM

thanks

Matt Rogers · 07-18-2006, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanonewby

Thanks Bruce thanks Matt. Do you guys have protien skimmers for your Nanos? Ar they just quarentine tanks? What kind of lighting?

I have a Turboflotor 1000 multi hanging on the back of my sump. A bit overkill.

BUt it works nice. You might want to check out one of those new Remora nanos someone posted about the other day here.

I have a 70w halide fixture with T5s - it's nice for nanos.