Questions About My 29 Gallon, Can U Help!?

On March 2nd, 2009 we started a salt-water aquarium we added 25 gallons pre-made salt water from the pet-store, 25 lbs of the live sand, and 2 smaller pieces of live rock. Two days later the pet guy told us to come back and get our cleaning crew. we got 2 turbo snails, 8 blue legged crabs, and one emarld crab and more live rock. a week later tested the water everything looked good, so we got more rock and two chromie damsels (as per pet guy said it was ok to add) NO! they died, so we have the crabs,snails, and a peppermint shrimp now also which we've had about 2 wks. We've added a hang off the back protein skimmer and a power head. we have a 55 gallon filter on the back as well. When we put the last batch of rock in about 2 wks ago our nitrates have been high so we did a 25% water change - 5 gallons, oh and we also have a coralife T5 high out put light too we added 2wks ago.

So here's my question, some of the live rock we bought had been in the pet shops salt water tank for 2 yrs and was in their curing bin b/c they put new rock in their other big tank but since we've brought it home ( it's covered in purple) nothing has grown on it? How long does it take for stuff to grow when you put your light on? also, I bought a piece of pom pom xenia frag and it is not spread open like it was in the pet shop it's ends are more curled in kind of and it isn't spreading or growing like they said either. where should it be placed at in the tank? What can I start growing now with my light and all my live rock? As of today the tank it's self has been set up a month and the last bit of live rock was put in 2 weeks ago. I am going to try to put some pics up!

Any help would be great thanks!

 

Have you done any research on a sw tank cycle? When you first start a tank, you have to let it sit and cycle for a few weeks before adding anything. During this time your nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia will all go up and can and will kill anything added. Your LFS guy is rushing you way too fast. I would take the xenia out and take it back. Don't do any water changes at all and keep testing your water until all your levels read zero. Check out some of the newbie threads on here, there is a lot of good info about what needs to be done when first starting. If you have any questions, just ask.

 

I agree, it doesn't sound like you let your tank cycle at all. You need to let the water, sand and rock sit for some time and let it cycle. Also, adding a table shrimp to rot in the tank will help. Your parameters (Ammonia, nitrite, etc.) will all jump up, and then climb back down. Once everything reaches 0 you can start adding livestock.

Don't do any water changes during the cycle.

And yes, take the xenia back to the LFS. Tanks need to mature a bit before they can support coral.

 

I agree with both of the above comments. It sounds like this LFS guy is trying to get a quick sale. even though using good business sense he would tell you the true and take it slow with you. in the long run he would get more of your money and sale as you progress in this hobby. I agree you need to let this tank cycle with rock and sand for several weeks. Adding a damsel isnt really a bad idea, amny people so cycle with a starter fish. however you can do it with raw shrimp as well. as both of the above have said, let your tank cycle and read read read this forum. ask questions. you will get honest answers and be pointed in the right direction.

 

Thanks for all your honest answers and replies as I told my fiance' the fish guy was rushing it and he says " he's a professional" LOL..he already did the water change (5 gallons) so I think we're pretty much back to sqaure one- right? They told us to do a water change b/c it would help with the nitrates. Do we need to leave the T5 light off so nothing grows in the tank to die off, or leave it on daily and let it grow and whatever happens happens? I'm guessing that we just need to leave it alone and leave the light off for a few weeks and let it cycle and just test waters periodically. Also they sold us this bottle of stuff snow phytoplankton? to feed to the live rock do we still need to do this? I have read up on some stuff and researched but have gotten sooo many different things.

Also, I have another question...
Is the 55 gallon filter, Hang off the back Protien skimmer (its kinda big), and a Powerhead to much for this 29 gallon tank? Too much water flow/current????

 

wow.

I pretty much ditto everything everyone has said.

How could you start a hobby like this without doing any research? I waited 6 weeks before adding ANYTHING, and 8 before adding any fish.

If you want to continue killing livestock by dropping these poor fish into your tank of poison, keep up your rushing into things.

That tank needs to cycle. NEVER go on just the fish salesman's advice. Do research, and question everything he tells you. If he can get to you to buy 10 fish before you have 1 that stays alive, he'll do it.

Good luck in the future, and slow down.

 

The equipment you have is fine. Leave the skimmer off during the cycle and you don't need to feed the LR, that's what the nitrites and stuff is for. From now on don't do anymore water changes. The lighting is up to you, I've read about people leaving lights on and some leave them off. I personally ran them for just a few hours each day, not the full lighting period like i do now. Now the only thing for you to do is wait out the cycle and not touch the tank or add anything.

 

I just wanted to say that the peppermint shrimp,turbo snails, and crabs are all doing well and have been in my tank for about a month. I've only tried the two fish after it had been set up and everything read 0, but we put in more rock the same day so I think it threw everything off. I am not going to add anything else and I tried to tell my fiance' that but he is one to rush. but, I totally agree with LFS point of view!

 

Thanks alot for the reply! I will unplug the skimmer and just leave the reg, filter and power head on. At what point do I need the skimmer to be on? In about 6wks or so? I have been reading alot about people using clown fish as their first fish, is that recommended??

Thanks again,
Shelby

 

Please, don't more people bash on this owner for not doing their research and taking the advice of their LFS. We've all done things we regret and taking the advice of someone that has been in the business, i.e. a LFS owner, isn't the worst thing that could've happened. I hate to see threads like this where people come to us with help cause they been rushed by a guy trying to make a sale on a newbie and then people on here tear them apart. Let's just keep this thread going with good advice and help this new member and show her what a good community this is.