Anenome

My fish were okay for about three days before things went downhill...and when it went, it went fast. They were fine, and i looked at the tank like 10 minutes later and one was laying on the sand breathing heavily, and the other was frantically swimming all over the tank bumping into things.

What are you using for substrate? I hope it's not the gravel like you find in freshwater systems. If it is, I'd advise removing that and replacing it with sand that is specifically for saltwater/reef tanks.

As for filtration, I'd avoid the bio-wheels. In saltwater tanks they can cause your nitrates to build up and make it harder for you to keep sensitive creatures like anemones and a lot of corals. I'd get something that has carbon cartridges, and remove whatever method of "biological" filtration that they include. That's what your live rock is for, after all.

I hope your fish make it through okay...to try to make it as easy on them as possible, see if you can't make sure that the live rock from the LFS that you're getting is "fully cured." This will (hopefully) mean that there will be less die-off from the organisms living in the rock and that they will be pretty well populated with the beneficial bacteria.

This is going to be a pretty critical time for your fish, so take care when you feed not to overfeed. They should do fine with one very small feeding per day. You may think you're not feeding them enough, but that's the least of your worries right now. If you overfeed it will create even higher ammonia/nitrite levels and be more dangerous for your livestock.
 
Hi Country, awestruck here. I didn't think to tell you this yesterday so I would like to add it now: when you get some time in the next day or two (the sooner the better) go into the NEW TO THE HOBBY forum. Near the top of the threads you will see one called NEW-1st TIME ON RC-LOOK HERE FOR ANSWERS. While many of us have been trying to help you, we're probably, inadvertantly, confusing you more than when you began. The information in this thread is organized and easy to understand. As a previous teacher for 10 years, I might add that it would be beneficial to have a notebook handy so that you can write key points down. ;) As I said yesterday, the best thing you can do right now is get as many animals out of your tank as possible, and start reading. Tackle the reading - truly - devote some serious time to reading and learning. If you feel overwhelmed by all of the information, well, that's ok, there's A LOT for all of us to learn. But you know what, you can do it. And Country, remember the reefin' mantra ----> S-L-O-W-L-Y. Good luck and make RC you're very best friend in the world :D -- you will continue to meet nice people willing to help!
 
Should it also be worthy to mention high quality skimming? In addition, I would hope to point out that any store who whould promote selling for a day old tank would also be sleasly enough to sell uncured or "pre-cured" live rock which would only make the problems worse.

But don't feel too bad country, I lost

1 carpet anemone due to bleaching (I was fooled by a shady LFS)
1 Ritteri due to a shipping mistake (FEDEX lost the shipment for 2 days) Really bad smelling on arrival
1 Ritteri to poor acclamation (let the temp drop too much I think)
1 BTA to a "anemone proofed" powerhead
1 BTA to a trans-state move

Finally, I just decided to get a coral that clowns sometimes will host in and I was lucky enough that they did.

Oh, and my biggest noob mistake was adding supposily cured liverock to my freshly cycled tank. Good and honest stores can be hard to come by, and thats why I drive an hour to my favorite place.
 
Ok let me tell you where I am at now. I took one of the anenomes back. He will give me a credit if it lives and he put it in a separate tank. I bought 4 1/2 more pounds of liverock and some frozen krill. I am going to cut way back on the feeding. The guy at the store said (This is a pretty good fish store) said that the underwater filter wouldn't work and my over the back filter wouldn't do either. I needed to get some kind of special cylinder filter for salt water tanks. I was thinking about leaving the underground filter and putting my other over the back Aqua Tech 20-40 gal 120 vac, .17amp, 60 hz on at the same time. That way one can filter and one can move the water around enough. This was my idea until I get some more money to spend on the aquarium.
 
I think that the place that I got the liverock from is a good fish store. So I hope the rock is ok. Just paid $24. for a 4lbs of it. I have coral gravel for salt water tanks. I didn't get the sand because it would go through my underground filter. I was told to get a Canister Filter Cascade 700 brand. They are on sale now for $94.00. Please let me know if you think my cheap over the back filter and powerhead will work o.k. together until I can get a better one?????
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10358136#post10358136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
undergravel is a no no
so is the canister filter you need a good protein skimmer.
Click to expand...
Canister filters are a no no ? Maybe in YOUR opinion .

Canister filters a great if maintaned . I would keep your HOB filter for now and get the Cascade if you have the $ . They are pretty good for the price , I ran one for my 75 for years until going to a sump and refugium . You will want to get a good protein skimmer also . A refugium isn`t a need but benefits the aquarium in many ways . As when many start out $ is a big issue and you do not need to buy all the expensive better items at once . If you can afford it great , but go as your knowledge and budget allows you . There are many forums and each seems to have their own "you must have" items .
 
I agree with Dawman, canister filters can be good if maintained however I would much rather have a refugium and a sump on any reef tank in the long run.
 
Guys, the saltwater hobby is an art, as much as science. You can use an undergravel filter. You can use a canister filter. You can use a HOT filter. You can use bioballs in a wet dry. You can use live sand and live rock (and no mechanical filtration). You can use an algal filter, a mud system, a UV sterilizer and/or a huge protein skimmer.

What you need to make ANY of these work is knowledge. Knowledge of a tank's cycle, or biofiltration and basic tank chemistry. The things that are talked about every day in the New to the Hobby forum, and addressed in the stickies there.

So, read there first. Get an idea of what's going on, then come here and ask "anemone-tank-specific" questions.

Kevin
 
What about using a Fluval with a HOB overflow? Or perhaps setting up a small sump with an overflow... IMO the store who told you putting all that livestock in 2 days after you setup your tank you should stay away from. Unless you're using a cycling additive to help with your denitrification bacteria such as BioSpira cycles last anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month atleast..Keep checking your water as much as possible and doing water changes of about 20% weekly or 10% biweekly (even better) to keep your levels in check, and hope for the best.
 
I've seen no real data to support BioSpira's credibility in the marine aquarium...if anyone has any, I'd be interested to look at it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10358656#post10358656 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Anemone
Guys, the saltwater hobby is an art, as much as science. You can use an undergravel filter. You can use a canister filter. You can use a HOT filter. You can use bioballs in a wet dry. You can use live sand and live rock (and no mechanical filtration). You can use an algal filter, a mud system, a UV sterilizer and/or a huge protein skimmer.

What you need to make ANY of these work is knowledge. Knowledge of a tank's cycle, or biofiltration and basic tank chemistry. ...

Kevin
Click to expand...

AMEN!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10362533#post10362533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
I've seen no real data to support BioSpira's credibility in the marine aquarium...if anyone has any, I'd be interested to look at it.
Click to expand...


No real Data ? Have you researched it at all ?

A friend uses it and I tried it and seems to work pretty good .
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10363314#post10363314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dawman
No real Data ? Have you researched it at all ?

A friend uses it and I tried it and seems to work pretty good .
Click to expand...

he may be a SLAKKER, but he does research. :)
 
I would say a canister/ or even a HOB filter is fine right now. The canisters/HOBs run into problems when the tank is mature and established and then the nitrates increase... right now, any surface that will grow denitrifying bacteria is a good think so I would recommend the filters, but I would say a skimmer is more important (Sorry, I am one of those firm believers in skimming, amen!) I would not bother with a backpak in my experiences but I would recommend a Tunze Nano (haha, let the debate begin)
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~TZ5311.html
at a $135

I wouldn't rush out to get a canister,becase a HOB will do jus fine for 30G and the canister will be nolonger used in about 6-12 months.

Finally, with reguards to your local fish store, I would say that you might want to contact the local marine club/society to get a few directions about which stores are the better places to go in the area. (if you can tell, I dont trust your current place and it looks like he just wants to sell you stuff) Marine Aquarium & Reef Society of Houston might be a place to check first. Anyone else from the Houston area? Just an idea and my 2 cent =D...

But congrats on taking the anemone back, you did a good thing!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10362533#post10362533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
I've seen no real data to support BioSpira's credibility in the marine aquarium...if anyone has any, I'd be interested to look at it.
Click to expand...

Have you tried it? I haven't, but I have had luck with that bioactive sand stuff...
 
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