Does my anemone and clown combo look healthy?

[kev24k]

This is what I would do to try and make the tank successful longterm from this point. Get ready to spend money...

1. You need much stronger lighting. What you have is nowhere near enough.
2. Don't add anymore livestock.
3. Take the damsels out and give them away (try to).
4. Increase flow inside the tank.
5. Make sure your temp is steady.
6. Increase salinity and get a refractometer if you don't have one.
7. Target feed your nem (search forums for what and how often)

 

[Conrad25]

You added a lot of stuff in a very short time...... I would make sure you do a lot of water changes and weekly at a minimum.. Just seems like you threw it together and expected it to be a ocean in your living room. They are a lot harder than you would think in the beginning. But thats just my opinion

 

[Neptune_Fan]

With all due respect. You asked if you people thought your livestock looked healthy. The consensus as told you that it does not look healthy. Please take the advice given to you. I don't think you would have taken the time to ask if you weren't actually concerned something was wrong.

 

[ocellaris123]

I think the ray you have is a cooler water ray also. We have rays which look very similar to those at the aquarium of the pacific and they are kept at 63F.

 

[jacobzking]

I think the ray you have is a cooler water ray also. We have rays which look very similar to those at the aquarium of the pacific and they are kept at 63F.

72-80° F for Cortez ray

 

[jacobzking]

This is what I would do to try and make the tank successful longterm from this point. Get ready to spend money...

1. You need much stronger lighting. What you have is nowhere near enough.
2. Don't add anymore livestock.
3. Take the damsels out and give them away (try to).
4. Increase flow inside the tank.
5. Make sure your temp is steady.
6. Increase salinity and get a refractometer if you don't have one.
7. Target feed your nem (search forums for what and how often)

1. what do you reccomend?
2. agreed
3. already in the works
4. I have one powerhead, plus the can filter, plus the sump return, plus the skimmer, even more flow?
5. temp varies + or - .5 degrees, that steady enough?
6. am increasing it slowly
7. already target feeding

 

[kev24k]

1. what do you reccomend?
2. agreed
3. already in the works
4. I have one powerhead, plus the can filter, plus the sump return, plus the skimmer, even more flow?
5. temp varies + or - .5 degrees, that steady enough?
6. am increasing it slowly
7. already target feeding

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1706461 I would start there since you already have some t5 lighting. There are a lot of options.

I would up the flow inside the tank. Look into Koralia powerheads.

What temp is the tank?

 

[Toddrtrex]

I personally wouldn't worry too much about steady temps -- in fact I tend to prefer having swings. Just make sure the temps are b/t 76 and 83 and you will be fine.

 

[phender]

i lowered my salinity a little for my cortez ray who seems to be happy.

i'm running 2x 36" t5 fixtures, each one has a 6700k and colormax running 21w each (so 2x 6700k and 2 colormax, all 21w)

Your lighting needs to be upgraded quite a bit for the anemone and any other coral type animals you might want to keep in the future. The fixtures you have are normal output T5s and the bulbs are freshwater plant bulbs.

If you stay with T5's you are going to need a High Output (HO) T5 fixture. You will likely need at least 6 48" 54 watt bulbs. Probably a mixture of 10000K and actinic bulbs depending on what looks best to your eye. You might want to look into metal halides or high output LEDs for a tank that size.

In addition, your hang on the tank skimmer is way undersized for you tank, especially considering you have an anemone and a ray. You will be better served by a nice in sump skimmer. I am sure you can find a lot of threads about skimmers on this site to help with your choice.

 

[SkullV]

Is this the same tank that you had the shark die in already?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1955424

If I were you I would just step back, return the anemone/clown, sell the ray, let your tank cycle properly, get the equipment you need, and start again slowly.

 

[saltymight]

I would suggest a good book. head yo your local barns and nobles or something. I cant think of the book name its self but there are some good ones ( not salt water for dummies either)

 

[jacobzking]

Is this the same tank that you had the shark die in already?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1955424

If I were you I would just step back, return the anemone/clown, sell the ray, let your tank cycle properly, get the equipment you need, and start again slowly.

it is the same tank, but the LFS fessed up to the sharks being diseased before being sold. I've had the ray in there for about 2 weeks now and he's as healthy looking as could be. Active swimmer, hand feeds very well. I think the tank is fine. My levels have all been zero-ed out (I get a little nitrate occasionally, only like 5ppm though). I'm keeping the temp around 78°.

 

[jeffreylesser]

I would suggest a good book. head yo your local barns and nobles or something. I cant think of the book name its self but there are some good ones ( not salt water for dummies either)

I would go with The Conscientious Marine Aquariast by Fenner as it is "fairly" up to date with techniques used today(second edition). It is also fairly comprehensive for an all-in-one book. Any better suggestions here?

Most of my books are geared more towards reefs, but for a more advanced read I find the The Reef Aquarium (Delbeek and Sprung), Volumes 1 - 3 to be very informative. It is a ton of information, and I would be a liar if I said I have read all the pages in all three books. I have probably read the anemone section in Volume 2, 10 times in some sections. It is one of the better sources of information on anemones I have found.

 

[iheartJMS]

When do you plan on upgrading your lighting? As you do know now that your current setup is well below what is needed for a tank that size, especially if you plan to keep that anemone.

If this puts it in perspective at all -

You say you're running two t5 fixtures, each of which has a 6700k and a colormax, with a total of 84 watts of normal output according to what you said. Keep in mind your tank has been up for 6 weeks. I am in the process of setting up my 20 gallon tank and am using a 4 bulb t5 fixture - (2x) 18w 10,000k High Output and (2x) 18w Actinic Blue High Output. That gives me a total of 72watts of HO, and I would still consider upgrading if money wasn't a concern on this setup. My tank has been up for 3 weeks with just sand, live rock, and chaeto in my sump.

A 125 gallon tank with 84 watts of normal output lighting intended for use other than SW with the livestock that you have...I am not trying to be mean or put you down or anything like that. I am just trying to get you to slow down and re think things before you get in over your head. Maybe you could return some or most of your current livestock and invest in upgrading your system to be able to sustain and provide for the type of animals you are wanting to keep.

 

[kev24k]

You need to upgrade your lights. There is no getting around that.

 

[RenoR1]

I think the tank is fine. My levels have all been zero-ed out (I get a little nitrate occasionally, only like 5ppm though). I'm keeping the temp around 78°.

The problem with that statement is you have people on here who have been reefing for years, and in some cases maybe 10's of years who are telling you your tank is not fine. For the record, I am NOT one of them, but I did listen to their advise and now my tank is flourishing. So In short, since this thread is already far too long, fix your lighting, slow down, and let the tank do it's thing. an established tank should have 0ppm nitrates. Not a "little.")