First time with a saltwater aquarium

[mattcheli]

Can someone please provide me with some saltwater basics?

1. When can I add a new fish to my tank? Currently I have a 1 pound uncured live rock and (2) hermit crabs.

2. What type of fish will work in a 2.5 gallon tank?

3. When should I expect to need a larger tank for a single fish?

4. When should I do water changes?

5. How often should I check for ammonium and nitrite?

6. I had (2) damsels in the tank but they died off after 2-1/2 days. I believe it was from a high level of ammonium, and the fact that I did not know what a "cycle" was. My question is should I change out all of the water and start the cycle over?

 

[Rue]

You can add fish when the tank has fully cycled. It may take 4 weeks even with the uncured live rock.

Don't add any inverts until the tank has cycled either...but don't remove any hitchhikers either...leave them be.

Not many fish can go in a 10g - be careful what you put in and make sure your tank is totally cycled and stable before you do.

Start water changes after cycling is complete.

Check parametres every day or two until cycling is complete...and with such a little tank, check weekly (or 2X a week) since parametres change much more rapidly than in a big tank and you need to keep on top of things.

NO! Leave the tank to continue cycling as it is...don't start from scratch.

 

[WaterKeeper]

[welcome]

I go with Rue but would suggest an invert nano rather than a fish tank. There are few good choices for fish in a 2.5 gallon so concentate on small corals instead. I would also do at least 10% weekly water changes from this point on.