How much is too much?

[specrn5]

I recommend more research before you do anything else, other than returinng what you have already put in.

On a sidenote I went to Petco and was looking at some of the stuff they had when a lady and a sales associate came over by me and I overheard the lady say "I want the stringy thing for my new tank". She was pointing at an anemone . At the end she got the anemone, 2 "nemos", a tang, and some firefish. I cut in and ask her has her tank even cycled.....she didn't know what I was talking about. Sigh

 

[Our First Tank]

We started with 2 damsels and a puffer....then last night we added another damsel, tomato clown and hermit crab.

 

[bjonesjr1]

that is sad that some people get into a hobby without even reading up on it, to gain knowledge about what they are about to do... Would you get a puppy and keep it if you didn't what to feed it or or care for it, let alone think to know whats right in the care for animals... A fish is just like a puppy its another living thing and doesn't have to be put into an environment that it shouldn't have to live in...

 

[Porkibear]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7017025#post7017025 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Our First Tank
i dont know if we had the ammonia spike yet. what happens during that and how do you get rid of it? could any fish survive that?

If you dont already have one, get a saltwater test kit that measures ammonia, nitrates, nitrate, and pH levels. Follow the instructions and get the measurements from these tests on a test-log sheet. In the beginning, I would run the test once every 2-4 days, depending on how anal you wanna be about finding out where your tank is in the cycle. Like the post above, when you finally see all three areas (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) spike and then come down to 0 ppm, then your cycling should be complete.

Also remember when your cycle finishes, that when you add new fish, they immediately start contributing to more ammonia. Whenever you add new fish, start out with at least a 10% water change, and make sure your water changes are a routine and not just a reaction to water parameters going bad.

 

[RobbyG]

No offense but if your asking this question you are lacking the basic skills to be this far into your tank setup, one post is not going to solve your problems. I really recommend you start doing some heavy reading and also return all the fish in your tank till you have a better idea of what to do. Do not take this the wrong way, I am looking out for your fishes survival and the hole that is going to develope in your wallet.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7017025#post7017025 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Our First Tank
i dont know if we had the ammonia spike yet. what happens during that and how do you get rid of it? could any fish survive that?

 

[REEFKEEPA]

Buy the best Protein skimmer you can find. and run it now.
Or you can do a 5 gallon water change every other day if you want your fish to survive.

 

[REEFKEEPA]

You have been Dooped by your LFS.
Read the basics and start over.

 

[Our First Tank]

Hence why I am on a NEW TO HOBBY forum. And as previously mentioned I have tested the water and everything is perfect.

No need for "no offense" statements. I am just trying to get some answers. Thank you for everyone who has contributed!!!! I will take all this new found knowledge and put it to good use.

 

[bjonesjr1]

Captial letters is like yelling at people here at RC, You asked the question your always going to get answers that may not please you to what you want to here... It's just everyone's opion on everything, people are just trying to help

 

[Our First Tank]

Trying to help is one thing, but patronizing is another. Who said, "we all learn from our mistakes?"

Ok, so now i have these fish in this tank and my water is ok....what now besides investing in a protein skimmer?

What about food? We have been giving flakes, and brine shrimp for the first time yesterday. Should we be feeding something else?

 

[Porkibear]

That's what this forum is here for...it's for newbies to take the knowledge learned from people who started off not knowing these things either.

If ANYTHING, I would do more self-research on the web and on forums like these before taking advice from the LFS. They are only out to make money, and not really for these fishes' livelihoods. Since you are posting and asking questions, I'd say that's a REALLY good first step.

BTW, WELCOME to the hobby, and I hope your tank turns out! You'll be soon wanting to upgrade to a bigger tank! Here's a picture of mine:

I have a 60 gal. acrylic, and I only have 5 fish:

1 false percula clown
1 yellow-eyed tang
1 diamond goby
1 lawnmower blenny
1 flame angel


Also, keep in consideration how often you feed your fish. More food you feed, more waste the fish produce, more ammonia....meaning more dead fish. Only feed amounts of food that the fish can FINISH completely.

 

[Our First Tank]

Thank you very much porki!! That is the kind of answer I was looking for. What do you feed your fish? I had a freshwater for years so the switch has been a bit bumpy. Nice tank

 

[Porkibear]

Aside from RC, I also use 'wetwebmedia.com' as a good source of information. Both websites have good FAQ's for beginners, and also detailed information on the specific fish you have as well as their needs (type of food, water temps, compatability).

I would probably suggest you feed the damsels and the clown pellet foods rather than flakes. Flake food tend to get messy because they float around, or sink to the bottom, or even get caught up in your filter. Un-eaten food means more waste and bioload. I use "Ocean Nutrition Formula Two" pellet food. There is also formula 1 and formula 2 in FROZEN form...I usually break off a small piece of the frozen cube and break it up into smaller pieces to feed my fish. They can hardly eat the whole cube in one feeding.

Feel free to ask any other questions you might have. As a fellow aquarium hobbyist, I've always appreciated people spending a few minutes to type a comprehensive reply rather than short answers. I started in freshwater tanks, too....and I just made the move to saltwater last year, so I'm fairly new to it as well. I did A LOT of research along the way, but I had a friend that was experienced who helped me set up through the cycling period.

 

[Our First Tank]

On a whim my boyfriend bought a starter tank one day, next thing I know im testing water levels for proper pH and salt content. So really started doing all the research after the thing was set up because I had no plans!! We are learning as we go and will probably make mistakes along the way (a big one, trusting the LFS). I looked at the other site you mentioned but their posting boards are set up strange.

Also, one big question I always have is about "puffy." Puffy is a green spotted puffer which every store we have called and asked says they are salt water fish, but almost every website says is a brackish fish. We have him in our tank and he is as happy as a clam , but our salt content is on the lower side of acceptable. You wouldn't know anything about him would you? All other fish seem to be doing fine. The damsels stopped fighting when we moved the plants around....Clapton (our hermit crab) is munching away. I don't think tomato paste (our tomato clown) is the brightest crayon in the box though. He got lost in the rock and we had to get him out. It was pretty funny. After that he was ok...he had a huge dinner! All fish seem happy, but I can't help but think it is the eye of the storm.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Okay, new circumstances, you may or may not be done cycling already...

1. Take the puffer back -- the rest of your fish can probably survive a partially cycled tank -- the puffer won't be a good choice in the short or long run. Get store credit, they should have never sold you a puffer for a 30 gallon anyway.
2. Buy test kits, preferrably Salifert, for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and confirm that you have no ammonia or nitrite in the system. If you do, start changing a 5 gallon bucket of water every day until you don't. You may be completely done cycling, you may not -- you need to know with certainty.

I would hold off on feeding anything that's relatively "messy" like frozen shrimp until you know your cycle is complete and your filtration is adequate (as in, no ammonia or nitrite detectable, no nitrate buildup in the system over time). I'd stick to flake just because it's easier to feed sparingly and easier to remove if there's any left over.

You may kill some fish, we've all done it for the most part. The toughest part about saltwater tanks is adding fish slowly enough to keep the system working well.

For perspective's sake, I have 5 fish (one tang, the rest are all no larger than the ocellaris clown) in a 125 with 40 gallon sump, and at most will add one more. My skimmer is probably double the size I need for my tank size and low bioload, I have a refugium running full time with lights over the macroalgae to help with filtration as well, and I have a lot of flow in the tank to maximize the filtration capacity of the LR. In other words, I probably have at least fifteen times the filtration / dilution capacity you have with the same number of fish -- so yeah you're really pushing it as far as I'm concerned on bioload.

Just fix it the best you can now, and make sure things stabilize in a good spot (no nutrient buildup) over a couple of months before adding anything else other than additional filtration devices. Be ready to make water changes because I think you're going to need plenty of them...

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Puffers are brackish water fish.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Here is something I just found doing a google search on recommended green spotted puffer water salinity...

Water Chemistry:
I suggest keeping GSPs at low-end BW when juvenile <2", (in a specific gravity, or SG of 1.005-08), at 2-4", medium BW (SG 1.010-15) and adult >4" SW (SG 1.018-22).

 

[Our First Tank]

Ours is about 3.5 inches long i would say. I have to check when I am home. The darn thing is so cute...except for him biting me the other night. It is a shame we will have to give him up. Ok, so next on my list is a protein skimmer.

Oye Vey...I wish I had more time to read about all this stuff.

 

[Porkibear]

Here is a link to an article about "Puffy":

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm

Honestly, in my opinion, you have two issues you'll need to address. One is, your tank needs to mature without the fish you've got. Second thing is, after reading this article, it seems like your puffer will likely turn out to be a monster in your 30 gallon tank. Even your Clapton may not be safe from the Puffy.

Good luck. PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7017198#post7017198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Our First Tank


Ok, so now i have these fish in this tank and my water is ok.

you've said this in this thread a few times, but in the thread in our club forum you say that you just got a test kit but haven't used it yet.

what have you tested? and please post the test results, dont just say everything is ok.

also in the other thread you say you dont have any live rock, how do you expect to achieve biological filtration?

if i were you i would return all the fish, get some live rock and start over, and in the month that the tank is cycling, come here and read, and ask questions