New Guy

wd11001

wd11001

New member
Hello All,
I tried a new LFS today and that gent there tuned me into your organization.

I am new to the hobby with a second hand 92 gallon FOWLR corner unit that was given to my wife by friends who upgraded. She thought it would de-stress me. I cant say that has happened yet.

I currently have a flame angel and two tank-raised clowns. My numbers are holding steady after a month. I have about 20 lbs of LR in the tank and live sand.

My first LFS sold me more than he should I think... I ended up with a blonde naso tang that I loved who died after my second addition of about 5 lbs of LR. That fish used to eat seaweed out of my hand and I was sorry to see his demise. I also had a diamond watchman goby jump out of the smallest of uncovered spaces overnight and perish... also sad.

And I became disenchanted with my LFS, so I went looking and found the gent that advised me about your existence. I hope to get good at this hobby but can honestly say that I am a little overwhelmed. I totally understand going slow to begin... but I can't decide where to get more fish. I get the feeling that every LFS has some sick ones and treats tanks with meds. I was thinking of trying liveaquaria.com. Any thoughts or suggestions, general or otherwise?

Thanks so much!
 
It can be frustrating at times especially in the beginning. I lost a few jumpers in my saltwater tanks. Had some crabs and a crawfish escape from places I didn't think was possible in freshwater tanks. I haven't ordered any fish online before, but I have used saltwaterfish.com for inverts, also hermits from eBay but I'm sure there's plenty here that can assist you in that
 
I started this hobby a year ago and I'm only 13 get some black ice clowns there awesome just got them and now there my favorite fish
 
Thanks. Frustrating it is!

I think I have my set up and tank operating well enough to add some livestock. I just wish I knew where to get it from and who to trust.
 
Look for local fish stores and check them out them get a quarantine tank them by some thing cheap if it does ok that store should be ok
 
Welcome from another long island member...

I'm not sure where on the island you are, there seems to be a few stores that come up most often through out the island. There was a sticky with lfs info in the long island section.
I'm from Mattituck on the north fork, so there are not any "local" stores for me, But I use brains pets and aquarium in Rocky Point. he has been there for 20 or 30 something years. He (Brian) is also very knowledgeable, and he has earned my trust. I buy some supplies online for cost reasons, but anything wet, or things I have questions about I go there.
 
I also use live aquaria for research and basic info for fish. they have a good site. I have not ordered anything from them, but I have heard good things.
 
There is a good number of lfs shops on LI now. For fish I prefer Caribbean blue in Bayshore. For corals pets warehouse in copiague or tropical island in deer park.
 
Welcome to the group one thing you said was you think you have too much live rock in a 92 tank your suppose to have 92 pounds of live rock min it is 1 pound per gallon same for sand most people have more now it all doesn't have to be in the display it could be in the sump but as you go u will pick up on things here and there aquarium village is a great place pet warehouse is another I like aquarium village better but again don't know how close you a re too them anywho welcome and feel free to ask anyone questions
 
Next fish

Next fish

Thanks for all your replies...

I spent some time at my closest LFS today with the knowledgeable kid there that I trust.

I think my next few will be a banded goby, some cholis and maybe some anthia and a wrass. He says to get the wrass last.

The cholis have only been in the shop a few days. So I am going to let them stay there a while and check back and observe them.

The goby is a banded goby that has been there a while and is eating (I watched that) and appears very active. He told me that it is a good fish and a wise addition.

So that's my plan for the next day (goby - the rest over a few weeks).

I don't want to add any more rock though. And I don't want any snails.
 
Depending on the equipment you have to help in filtering the water...it may not be necesary to stick with the 1 lb of rock per gallon adage. Do you have a protein skimmer, employ filter socks, have a GAF and/or GAC (carbon and phosphate) reactor, refugium etc.? If you have any or a combination of these filtering/purification devices then all of that rock would not be necessary......we no longer have to do the "wall of rock". Other people do place minimal rock in the display tank (DT) and add more in their sump, (if you have one). Do you use RODI water? As far as purchasing fish....it can be hit or miss no matter where you buy. It is helpful to observe the fish prior to purchasing....is it eating....does it look healthy...anything noticeable on the fins, eyes, body etc. Even then you could bring it home and it stops eating after a week....it's very difficult. Are you employing a quarintine tank (QT)? That can save all your other fish/livestock while at the same time allow the new fish to acclimate and eat without the competition of the other soon to be co-habitants. I've purchased from LFS and from liveaquaria....liveaquaria is a little expensive however they ship very well and after proper acclimation I have found that the fish eat immediately. Just my opinions.....
 
Chromis is what I believe you are talking about, they really never do well in our aquariums.
Anthias need to be fed multiple times during the day and can be difficult depending on the species.
So that's 2 strikes on your "guy" if he did not let you know.
The wrasse is another concern, they are nice fish but the wrong one can be trouble down the road. Was this mentioned?
Do you know or understand your water parameters?
Have any tests been taken ?
In this hobby SLOW is the word and reading & understanding come next.
 
My stuff

My stuff

Editour:
I have a 92 gallon corner, given to us by friends who wanted to "de-stress me."

It has about 80 or 20lbs of live rock (I forget how many bags I bought). I have 7 rocks, 1 large branch and two small branches as well as one shelf of the live rock that is synthetically made... the purple stuff.

I have a sump with a wet/dry operation and bio balls. In that is a protein skimmer and numerous sponges between each baffle. There is also a UV sterilizer between the return pump and the returns. I also have a sock of phos-ban between the bio balls baffle and the skimmer. I have a small amount of the live sand in the baffle under the bio balls... it got there accidentally while I was vacuuming the sand. But I am going to keep it there.

I just bought a banded gobie and am in the process of acclimating him with the drip method in a 5 gallon bucket. I hope this goes well. The kid at the LFS told me he would put this fish in his tank and trusted it.
 
Chromis is what I meant... small keyboard on my phone.

He did not mention your thoughts, other than some of the wrasses growing up to be a little more difficult.

I test my water about 5 times a day...
pH steady at 8.0
ammonia steady at 0
nitrites steady at 0
nitrates usually 10-20 (I saw a spike about ten days ago when I added rock)
temp steady 78-80
SG 1.022-1.024 typically over the course of the week.
 
Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the LIRA forum. I'm glad you found us. On the Island my favorite LFS is Aquarium Village. Check them out when you have a chance. There are quite a few other stores, but AV is what I would recommend.

Here is a Google map that I created of some of the LFS in the area.

https://goo.gl/4BjTHM
 
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