New to saltwater

[Autofill]

Hey guys. Well I wish I found this well before I started :/
I recently purchased my neighbors salt water tank and everything he had for it. He has 3 freshwater tanks 180gal plus but said it's too much work for him. I been testing the water all the parameters are in line. 38 gal tall tank. Sand/crushed coral bed 2 1/2 inches. Maybe 30 pounds of live and dry rock. Hand on back filter penguin. I'm adding another one with a surface skimmer. Heater set at 76. So the worry I have is I kinda went a little crazy in stocking it. Need to know if it's too much or recommendations. Small clown, small damsel, small 6 line wrasse, small Blenny, small pajama cardinal, and a med flasher wrasse. One coral shrimp One emerald crab. A sand sifting starfish 3 large snails and 10 or so small blue leg hermits. Green star polyp med size a couple mushrooms small and another coral I can't remember. Also small. A very very large Kenya that's been slumped over for a week ( not happy about that) Also the local fish store all say to keep my tank at 1.0020 to 22 salinity. Is this too much of a load for the size of the tank? Any suggestions? Any help would be great. All livestock looks happy and doing well but would hate to harm any creature so any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[mjstech]

welcome to the forum.
there is a lot that you haven't told us about this setup that would be helpful for us to help you.
HOB filter: what size penguin... I know of them, not a huge fan, but a filter is a filter. Some may say take the bio wheel out.
As far as adding another for surface skimmer. I thought they use square down tube. An aquaclear or whisper would be my recommendation. I use a whisper with a surface skimmer on my 29g tank. Add power heads for more flow. too.
Will you be using a protein skimmer?
What lighting do you have? Times on/off.
As far as stocking your tank, yes that is way too much to add all at once. And you will probably be flamed for it. As far as fish sizes. All seem ok for a 38g except the flasher. I like clowns in pairs also. I tend to over stock my tank as well, it just takes more diligence to keep environment/fish happy. Damsel(what kind) could become mean,, along with the 6 line. What store are you getting these fish from? Seems like it could have been Petco?
I would recommend a higher salinity at 1.023-1.025. you will need to keep an eye on this and if you have a swing arm hydrometer go to a real fish shop and have them test yours vs their refractometer.
As far as how you setup. You haven't told us if you bought all this stuff and threw it in in one afternoon. (BAD)
Was the live rock cured. (from when he has it running) Was the sand/crushed coral new/from tank/rinsed, or live sand/crushed coral used?
You should look at the forums more. Expect a ammonia/nitrite/nitrate spike. and probably cyano bloom.
You should look into RO/DI setup and a Quarantine plan going forward too.
This hobby can bite you in the rear if you rush things without knowing what you are doing.

 

[Ryan Darilek]

Well.... I would chime in here, but mj really said it all. Great input and I think we all will agree. Good luck man, this place is an invaluable resource so continue to use it and learn from others and it'll save you a lot of troubles and money! With that many fish, you'll need to be religious about water changes of at least 15-20% a week, so stay on top of it. Test your water very frequently and keep a close eye on your fish for deseases (adding that many fish at one time will have a huge toll on your biofilter and cause stress for the fish, which can rapidly harvest and spread desease). This won't be the last time you hear this advice, but GO SLOW and you'll enjoy this hobby much more

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[ladynavyvet]

Welcome, I am also a nano tank owner. If i read your post correctly, you purchased your tank already set-up, minus the livestock. Was it running, already cycled, if so you may not have a big ammonia spike from adding so much at once. You didn't say where you are, but if you're looking for another/better lfs just let us know where you live, everyone here will gladly let you know who their favorite lfs is in your area. If you lived in the CSRA(central Savannah River area, I would highly recommend Bob's Tropical Fish, they've been a much loved lfs for saltwater, fresh, and ponds in my region.
I wish you well, a to repeat my friends above, from here in, go slow with any new additions to your tank, including corals.

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[Johnnybgood74]

Don't feel bad you aren't alone in this situation...I did it with my first tank too I was sooo excited...but I rushed killed a few fish and gave up for a while...started over last year and I still feel like I'm behind the curve hut this forum has been AWESOME

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[Ron Reefman]

I think most of us were in a rush to get a 'mature' tank back when we first started. I still push the edge of the envelope at times and end up losing a critter here and there. But then my tanks are very diverse reefs with a wide variety of critters (how many reefer keep a Red Hawaiian reef lobster?). As I tell my wife when something goes wrong or a critter dies in the tank, that's what life on the reef is like. We snorkel a lot and we've seen fights and death on a regular basis. Unfortunately it happens.

 

[Autofill]

welcome to the forum.
there is a lot that you haven't told us about this setup that would be helpful for us to help you.
HOB filter: what size penguin... I know of them, not a huge fan, but a filter is a filter. Some may say take the bio wheel out.
As far as adding another for surface skimmer. I thought they use square down tube. An aquaclear or whisper would be my recommendation. I use a whisper with a surface skimmer on my 29g tank. Add power heads for more flow. too.
Will you be using a protein skimmer?
What lighting do you have? Times on/off.
As far as stocking your tank, yes that is way too much to add all at once. And you will probably be flamed for it. As far as fish sizes. All seem ok for a 38g except the flasher. I like clowns in pairs also. I tend to over stock my tank as well, it just takes more diligence to keep environment/fish happy. Damsel(what kind) could become mean,, along with the 6 line. What store are you getting these fish from? Seems like it could have been Petco?
I would recommend a higher salinity at 1.023-1.025. you will need to keep an eye on this and if you have a swing arm hydrometer go to a real fish shop and have them test yours vs their refractometer.
As far as how you setup. You haven't told us if you bought all this stuff and threw it in in one afternoon. (BAD)
Was the live rock cured. (from when he has it running) Was the sand/crushed coral new/from tank/rinsed, or live sand/crushed coral used?
You should look at the forums more. Expect a ammonia/nitrite/nitrate spike. and probably cyano bloom.
You should look into RO/DI setup and a Quarantine plan going forward too.
This hobby can bite you in the rear if you rush things without knowing what you are doing.

First off thank you all for chiming in. It really does help. The penguin is the 350 model. I took some of my water and had local fish shop check everything as well. Multiple times. They say it's good to go. My water source is from a ro machine. As far as the tank it had been running for a few months before I got it. Few pieces of live rock and some dry coral. Sand/coral bed well it was in there when I got it. The damsel is a tallow tail. Amazing he is the more aggressive one. Also the smallest. The larger wrassse (flasher will chase the damsel but no one else). The six line and the pajama cardinal are the most mellow and won't do anything. They all seem super happy. I check the water every day. I been doing once every 3 to 5 days about 5 gallons worth. So about 15%. The second filter is a lower end one with a skimmer. Do I really need a protein skimmer? I love this aquarium and can see myself going nuts and spending thousand. But trying to make it work with this first. Oh. I got the live stock from saltawerfish.com. Everything made it alive except the starfish is not doing well. I'll try to slowly raise the salenity. To 24. I do not know the lights system but is led and has moon light setting? I have it on a timer for 10 hours on then 14 off. Any suggestions? The coral band shrimp already molted. Thought that was a good sigh. But please do all chime in. I find this hobby more relaxing than anything else

 

[Autofill]

Oh and did get a smaller power head to be installed with the new filter tomorrow. But any other suggestions you guys have on other things I need? Oh and the poker head is 660gpm. Do I need 2? I think I have a cheaper protein skimmer in a box somewhere. Venturi drivin? I should just use that?

 

[Autofill]

Oh and aside from the live rocks and sand bed The damsel was I. There for a while. The other live stock all came together. Later the flasher wrasse.

 

[Autofill]

And I think the clown has adopted a corner of the tank as his home. The tail spot blenny seems the most relaxed. Does what he wants lays I. The caves. I would want another clown but think I'm maxed out on 38 gals already

 

[Autofill]

Oh and I'm located in Fairfax Virginia