So you got a new fish tank Newbie

[WaterKeeper]

Nothing like buying a school of tangs-

How did you move that sucker from Ct to Pa? There may have been a little dieoff in transport but in an established tank it shouldn't't be lasting at all. I think the ammonia reading may be partly from the test kit you use rather than true ammonia. If nitrite and nitrate are both below detection limits then any new cycle is complete and ammonia won't be present to any degree.

You would think after 10 years the original owner would know what he had in his tank rather than, "yellow with black stripes but now black with a yellow tail". For all I know it could be a Xanthurus Angel, which is not very reef safe. Also those tangs aren't 10 years old; much too small.


Anyhow Miles, I wouldn't worry about the ammonia. It sounds like a false reading. Enjoy your eBay deal.

 

[MPH]

Tom,

Thx for the info. The move was a challenge and in hide site, I should have hired a guy who does reef maintenance to help with the set up. I really didn't know what I was doing and it wound up taking the better part of 2 days. That plus the long day to do the move made it a long weekend. Almost everything seemed to survive the trip quite well. Can't wait till I can get this to its final location although that means another move but only a couple of feet this time.

I don't think the guy was implying that the tangs were 10 years old, just the tank setup. He did tell me that heââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s had several other fish in there. There was a small blue damsel that didn't survive, victim to the canister filter I was using to clear the mud storm. Dan, the seller, has been very helpful and I am still trading e-mail with him.

The mystery, not only is not reef safe, but is very nasty, I think heââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s going to go. He attacks the other fish constantly.

I'm using a brand new Red Sea SW test kit. Is there something better I should be using? Or is it possible that this one was too old?

 

[WaterKeeper]

Probably too old. The ammonia test reagents don't age too well, especially if they are in liquid form.

 

[MPH]

I'll pick up a freah one today.

 

[MPH]

I confirmed that the problem is with the test kit. I took 2 samples of tank water and 2 samples of fresh SW and tested them. Couldn't tell the difference between tank water and new SW. However, the expiration date is Feb. 06 so I'm wondering why it doesn't work.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Well that at least lets you know that the tank probably has zero ammonia.

 

[tibbs2]

Wow, I finally finished reading this thread. Great information in here. I am looking for a 75 gallon tank and have read that you should have 1 inch of fish for every 2 gallons or or 1:1 but I've not seen anything regarding invertibrates and crustaceans? Any recommendation on how many of either of these I can have in the tank?

 

[WaterKeeper]

Glad you found it helpful Tibbs,

I'm not sure I am as helpful on the invert issue. Many people feel there is no limit. If you take a look at many of RC's Tanks of the Month you see wall to wall coral. If you are considering stony corals I feel that the limiting factor seems to be calcium. You see threads all the time where people just can't get enough calcium into their tanks to keep up with demand. To me that indicates overstocking.

Another problem is antagonism between species. Many corals use "sweeper" tentacles to define their space. These are specialized stinging cell that they extend to defend and area. In some cases the sting is potent enough to kill other corals and inverts.

Another thing is how big does it grow? What once was a cute little carpet anemone becomes a problem when it covers the entire tank floor. To me wall to wall carpeting is a bit much in a reef tank.

The key here is to research what you consider for your tank before making a purchase. Eric Borneman can provide a lot of good info on corals and Doc Ron on other inverts.

I wish I had a more definitive answer but I don't.

Did I say 2 gallons per inch? Three to five is much better. Thirty-five some inches of fish is a bit much for a 75. The 3 gallon per inch is for fish that don't swim about very much. You can squeeze a pretty large eel into a fairly small tank. With something like a Tang you need more space for these actively swimming fish. Here 5 or more gallons per inch is appropriate and remember one Tang that grows to 12 or more inches is about all a 75 can handle. You can have other smaller fish with it but two Tangs would be too much.

 

[thereefkid]

dear waterkeeper

dear waterkeeper

dear waterkeeper

im so glad someone told me about you cuz your a life saver my names matt and im 16 and i loveeeee fish tanks i have a 20g and 75g freshwater but i think its time for me to start a saltwater tank i have everything i need but LR and LS i dont know a thing about saltwater besides theres salt.. in the water. i dont know anything about the cycle and i have just read some of your post and you know what your talking about so i was wondering if you could help a newbie out . i have a digital camera and im going to take pictures as i go along and keep everyone posted. thanks again waterkeeper

matt the newbie

 

[WaterKeeper]

Picture threads of new tank start-ups are usually popular on the Newbie Forum and get lots of views and comments. Post it as a new thread when ready and be prepared to answer lots of questions, as well as recieve answers.

Good Luck and if you can't get good answers in that thread your always welcome to ask in a post on this one.

 

[speedracered]

Ive lost 2 fishes so far due to my powerhead. a clown and a yellow tang got sucked in, any recommendations ??

 

[WaterKeeper]

Sure, use a nylon net, pantyhose works well, on the intake or use some foam filter material. Make sure you make cleaning it part of your weekly cleaning routine.

Why is it everytime I write this I think of "Hints From Heloise"?

 

[SOMEthinsFISHY]

Hello speed and welcome to RC !!

 

[WaterKeeper]

Thanks John I missed that one.

Hi Speedracer
[welcome]
that's better.

 

[MADtanks]

water keeper you are the man i have just read thru all your information and i greatly appreciate wa you do here if u guys have time check out my tank its only 4 days old today hehehe

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=440959

thnx and i look foward to reading more helful info although i think i should take a break b4 my brain over heats from reading soo much. I have been reading info from everywere since 11pm last night i need sleep hehehe but im at work right and had about 4cups of coffe already wheww i ffeel good hahahahha alright later.

 

[SOMEthinsFISHY]

we went to see your link eric !

 

[rx2006je]

.

 

[WaterKeeper]

.

A common reef problem--the answer is , or sometimes ; .

 

[jbucholz]

.

Good point!

- Jim

 

[WaterKeeper]

Yup!