Still new to the hobby

B

Betaktical

New member
Completely new to the hobby about 6 weeks ago. I get on the new to the hobby forum about everyday just to learn. I got my tank from a friend who was getting out of the hobby. When I saw it, it was a 90 gal tank with 2 common clowns one 6 line wrasse and prly 3 hermit crabs and about 12 lbs of love rock running on one cascade 1000 canister filter. Sounds crappy I know cause like I said he was getting out of the hobby. I switched everything from the 95 to the 55 during a move. I did a 90% water change after the move and the same day I added another canister filter, a short spine sea urchin, 2 cleaner shrimp and a couple more hermits. Let it sit for about 2 weeks and added another 10 lbs of live rock, 3 peppermint shrimp ( for aptasia) and 2 banggai cardinals after I tested my water and everything was at 0. 1 shrimp and one Cardinal is all I've lost. Recently got a protein skimmer and it has been working well since the break in period and pulling good skimmate. Being still new to the hobby and learning something new everyday I just need someone or a couple someone's with experience to help me with questions. I'll prly ask a lot of stupid ones and then an explanation of why it works that way. I've done as much research as I possibly can and still I find something that makes me rethink everything I just learned. More or less looking for a friend to help.


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Test kits. As soon as you can. Start with ammonia. Then phosphates. Do you have corals? Test anything you can to let you know what your priorities should be. Your ammonia should be 0 before fish ideally. If it's not. Then you need to get your bacteria population going. There are commercial additives that supposedly cycle your tank faster. Aka build up your bacteria. Do you have live sand? Don't add more live rock too fast. Dead organics on them produce ammonia, which you might not have the bacterial population to handle. In which case you should add one at a time. Or cure them separately in a bucket.

I wouldn't add anymore fish until you've tested your water and know what you're problems are. Many local fish stores will test your water for you.

YouTube BRS 52 weeks of reefing. Very good video series.
 
I've got my test kit. Tested the tank actually today before a water change. Ammonia nitrate and phosphate 0 nitrate about 20. Yeah i have black Hawaiian sand that has been in the same tank for a year. I actually did add the extra live rock at different times but prly still too quick(within 8 days) but being new I have monitored the crap out of my tank lol I have never seen any ammonia in my tank (yet) but with everything I've researched it sounds like at some point something bad is gonna happen lol


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if you have Nitrate the tank has Cycled.

My concern would be the amount of bio load and lack of rock. I have close to 30lbs of Live rock and 40lbs of Sand in my 36g tank. This is for natural filtration.

Also the 90% water change could have taken some of the natural bacteria out of the water and with the bioload a bit of ammonia built up but was gone before testing.

The other culprit are the canister filters. These things are a hassle in the saltwater hobby.
They trap bad stuff that leaks into your water. unless cleaned 2ce a week they can become hazardous.

Only other explanation would be battles for territory. Some pics of the tank would also help.
if there aren't enough natural hiding spots for these fish and shrimp they will battle for territory.
 
Also what kind of test kits do you have? Don't use api kits. Salifert is the best imo. Most will agree.
 
Did you see the cardinal eat? Many fish won't eat and you always want to ask to see them eat at the fish store before buying them.
 
Yeah I know canister filters can be bad. But the wife won't let me spend money on a sump set up and I'm kinda cramped on room with a new born so I have to make it work lol. It's been prly 2 weeks since I added my last live rock (7lbs) I know I don't have enough so my question is has it been long enough to add another big one?


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if your lfs doesn't have it (it should) you can get it from any of our online sponsors that sell test kits.
 
Has it been long enough to add more live rock? I've had people tell me yes and no. Some say no cause of an ammonia spike but I've heard if I only add 6 or 7 lbs that I should be good. This is why I joined this sight cause I've read so many contradicting things so it's nice to actually talk to experienced people


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My advice is don't add anymore livestock (fish, coral or inverts like shrimp) until you get things settled. Can you return the ones you have to the store you bought them from? Or have someone keep them for you? If so, I would do that.
Then, you can cycle your tank without the added stress of worrying about your fish and inverts.
Do it the right way and you will be more successful. And enjoy it more.
Just adding my 2cents, wanting you to succeed.
 
I did a water change yesterday and then checked my ammonia today and still reading 0 so does that mean that the last live rock I put in has already finished its mini cycle? No nitrite and 20 nitrate


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When you're waiting to add another rock i would wait until your nitrates are as low as they were before the addition and your ammonia is 0.
 
There is also a lesson in your experience so far about buying fish. Examine them closely in the place where you purchase. Ask questions. Is the fish eating? What are you feeding it? What is is the salinity/Alk of the water you have it in? Armed with this knowledge and knowing the params of your tank, you can make and decision as to if the fish/critter is a reasonable match for you.
 
Lol yeah I actually did that today. Went to the lfs to get another peppermint for my lonely one I have and found myself asking questions that even the associate didn't know answers to. I have learned a lot but there is nothing that I can read compared to experience


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391d94ec2dbaa506e78014f4b7bafbd8.jpg
fa87c78c36c5d490fef64503d5f19f26.jpg

Here are some pics of my tank
 
You don't need a sump, but you do need to add more rock, it's your biological filter. With enough rock you an get rid of the canister filter.

You don't need to add live rock, you can add dry rock all you want to add and it will not cause an ammonia spike. The ammonia spike that comes from adding LR is caused when the live critters in the rock die in route from where you purchase it to going into your tank.

Adding dry rock is fine and it will become LR in a short period of time. If I were you I'd start adding as much LR as you can but be picky of the pieces that you choose. Keep in mind for areas to put your corals down the road if you so choose to add them.

Once you have enough rock in your tank, approx 1-2 lbs per gallon of water you'll be able to get rid of the canister filter once your dry rock becomes live. Shouldn't take more than about 2 weeks for this to happen. Then as you add fish take your time adding them so the bio filter has time to multiply to needed amounts to get rid of ammonia which is the waste from the fish. Add fish slowly like maybe 1-2 every 4 weeks will be fine, this gives the bacteria enough time to multiply to needed amounts.

Example of enough rock is that you have a 90 gal tank so you would want to have a minimum of 90 lbs of rock and 120 would be better. Again this is for your bio filter to have place to live. It lives in both the sand and the rock.

Good luck with your tank, just remember to take things slow. But adding dead rock you can do as fast as you can afford to buy it. Dry dead rock is also a lot cheaper than buying live rock.
 
Why is everyone concerned that his tank isn't cycled? Read his posts... Ammonia, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20. Sure nitrate is a little high, but will come down. Fish are fine, inverts are fine.

As for adding more live rock, depends on where you are sourcing it. If you are buying it from the LFS, and it is cured, you should be fine to add several pounds at once (as long as you keep it cool (tank temperature or close) and wet on the way home. I would almost say add as much as you like. This is not like adding live rock that you source from the ocean that has algae, and all sorts of other stuff that has died during shipment. That's what causes the ammonia spike from adding LR. If its cured rock, then adding a few pounds every few days is very safe in my opinion.

And like last poster said, dry rock is a good safe option too.
 
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