nickb
New Member
Hi All,
I figured I'd take a shot with all of the questions that I have in one big thread, and hope to get some help.
My coworker and I have totally caught the fish bug. We run a 2-man business, so the office is all to ourselves.
When he first came on board, I went out and bought my first tank, which is a 55 gallon tank that currently (its about 1.5 months old) a freshwater tank. Bought the "kit" at Walmart, with a decent filter, went out and got a heater (200w?), a powerhead at the LFS.
Then we wanted to add a second tank, and really wanted to try out saltwater. Added a 59 gallon tank that we bought from someone in the newspaper. It was a great setup, and cost less than the new 55. It was a saltwater tank, with a powerhead, protien skimmer, drip filter (the back corner is cut out and water overflows down into an area that its then sent down to the filter below. Then its pumped up back into the tank.
This tank has 2 clowns, a tang, a couple snails, an damsel, and one other unknown fish in it currently. I do not believe any of the rock was live (It didnt have anything on it). The lighting is a 50/50 something er other.
Ok, so questions re: the current SWT:
1. Water changes. Do we really need to take the water, mix it, and leave it set for a day or two with a powerhead or airstone in it before we put it into the tank (Assuming a 10% water change)?
2. How often to feed. We've been feeding them one square of this brine shrimp frozen from the LFS. Is that too often, not enough, etc?
3. We put in about a 3lb live rock from the LFS. The purpleish stuff that was on that rock seems to be spreading to the other rocks. Will this make them 'live" so to speak? Is this good?
4. I'd really like to put an anemone in the tank. What kind of lighting to we need. I need specific help, as I have read the "lighting" thread, but still feel lost. Any specific recommendations? Would like some corals eventually as well?
5. We are moving here in about a month. But we have no cleanup crew in our tank, aside from two snails and a peppermint shrimp who hides behind our reef all day. Would you go ahead and get the crew, knowing you will have to move in a month?
So now to the current freshwater tank. I'd like to convert it over to SWT. But I'm assuming I'm going to have to get a different filter? And what is a good light recommendation. Again would like to have corals/anemones, etc. Its a long 55 gallon, the kind you can find right now at your local Walmart. Is this not conducive to SWT? Should I just sell it and look for another paper bargain?
1. What equipment do I need with this tank to get things going?
2. Should I go ahead and get started with the process? Take back the LWF to *****, and get live sand/rock, and start the tank cycling, again knowing I have to move the whole thing in a month? or just wait?
3. Any ideas on a niice combo of fish? I really am in love with the clowns, but you can only keep so many yes?
Sorry for such a long post. I get a bit OCD about stuff like this, so hoping for some great answers!
Nick
I figured I'd take a shot with all of the questions that I have in one big thread, and hope to get some help.
My coworker and I have totally caught the fish bug. We run a 2-man business, so the office is all to ourselves.
When he first came on board, I went out and bought my first tank, which is a 55 gallon tank that currently (its about 1.5 months old) a freshwater tank. Bought the "kit" at Walmart, with a decent filter, went out and got a heater (200w?), a powerhead at the LFS.
Then we wanted to add a second tank, and really wanted to try out saltwater. Added a 59 gallon tank that we bought from someone in the newspaper. It was a great setup, and cost less than the new 55. It was a saltwater tank, with a powerhead, protien skimmer, drip filter (the back corner is cut out and water overflows down into an area that its then sent down to the filter below. Then its pumped up back into the tank.
This tank has 2 clowns, a tang, a couple snails, an damsel, and one other unknown fish in it currently. I do not believe any of the rock was live (It didnt have anything on it). The lighting is a 50/50 something er other.
Ok, so questions re: the current SWT:
1. Water changes. Do we really need to take the water, mix it, and leave it set for a day or two with a powerhead or airstone in it before we put it into the tank (Assuming a 10% water change)?
2. How often to feed. We've been feeding them one square of this brine shrimp frozen from the LFS. Is that too often, not enough, etc?
3. We put in about a 3lb live rock from the LFS. The purpleish stuff that was on that rock seems to be spreading to the other rocks. Will this make them 'live" so to speak? Is this good?
4. I'd really like to put an anemone in the tank. What kind of lighting to we need. I need specific help, as I have read the "lighting" thread, but still feel lost. Any specific recommendations? Would like some corals eventually as well?
5. We are moving here in about a month. But we have no cleanup crew in our tank, aside from two snails and a peppermint shrimp who hides behind our reef all day. Would you go ahead and get the crew, knowing you will have to move in a month?
So now to the current freshwater tank. I'd like to convert it over to SWT. But I'm assuming I'm going to have to get a different filter? And what is a good light recommendation. Again would like to have corals/anemones, etc. Its a long 55 gallon, the kind you can find right now at your local Walmart. Is this not conducive to SWT? Should I just sell it and look for another paper bargain?
1. What equipment do I need with this tank to get things going?
2. Should I go ahead and get started with the process? Take back the LWF to *****, and get live sand/rock, and start the tank cycling, again knowing I have to move the whole thing in a month? or just wait?
3. Any ideas on a niice combo of fish? I really am in love with the clowns, but you can only keep so many yes?
Sorry for such a long post. I get a bit OCD about stuff like this, so hoping for some great answers!
Nick
