back again with more questions

raiderfan

raiderfan

Member
just wanted to know about water changes. how long after making one should i do a test on my tank. is there a time period to wait for things to settle or can i do it right away. i know my system needs improving but i find that until i have the resources to get the right equipment i will have to do more frequent water changes to my tank. its a 26 flatback hex witrh live rock
the fish i have are a lion fish (small) a tomatoe clown and a small green wolf eel
i also would like some info on decorated crabs saw one today that looked like it had more growth on it then alot of live rock i've seen. are they beneficial for tanks or are they just for looks
thanks for all you help guys i really want to learn about saltwater i have about all the different land animals and freshwater fish but never tried salt until now so ya'll advice is appreciated
 
jake22

jake22

Member
Just wondering what type of lionfish is it? The green wolf "eel" you have is not actually an eel it is a dottyback. They require a 55 gallon or larger tank.
Anyway i usually take my water to get tested 1 or 2 times a week. I am not sure how long to wait after water changes to test but my gues would be a couple hours or a day or 2.
The decorator crab is a scavenger. Your " green wolf eel" will probably eat it depending on its size.
 
raiderfan

raiderfan

Member
even on this site if you look under eels you can find the green wolf listed he eats pieces of shrimp and feeder roses. the lion fish is an volitan it is small now though and by the time he gets bigger i plan on having a bigger tank. one question though and it may be a stuoid one but hear me out. i have had freshwater fish all my life. my headboard for my waterbed is a 150 gallon tank housing a south american cat fish that is around 3 foot long. i got him when he was about an inch long many years ago. i mhave around 15 other tanks ranging in all sizes i keep freshwater sting rays pirahnas freshwater barracudas and other specialty fish. i have had them on an average of10 years or so. the reason i bring this up is when i first got in to fish i had all the special filters, the test kits, the whole nine yards. after many trips to the pet stores complaining of readings i got an owner set me down and told me one thing. he said that fishkeeping was not an exact science and that to treat it as if it ain't broke don't fix it. now i still test my tanks although readings don't make me panic like they used to. now that i am learning saltwater the panic is starting to rear its head again. i have already been chastized by other readers of this forum. i am not complaining. don't get me wrong i do listen to everyones advice and take it into concideration but so far i have not lost a single fish since going salt. now having said that i probably jinxed myself. i guess what i'm asking is are these test that critical and please don't hold it against me for asking this. i have just been told so many things over the years in freshwater that it makes me wonder about salt water
by the way i did get the decorated crab he is about 5 inches around and the eel is about 6 inches long. of all things the lion fish sometimes snaps at the eel when he sticks his head out between some live rock. well i did not mean to take up so much space here and i do appreciate all ya'lls help
thanks
i wish i could email people pics of what i got so they can see how they are all getting along
 
S

sinner's girl

Guest
"i wish i could email people pics of what i got so they can see how they are all getting along"
you can post your pic's on this board...
yes, you need to test your water, and listen to your test...we test for a reason, not just for fun. Nitrates and other things kill or will cause stress. good water quality it very important, esp for some fish.
the smaller the tank the more important test are (imo) you have less room for error.
"my headboard for my waterbed is a 150 gallon tank" that would make a sweet sw tank! but then, i'd never get out of bed!
 
raiderfan

raiderfan

Member
everytime i try to post pics it says that the file is to big and i do not know how to make them smaller
and for the headboard deal that might not be such a bad idea
maybe i should put an add out single white male looking for single white female to stay in bed all day
has 150 gallon saltwater headboard
yes thay would probably sell me on the idea to turn it sale
thanks for the advice
on the testing i mean:D
 
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