Extremely New to Hobby

kayla

kayla

New Member
We have recently aquired a 29g tank from a friend who has moved and was unableto take tank with. The tank had sat in storage for approximately 3 months. Bought everything she had for 200 bucks.
Took everything home and set it up. Used the LS she had (it was kept moist during the storage period), but the LR was dried and had died. Boiled the rock to kill or remove any of the organisms which might be hanging around. It has a 3 inch LSB. Mixed instant ocean with RO water to begin. Added about 5 pounds of LR to the rock that came with it. Tested daily. Cycled in under 3 weeks.
This was 6 weeks ago. We now have 3 false percs, red spotted hawkfish, yellowtailed blue damsel, feather duster, 2 condi anenome, 3 blue legged hermits.
I was upset because I didn't find SWF messageboard until after the crazy lady at the lfs told me that a condi would be perfect for a clown to host.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
kayla

kayla

New Member
hmmmmm......
You will think I am a total idiot, but this is what it says on the bulb. Yes, 1 bulb.
Corallife 50/50 6000k actinic 03 F20T12BP
That is all I know about the lighting. lol
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Is the tank a 29 high or a 29 long. Either way, in my opinion that lighting is insufficient to support anomonies long term, and clown fish will not host a Condi. The anomonies will likely starve over several months, and eventually die, even with supplemental feedings. Personally, I would return the anemonies to the LFS you bought them from, and make the lady refund your money. Are you testing regularly for nitrates? In my opinion you are carrying an aweful heavy fish load for a tank of that size, especially one thats as new as you say your is.
 
kayla

kayla

New Member
It is 29 long I assume. Like I said I am extremely new to this. We also have a 10 gallon QT. And we are also aquiring a 55g from the same people, but not until we have all of the equipment we need to get it started, it is tank and light only. Where we live the lfs was an hour drive, so I will just cut my losses on the condi, but thanks for the advice.
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Based on the picture, I believe its a high rather than a long tank. Sorry to hear that about the condis. Since you didn't respond I'll assume (hopefully incorrectly) your not testing nitrates; minimum you should be testing ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. In a system that small with that many fish, it can go south in a big hurry, and if you are not testing, you may end up cutting loses on the fish as well as the anemonies. JMO.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
by cutting your losses, you are knowingly killing those animals you bought. why not just return them?
my advice would be to either buy a lighting fixture suitable for keeping anemone, or return them.
keeping a clown and anemone in the same tank doesn't necessarily mean the clown will host in it anyway.
i don't think the bio load is overwhelming yet, judging by the size of the fish you have in that tank, but it will be soon. be very careful not to overfeed, and as scopus stated, test your parameters regularly.
 
forddna

forddna

Member
Looks like a standard 29g to me..same footprint as a 20long. I have a 37g, which is the same footpring as well.
You're going to need more lights. I would add more live rock as well.
 
metweezer

metweezer

Active Member
Is that an emperor 400? I don't see any powerheads. So possibly, you only have 400 gph flow. That's a little less than 14X turnover rate. 2 maxi-jet 900's would bring that up to 860 gph and 29X turnover rate. Much better IMO.
 
pdamhuis67

pdamhuis67

New Member
So, what kind of lighting do ya'll suggest for the 55g tank we are gonna aquire?
It will probably turn into a reef tank
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by pdamhuis67
http:///forum/post/2586577
And do you always get the complete width of the tank, or how do you determine what size lights?
No you dont have to get the complete width, the lights have a spread to them when they project down that depending on what lights and the amount typically covers the surface area of your tank. Also it depends on what type of light you like, typically for reefs t5's and metal halides are what is most often seen. When determining what size lights you need to have the proper bulbs for what you are planning on keeping, as some lights are more intense than others, then you need to determine the depth of your tank and if the light you choose for the live stock you want can reach the bottom of your tank, and lastly are there enough watts in total fixture to keep everything satisfied.
 
pdamhuis67

pdamhuis67

New Member
So, basically you also would be able to get like half tank wide, but double it, or am I going in the wrong direction now?
I am trying to learn something and I surely don't want to make a huge mistake.
 
pdamhuis67

pdamhuis67

New Member
We live in a small town in Oklahoma and good advice here is hard to find. the LFS doesn't really know more than we do and hardly has anything in stock.
So, basically for all our supplies and tank-occupants we have to travel at least an hour and a half, one way.
We are basically confined to the advice and suggestions we can get from you, guys.
So any suggestion you all have are welcome and will be taken in our purchases and decissions.
Like I pointed out, our next tank will be a 55g. I don't know if it is pre-drilled for sump or not.
So basically we would like some good advice on the equipment we need to turn the 55g into a nice and healthy system.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Your lighting for the 55.
Look at the tank from the front. Left to right would be length, back to front would be width and top to bottom would be height or depth. When looking at lighting you want to get a fixture that will go the entire length of your tank. There are many fixtures that will fit std, 48" long tanks. HO T5 lights are similar to std flourescent lights, they are smaller in diameter and should be individually reflected. Being HO and reflected as mentioned makes them far superior to std lighting. MH lights for your tank will also be in a fixture for the appropriate length of your tank. They have a different looking bulb in them than flourescent style lights and in a fixture for your tank 2- 150 watt bulbs would work just fine.
 
pdamhuis67

pdamhuis67

New Member
Thank you so much for your advice.
Now I eliminated a misconception in my eyes. What you call length I would call width..because to me, if you stand in front of the tank, that is how wide I would have to stretch my arms..

I am a Dutchman in the US and I have caught myself a lot of times on those kind of misconceptions, so forgive me on that one..

I also know we have to make sure that there will be enough waterflow in the tank, so I will have to do some more research on that, the same as with filtration.
I just wish we found all these answers before we started. We now can eliminate a lot of problems with the suggestions and advice you guys have to offer us.
Our LFS never talks about lighting, filtration or waterflow. So, before we are going to buy some equipment we will ask ya'lls opinion on it.
Again, thank you. And as far as I have read this message board, you guys really try to help your fellow hobbyists. I deeply appreciate that.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by pdamhuis67
http:///forum/post/2587050
Thank you so much for your advice.
Now I eliminated a misconception in my eyes. What you call length I would call width..because to me, if you stand in front of the tank, that is how wide I would have to stretch my arms..

I am a Dutchman in the US and I have caught myself a lot of times on those kind of misconceptions, so forgive me on that one..

I also know we have to make sure that there will be enough waterflow in the tank, so I will have to do some more research on that, the same as with filtration.
I just wish we found all these answers before we started. We now can eliminate a lot of problems with the suggestions and advice you guys have to offer us.
Our LFS never talks about lighting, filtration or waterflow. So, before we are going to buy some equipment we will ask ya'lls opinion on it.
Again, thank you. And as far as I have read this message board, you guys really try to help your fellow hobbyists. I deeply appreciate that.

No prob... a lot of us like to help when we can.
 
forddna

forddna

Member
A lot of tank manufacturers and hobbyists call the front to back "depth" and top to bottom "height."
Anyway, you can buy your lights much cheaper either through the classifieds on here or buying online. LFS usually charge waaaaaay too much for equipment.
 
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