Multiple Problems

[fmelindy]

I'm new to the board and to the hobby in general and have had a hell of a time with this so far. I have a 55 gallon tank as you'll see in the pic below. This pic was taken shortly before a major disaster wherein both my anenomes died within 24 hours (one just died, one sucked into the powerhead). Consequently all the fish died except the yellowtail damsels, who seem to be indestructible. The guy at my LFS joked that they'd live in your intestine if you only drank salt water daily!
Anyway, after a few major disasters of this calibre I decided it was time to ask some questions.
1. First off, my LFS told me I don't need a protein skimmer for this size of tank. Is that right, because everything I've read seems to indicate oitherwise? I've done quite a bit of reading already, unfortunately most of it was after my major disasters so the knowledge gained was only beneficial in retrospect for those poor fish.

2. How much flow do I need in a tank this size with next to 100 lbs of live rock? I've got 1 powerhead turning over 300 gph and another turning over 160 gph with my biowheel filtration unit turning over 120 gph (I think). It seems like I get a lot of sediment settling on my LR and a lot of "dead spots". I don't think I have enough flow but my calculation indicate that this turns over the volume of my tank over 10 times an hour. How much is too much flow?
3. Third, how much light do I need? I want to raise all manner of corals eventually and tridacnid clams as well. I have 4X65 watt power compact right now and I have an order submitted online for 2X175 watt metal halide as well. Is this "too much"? Or is there even such a thing?
4. Fourth, anyone have any experience with the large hermits pictured below? I got two of them to help stay on top of the algae but it seems like they want to eat or destroy everything else in the tank and I'm in the process of making a smaller second tank but it's not ready yet. (they'll be the first things to go in there when it's finished though, buggers!).
And I'll save this for last because I know after doing all my recent reading that I'm going to get some flames for this - my tank has only been setup for 3 months give or take a couple of weeks. Anyway, please be gentle with me - I'm learning!!!

 

[fmelindy]

Here's the pic of that mean crab I mentioned:

 

[robfl]

Im not an expert, but hermits that big love to hold down fish / other crabs and tear into them and eat them. We have a tank in my marine bio lab that has a 10" mantis, and a crab that size. And he can hold is own against the mantis, from what ive seen. Also from what ive read on this board, they can be pretty dangerous to anything thats slow, or cant defend itself.

 

[fmelindy]

you're telling me! Man, in this picture it looks like he is creeping up on that red starfish and shortly after this pic was taken, he was trying to put it in his mouth!!! He tried pinching off all the legs - you could almost see the physical strain on his little claw while trying to do so - and then he tried stuffing it all in his mouth. When that didn't work he flipped it over and tried to delicatley pick out the little starfish feet. The starfish survived the attack and he eventually realized it wasn't food (for him at least!). But the starfish does have several ugly scars on his legs from his efforts. Shortly after that, he tried to rearrange my live rock and got his claws trapped and squat when it shifted and he is now in the back of the tank in the corner, looking really pissed off and sulking! I'm sure he's going to be OK though, unfortunately (in a sense, but I still don't want to see him die). :nope:

 

[nas19320]

You want a minimum of 10-15x turnover in your tank though I prefer more like 20-25x. Dual 175w MH is not bad, you can do pretty much anything with that though placement will be critical on some items.

 

[robfl]

Yeah, there pretty violent little buggers, but great fun. Im trying to put a crustacean tank together right now, but i cant put one of those guys in cause they will kill all the little fellas. Ive heard that alot of people like to put those in aggressive or fish only tanks, since there pretty beefy, and can stand up for themselves.

 

[fmelindy]

Oh and I should mention my current livestock:
3 yellowtail damsels (buggers!!!)
2 large hermit crabs (ditto)
10 small hermits (?blue legs?)
30 turbo snails
1 cowrie snail
3 peppermint shrimp
1 blood shrimp
1 coral banded shrimp
2 large feahter dusters
1 zoanthid colony on live rock
1 bubble coral
1 hammer coral (not yet fully expanded. any tips??)
2 red sea stars
Considering: 2 clams at the LFS (crocea and maxima).
1 yellow tang (to replace my lost one)
2 percula clowns (again, replacements)
1 six-line wrasse
1 assorted mushrooms
1 torch coral
1 colt coral
1 pom pom xenia (anthelia)
I know I don't have enough light yet, but maybe when my MH gets here? I'm going to have a full wodden hood constructed then. Should I put a UV filter (like some forms of plexiglass) between the MH and the aquarium? Anybody know anything that a perc will host other than an anenome (never getting one of those again!)? Can anyone think of any other suggestions for the tank? Also, I read somewhere that you shouldn't mix soft and hard corals in the same tank - what is the consensus on this? Sorry for all the questions.

 

[scotts]

FM, first of all welcome to this board.

I am centainly no expert, but I can tell you that when I started I listened to the lfs. I had many problems. Then I found this board and I learned more in the first 3 months I was on this board than in the 6 months just listening to the lfs.
I have a 60 gallon and I run a protein skimmer. It is kind of amazing that you can have this clear water and the junk that you get in your collection cup that just looks gross. So I for one would recommend a skimmer.
Also aneomes are not really recommended on this board. Most people say that they should be kept by experts only.
I would also recommend a clean up crew for your dead spots. The clean up crew should be small hermit crabs and snails. You can order them from this site.
One word of advice, research EVERYTHING before you buy it. I bought a beautiful 3" long fish. After it was in my tank for awhile I researched it. It turnss out that fish grew to about 18" long and completely changes colors. Way too big for my 60 gallon tank. I also had to pull out all of my rock to get the SOB out.
BTW, nice looking tank.
Scott

 

[fmelindy]

Robfl:
thanks for your replies. An invert only tank, eh? I love all my shrimp but it's like they're not even there! I never see them except for like 10 minutes before I go to bed! Even my bloody red blood shrimp (which is supposed to be a cleaner!) hides out all day long and I never get to see his pretty splash of color. What's the point in being so colorful if you never show yourself, eh?

 

[nas19320]

If you go with SE (Single ended or mogul style) bulbs then you do not need a uv shield, the UV shield is included around the bulb. DE (Double ended) do need the UV sheild.

 

[fmelindy]

Good, I'm going with a mogul style retrofit kit so that when I make my hood I'll easily be able to accomodate it. Thanks for your help with that. Not all the information you get on lighting (or anything else in this hobby) is very, uh, "informative".

 

[nas19320]

Also a mixed reef is generally not reccomended. LPS and Softies together are ok but you should try and keep SPS's out. LPS and softies are capable of stinging SPS's and corals like leathers and mushrooms release chemicals that can injure SPS's. Many have a mixed reef, myself included, and run carbon which helps to avoid problems but when I upgrade I will be getting rid of my softies and LPS's.

 

[fmelindy]

Big thanks to everyone who replied so far and all your help. Man, I didn't think everyone would be so supportive and helpful, especially after all the major f**k-ups I've done. I'll catalog them for you:
1. added 50 lbs of new live rock in an already established system. Was under the impression it was "cured". It was not. All my fish died by subsequent ammonia spike.
2. no quarantine tank from the get-go. Major mistake now rectified.
3. added mushroom rock with no quarantine tank. 2 mantis shrimp "discovered" in rock. Guess how I "discovered"?
4. added stony corals without any consideration of building up calcium. Now rectified.
5. purchase 2 anenomes prematurely. Knew nothing about anenomes. Both died (see above). All fish except bloody yellow tail damsels (who my wife hates because they're big bullies) died.
6. no protein skimmer. now rectified.
7. no prior reading on the subject of reef keeping. Now rectified with "Aquarium Corals" by Borneman, "Natural Reef Aquariums" by Tullock, and "The New Marine Aquarium" bu Paletta.
I've learned a lot over these few months but I really wish, for the sake of the fish that have died, that I would have read these books and got on this message board before all these things happened to me and ideally before I even got involved in this hobby. I feel really bad about the animals that have died for my stupidity.
I'll include a shot of my aquarium when I first set it up as a nice before and after (please tell me it looks better now!!!):

 

[fmelindy]

Nas19320:
So it's OK to keep LPS and soft corals together? If so, then I will go that route since most of the SPS corals are too challenging for me to keep anyway. After some of my recent exploits I don't trust myself to keep difficult organisms. I'm sure some of you don't trust me to keep any organisms at all, after what you've read here, and I can't say I blame you.:nope:

 

[nas19320]

LPS and softies will be fine together, space will be the only as they can pack quite a punch and will sting one another if they come in contact. LPS and softies also are much more forgiving when it comes to water conditions.

 

[greatfullreefer]

Welcome to the hobby and board
What are your water params? Hammer is usually a good indicator of poor water conditions. Also your considering list, IMO please cross off the Yellow Tang just a disaster waiting to happen, beautiful fish and very tempting but alas your tank is just too small. Nice to see you are doing your research, will pay large dividends in the end.

 

[chinawoods]

Hi,
I am a newbie too, but I have had success in keeping my stock healthy, thanks to this board.
I want to add something on the dead spot situation. I was using two power head, a 402 and a 301 for my 31 g. Water movement was good but I'd noticed too many dead spot in the tank!! So here is what I did:
Got a 3/8" pvc pipe(depends on the diameter of yr output pipe on your power heads), 2 1/2 ' in length, drilled small holes in it, capped one side of the pvc and slided the other end into the 402. And wow! works great! Now I have even better water movement ( I don't even have to turn my 301 on, only turns on when the light is off). And no dead spots!! ( I drilled holes so that they are at 90 degrees apart, so one set of holes blowing towards the front of the tank, the other set blowing downwards towards the sands and lf)
Hopes this help!!

 

[fmelindy]

Water parameters are:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20-40
pH 8.0
Temp 78
Specific Gravity 1.025
Calcum 450
I haven't been able to get the nitrate down for some reason. I feed the fish small amounts twice a day and the cleanup crew does a bang-up job of cleaning up the extra. I guess adding the protein skimmer will help. Oh, also, so far I have used only tap water in filling the tank and for water changes. I realize that's less than optimal but I don't have a source of distilled or RO/DI water readily available. I may have to order an RO/DI unit. I was having a really bad problem with green slime but I used chemi-clean and it was all gone in 48 hours. Anybody have any other ideas on how to get the nitrates down? I've been doing weekly 10% water changes as well. I was thinking of getting rid of my biowheel filtration system when I get my protein skimmer installed but do I still need some kind of filter unit? Maybe I should grow some macro algae in my tank?

 

[nas19320]

Are you using crushed coral as a substrate and what water source are you using?

 

[fmelindy]

yes, crushed coral substrate and tap water, unfortunately. I can't get into live sand because I'm unable to find a local supplier or one that will ship to Newfoundland. If I could have found one, that's how I would have went.