New 55 gal salt water

[jeb butler]

I,ve been keeping many fresh water aquariums for years now and after the death of my last parrot fish, decided to go salt. I did a lot of reading on the subject and stopped by LFS and learned a lot. We have 2 in Macon Ga and both have been in business for close to 20 years each. So here is what has transpired since beginning Dec 2/08.
I decided to go 1/2 LS and 1/2 CC. Won't go into every detail but on Dec.22 I put in a Black Molly after checking and verifing we had 0-amonia,0-nitrite and a 60 Nitrate. I proceded with a 60% W/C and got Nitrate down to almost nothing. I waited until Dec 29 and ordered a Yellow shrimp goby,a false perc and a bubble tip. By the way I put 40 pounds of cured L/R at the time the sand went in which I believe helped a lot in the cycle process. Since then I've added a saddle back clown, bi-color angel and a sand sifting watchman which by the way has 3 houses while i'm trying to stay in one.
Between reading all these threads and my LFS it has been a VERY expensive BLAST! Thanks for all the help and I,m sure I'll get some info for future use.

 

[lmecher]

Sounds like you are going way too fast. Did I read correctly, you put a bubble tip anemone in there too. Anemones need a mature tank 6mos or more and do not tolerate nitrates well. You need to keep them as close to 0 as possible. To get them down you may need to do several water changes. When stocking a freshly cycled tank you need to increase the bioload very slowly or you could create a mini cycle and have losses.
It sounds to me like you got some really bad advice, would like to help you if I can. You have made quite a large investment, it would be a shame if you lost any of the fish or inverts you just bought. What are your parameters now? You didn't mention the size tank and what kind of lighting?
Oh sorry, "new 55 gallon" how could I have missed that!
I think you may have some incompatibility ssues with your stock list too.

 

[jeb butler]

Thanks for the help! I have tested the tank every day for the last 3 weeks. Arount the 20th Dec my ammonia went to 1.0/ Nitrite was at .25 and Nitrate was at 0 1.023 on hydrometer.78 degrees. Around 27th of Dec the Ammonia went to 0 Nitrite at 0 and Nitrate at 80. LFS said he had never seen one cycle this fast and wondered if using well water could have helped. I had diotoms if this spelling is correct started on the 3rd Jan. As of right now I have 0 nh3/4, 0 no2 and no3 is at 20 and dropping
My LFS has got me trying a product to take care of the load with a product called Micro Bacteria by Britewell Aquatics. He has a personal 120 gal tank at home he does a water change every six months. He swears by this stuff!!
I have to admitt I have some happy fish, good clearity. Please let me know what you think!!!!!
By the way I have a Yellow Shrimp Goby, Yollow head watchman goby, False perc.clown , Saddle back clown, Bi-color angel, Aenemone bubble tip which I got from this company the same time I got the F/C along with the brittle star and numerous turbo snails and crabs. So far every one is happy and the aenomone is back out but I found out I have been feeding it to much.

 

[subielover]

You know what Bang Guy says about anemone's right? What kind of lighting do you have?

 

[jeb butler]

6500k natural daylight & 18,000k blue 36" 30w and no I have not made it to Bang Guy!

 

[mboswell1982]

you dont have nearly enough lighting to properly care for an anemone, period, and you should never put an anemone in a tank that is less than 6 months old, they need a very well established tank, with excellent lighting, otherwise, you have more than likely doomed him to a slow agonizing death

 

[lmecher]

I am having a hard time here, too many issues, don't know where to start

This may seem harsh but I am not criticizing you, just trying to help.
You are going to loose the bta, your lighting (Is it total 60 watt of pc lighting? correct if wrong) is insufficient and new tank syndrom. It may linger for months whille it slowly declines and eventaully dies. My advice is take it back, sell it, or give it away, it dosen't have a chance in your tank. I don't care how long that LFS has been in business, either he is ignorant or he lied to you.
You have loaded your tank way too fast. I can't believe you didn't get an amonia spike adding all that so fast and to top it off overfeeding, yikes! I would definately feed very sparingly.
Your gobies may or may not get along so you should be aware there could be agression. The clowns could have issues, they may get along fine but depending upon their ---, may fight. Angel fish may nip at the anemone so watch, they are considered reef safe with caution.
It is a diatom bloom, normal to cycling tank.
Do you have a camera, would really love to see this tank.

 

[mboswell1982]

i just cant believe a LFS that u say has been in business for so long would sell you an anemone knowing how new your tank is, and knowing the lights you have are in noway shape or form enough for it.

 

[lmecher]

They are in business to make money, the unethical ones will sell people inappropriate fish and inverts. So sad

 

[mboswell1982]

its very sad, i know, i called the one lfs here in my area that everyone says to visit, an his first questions were how big is your tank an how long has it been up, i asked him why, he said, well, if its too new, or not big enough, we wont sell you the livestock

 

[jeb butler]

The FP and Bubble tip came from Saltwaterfish, I had read the Clowns did best with the anemone. The Clown,Bubble tip and the Shrimp Goby were the first in the tank after the cycle. The LFS did not have any Clowns at the time and was not expecting any until the next week. The Bi-color angel and sand sifter along with crabs and snails came last week. I have been cutting a cube of mysis shrimp in half and feeding in the AM and the other in the PM for the last couple of days. I also changed the 18k blue and have 2-6500k natural daylights. As of today the bubble tip is back at the base of the ledge with tenicles extending at least 6" up and seems to be doing well. I will get the camera and get some pictures tomorrow. By the way the LFS did not know I purchased the clown and others until yesterday. He said if he could help with the bubble tip he would for 10.00 p-wk tank charge since I've spent 90% of my money with him if there is a problem! Let me know what you think about the 2-ND bulbs or if I need to do something else. They are T-8 's.36"

 

[mboswell1982]

for a 55g tank, with a nem, you NEED metal halides, plain and simple, the nems may look like they're doing ok, but, they will, within the next 6 months or so, start slowly wasting away, and if one dies in your tank, it will totally crash your whole tank.
also, clowns, especially tank bred clowns, do NOT need nems, they do fine without them, frogspawn is actually a really good substitute for the anemones.
you have fish in that tank that will eventually fight with each other, youve got uncompatable fish in there, an, more than likely, u will come home one day to find that war has been declared

 

[jeb butler]

Which one's are we talking about ? All of these fish are very young except the sifter, please let me know. I would like to start a smaller tank for fish only ?

 

[mboswell1982]

the 2 goby's might end up fighting, and more than likely the clowns will as well, 2 separate species of clowns, while some people have had success doing it, its not advised, as they do not mix, and will usually end up killing each other, same with your bicolor angel, he is very likely to wipe out your whole tank, depending on his disposition, with the dwarf and pygmy angels, you have to be really careful with them

 

[lmecher]

Jeb-
I'd say your biggest problem right now is the anemone. The fish could have possible issues.
SG- raise gradually to 1.025, recomended level for anemones.
I assume your anemone is stretching upwardes to get more light.
In my opinion to house your anemone in an established system would be better but unrealistic to pay someone to keep it, your tank won't really be ready for a bta for months. (I think thats horrible, your LFS charging you, should do it for free if your that good of a customer.)
Still unclear as to how many watts of pc lighting?
Micro Bacteria. is ok for the first weeks, are you still using it? The problem is in the nitrification cycle, all waste will end up as nitrate in your tank, it needs to be removed. Do you have a fuge? If you have macro algea growing, using up the nitrate that will help but you'll still need to do weekly/biweekly water changes.
What is your nitrate now?
Do you have a skimmer?
I am having problems following your abbreviations, spell things out.
"The FP and Bubble tip" - what is FP??
"As of right now I have 0 nh3/4, 0 no2 and no3 is at 20 and dropping", I don't understand??

 

[ibew41]

I agree your anem will not live long even up grading to good t5 or mh lighting it will most likely die the tank is to new.the sand sifting star will starve to death in your tank.is the brittle star green? if it is it might eat your crabs and small fish.mixing the sand and cc the sand will slowly settle below the cc in time.Do not feel to bad 95% of people starting out do the same thing and I was 1 of them and lost alot of animals and $ learning the hard way

 

[lmecher]

Originally Posted by IBEW41
http:///forum/post/2917913
I agree your anem will not live long even up grading to good t5 or mh lighting it will most likely die the tank is to new.the sand sifting star will starve to death in your tank.is the brittle star green? if it is it might eat your crabs and small fish.mixing the sand and cc the sand will slowly settle below the cc in time.Do not feel to bad 95% of people starting out do the same thing and I was 1 of them and lost alot of animals and $ learning the hard way
Absolutely correct, new reefers are not completely to blame. Too much trust is misplaced, I make it a habbit to never trust anyone 100%, do your own research.

 

[jeb butler]

OK, I am going to LFS this morning and work a deal on the bubble tip. The saddle back is so docile and the FPC stay's with him but mainly has taken up with the angel. I wish I had found this site back in December! Guy's thanks for the help also I have an idea for a design on MH for an aquarium if you might be interested I need to do a cost analysis and see if it would be benificial. I have been in HVAC,Electrical, and Plumbing industry for 22 years and am laid off do to company buy out so I may not know a thing about SW fish which is apparent but can help with any questions on any of the other stuff!!!

 

[jeb butler]

I all most forgot LFS told me a skimmer would not be needed until about May and not to waste the money. I found one yesterday venturi type for 100.00 is that good price? I don't rember the MFG name !

 

[jeb butler]

Originally Posted by Lmecher
http:///forum/post/2917880
Jeb-
I'd say your biggest problem right now is the anemone. The fish could have possible issues.
SG- raise gradually to 1.025, recomended level for anemones.
I assume your anemone is stretching upwardes to get more light.
In my opinion to house your anemone in an established system would be better but unrealistic to pay someone to keep it, your tank won't really be ready for a bta for months. (I think thats horrible, your LFS charging you, should do it for free if your that good of a customer.)
Still unclear as to how many watts of pc lighting?
Micro Bacteria. is ok for the first weeks, are you still using it? The problem is in the nitrification cycle, all waste will end up as nitrate in your tank, it needs to be removed. Do you have a fuge? If you have macro algea growing, using up the nitrate that will help but you'll still need to do weekly/biweekly water changes.
What is your nitrate now?
Do you have a skimmer?
I am having problems following your abbreviations, spell things out.
"The FP and Bubble tip" - what is FP??
"As of right now I have 0 nh3/4, 0 no2 and no3 is at 20 and dropping", I don't understand??
The FP is my small False Clown appx 1" long / Nitrate as of this morning is at 20. My ammonia is 0 / Nitrite is 0 PH 8.4 Gravity is 102.3 and I was told to use the product for 2 weeks and do no water changes until Wednesday will be two week and I will do a 20 gal Change. I'm also running right at 78-79 deg.