New set up (how bad is it??)

[dienh05021]

I have been in FW hobby 15 years and successfully bred Discus successfully for several years. I pulled a 55 gallon out recently thinking I would get back into the Discus hobby.
For some reason I changed my mind and started Saltwater. However, i left the gravel, added 20 pounds of crushed coral, and here is the set up...
55 gallon
two Hagen 301 powerheads
undergravel filter (I know a bad idea right?)
freshwater gravel
20 lbs crushed coral
40 pounds of live rock
magnum 350 deluxe canister filter
The live rock has been in the tank for about one month. The water tests have all been positive. Ammonia is 0, PH is 8, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10 and Salinity 1.025.
I have changed 10 gallons of water once and just used regular tap water and instant ocean salt.
I have on yellow tail damsel and one 3 stripe damsel. I have several feather dusters growing on the live rock and some little translucent white shrimpy looking guy that hides in the crevices. It appears I have some green hair algae and in the last few days quite a bit of brown algae as well. I am getting some coraline growth as there are several areas of purple patches etc.
I dont want a bunch of crazy fish but thought I might add a yellow tang, gold striped clown, and maybe a cleaner shrimp.
My question is this. What problems do you guys see with the set up? I know I probably should have a skimmer but dont have one yet. I didnt know if the live rock and canister filter would be sufficient. I probably should use RO water, but the tank is in my office and they dont have that capability.
My goal is to learn about Saltwater, slowly, and eventually have a much larger (125-200) gallon reef tank in my home. I just want to learn slowly and not waste a bunch of money in the process. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks and a great site....

 

[pfitz44]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
j/k
Alls fine...only possible problems i c:
1) tap water.. thats why you have hair algea. walmart sells RO water by the gallon jugs
2) The FW Gravel. IF you have EVER treated your FW tank with copper, then you will not be able to keep inverts in there.
ARe u sure that there featherdusters and not aptesia?? look in the hitchhiker sticky
Welcome to teh boards!!!
~Fitzy

 

[mr_bill]

Ditch the undergravel filter, they lead to big problems in SW.

 

[dienh05021]

I guess i dont know that they are featherdusters, but it started out as one, in a little brown tube, and sticks out like a white umbrella. Anyime I put my finger near it it retracts back down in the tube. Now I have three of them all right by each other in their own little brown tubes. What do you guess it is?
as for the undergravel, if I am going to remove it, do I just unhook the lift tubes and stick the powerheads on the wall of the tank? I wouldnt want to remove all the live rock to get the undergravel plate out would I

 

[pfitz44]

check the hitchhicker sticky at the top of this forum... check worms and ananmoies (sp). I had aptesia and i thought they were feather dusters as well...
Yea, you should be fine if you just remove the lift tubes

 

[dienh05021]

I think they are featherdusters after looking that the picture under the anenome page of apistasia or whatever they are called. The apistasia looks much darker and not clear white like the ones I have. Mine almost look like strands of dental floss hooked together like an umbrella if that makes sense. They are definitely not dark brown.

 

[pfitz44]

good

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by dienh05021
I guess i dont know that they are featherdusters, but it started out as one, in a little brown tube, and sticks out like a white umbrella. Anyime I put my finger near it it retracts back down in the tube. Now I have three of them all right by each other in their own little brown tubes. What do you guess it is?
as for the undergravel, if I am going to remove it, do I just unhook the lift tubes and stick the powerheads on the wall of the tank? I wouldnt want to remove all the live rock to get the undergravel plate out would I

you need to remove the plate. its that plate that causes alot of the problems

 

[dienh05021]

what problems will it cause? Very new to this and have no idea why it would create trouble. THanks.
also, can anyone tell me how you order live fish from this site, if you are supposed to go so slow with adding fish but their minimum order is $79. The prices here are much better but if i only want a yellow tang or a gold striped clown or maybe both, I can never meet that minimum order.

 

[thezucks]

Hi,
You may have already figured this one out.... I'm pretty new to Saltwater (8 months). But I have ordered from this site. My suggestion to meet the 79 dollar min. is to buy a cleaning crew. It's cheepest if you create your own. hermits, conch's, shrimp and maybe a starfish. Just an idea. The prices are great and the info on this site is even better.
Good luck.