New to hobby

smlussier

smlussier

New Member
I recently bought a 30 gallon tank,
whisper powerfilter 30
berlin airlft 30
air pump for 30 gallon tank
Heater
Live Sand
Do I need a powerhead?
I have been running it for about 3 days at 80 degrees with 4 damsels in it and one lawnmower blenny,ph is & 8.1, alk is 3. I have not checked ammonia levels or nitrate yet. and the tank is already starting to show signs of a cycle. I am afraid that the tank did not cycle and it is starting now. It is showing some cloudiness like a bacteria bloom is starting. What should I do and what else do I need for a fish only tank.
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
yes you do need powerheads...First those fish might die , unless you take them back...you're Not supposed to have any Livestock while cycling,Your Ammonia is probably off the charts which are burning the fishes gills.

Cycling takes about 3-4 weeks depending on how its started...
 
f14peter

f14peter

Member
Welcome to the boards!
Aztec is right, the fish are in peril, the blenny in particular as they're a little more "fragile" than the others. While damsels are considered hardy and for a long time were (And still are in some cases) used to inititate a cycle, that method has fallen out of favor in lieu of creating ammonia with decaying food or something like a shrimp from the grocery store.
No real fault of your own, many fish stores still advocate cycling with damsels.
Time-wise, you're about on schedule as it takes a few days for the cycle to start.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Also the Lawnmower Blenny probably does not have enough food to eat in a new tank. Try smart amounts of algae sheets and see if he will feed.
 
aquaguy24

aquaguy24

Active Member
4 damsels and a lmb in a 30g..ur at max fish and ur not even done cycling..well i suggest taking out ur LMB back to ur lfs. its okay to cycle with a damsel(not recommended) but not with 4..ur tank might crash..cuz ur filtration system has to get use to all that bioload..depending on what type of damsel u have they might get to aggressive towards the fish ur going to add so i suggest catching(good luck)them after ur cycle is done and returning them for store credit if ur lfs allows it. u don't want $3 fishes killing $60 fishes..
u'll get algae bloom with the first month then it should start to dissappear after adding a clean up crew..are u going to add live rock..u should cuz it helps with the cycle and filtration..what are u using the air pump for,i don't think u really need that for sw tanks..im glad u found this site..and GOOD LUCK..post some pics if u get a chance..
 
smlussier

smlussier

New Member
Thanks for the help, I have lost a few damsels and down to two and the LMB is still going, I was misled wrong info frm *****. I will never go there again for anything. I have found lfs with the right info. ***** will not take back saltwater fish so I will just have to leave them in there and see what happens.
I am using a berlin airlft 60 with a 40 gallon air pump does anyone know if that air pump is enough for that skimmer.
I am getting my live rock this week and hopefully that helps with the cycle.
 
rabbit_72

rabbit_72

Member
Originally Posted by smlussier
Thanks for the help, I have lost a few damsels and down to two and the LMB is still going, I was misled wrong info frm *****. I will never go there again for anything. I have found lfs with the right info. ***** will not take back saltwater fish so I will just have to leave them in there and see what happens.
I am using a berlin airlft 60 with a 40 gallon air pump does anyone know if that air pump is enough for that skimmer.
I am getting my live rock this week and hopefully that helps with the cycle.

We will never go there again, either. When we first started in the hobby, they gave awful and misdirected advice. Those people who work there are not really professionals. Some of them haven't a clue about SW fish or the systems. They tried to tell us that it was impossible to have anyhting less than a 40 gal. tank for SW. I guess they never heard of nano cubes.
Definitly go with the live rock. Not only does it help with filtration, but looks great and natural. And don't place those plastci fish decorations in there. My hubby originally had some in the tank, but they fades and flecks of paint would come off.
Good luck. We just came to these boards a week ago and I love the wealth of knowledge I have found here!
 
smlussier

smlussier

New Member
I am getting the rock from a lfs that sells them.
What size pump should I use with the berlin airlift 60; and should I upgrade m y filter it is the tetra whipser power filter 30.
 
smlussier

smlussier

New Member
I also just bought two aquaclear powerheads 20 gallon each and they seem to clear up my tanks right away, I am taking my water to get tested tonight.
 
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