Now what... (part 2)

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richardpryor

Guest
Since the previous thread got so big, and most of the posts were claims that I was a troll, I hope you don't mind that I started a second one.
I don't have the UV filter installed. I need to buy some the connector in the hardware store.
It's this filter, but only 9 watts.
I went to the LFS and bought salt mix. Makes 90 gallons and it cost me $35. There's a 20% discount today and tomorrow on everything except food (10% in fish or any other living thing).
I also bought the water tests. Here are the results:
PH = 8.4
Amonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0
So, I read the instructions and apparently tap water won't kill these fish. Not trying to be a smart ass, just saying...
Which filter should I get, since you all say mine sucks? How much will it cost me? If I get a nice filter, will I be able to have 3 anemones in my 30g fish tank? Sorry if I keep going on about anemones, but they look awesome!
Both lights are 96w. The white one says 10,000K Ultra Sunlight (I think the brand is Catalina Compacts). Are they good? Enough for a second anemone? The bubble one that LexL. mentioned?
Thanks again.
 
mie

mie

Active Member
I believe you are a troll.
And for the second time everyone has said you cant have the anenomes. 3 in a small tank is a no no. Your lighting is way to insuficient for them THEY WILL DIE. If i read that correctly you have just over 180 watts of lighting. not enough 260 to 300 watts is about the min lighting req for anenomes. (certainSpeicies)
 
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richardpryor

Guest
Ok, mie, I think you are 12 years old.
But your advice is welcomed... just please stop saying I'm a troll. I'm sorry if my questions sound so stupid... we all have to start somewhere.
Cool, I'll stop thinking about anemones for now.
What's my next step? Better lightning or a new filter?
What about the water? Tests came out good, right? Does that mean my tap water is in good conditions and safe to use? Or should I spend $0.50 per gallon on the RO at Walmart?
 
mie

mie

Active Member
Not 12, and not dumb...
35 dollars should buy about 150 gall mix.
Tap water is ok for fish but not for reef.
To many heavy metals, and polutants.
Just alot of repeated questions thats all.
 
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richardpryor

Guest
Yes, sorry for the repeat questions.
So, mie. Do you have any recommendations for a new filter? And for some lights?
 
jawdubb

jawdubb

Member
You are not supposed to post links to competitor sites. With that said I will let you know a secret. I started my tank with tap water. Now I have a constant battle with hair algae. I ended up buying a r/o water unit and have done several water changes, but I continue to battle with the hair algae. Also from what I have read tap water can contain minerals such as copper that will kill off any inverts you buy. As for what you should buy I recommend waiting a while and letting your bacteria start to grow in your tank so that when you add fish and such it will not overdo the bioload and you won't have to worry about replacing the animals you spent money on. After a few more weeks you can add a nice cleaning crew to help with cleaning, then after this slowly add the fish you like. If you are serious about the questions you have asked you can use the search feature for the topics you want to know more about. I did this and there is a plethora of knowledge here on this site dating back a long while that you can pick up great pointers. Just an FYI if you ask the same question 3 different times and get the same answer 3 times heed what the people have to say because their experience can save you thousands in the long run.
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
If from what I have researched is correct, it's not just sufficient lighting you need for anemones, but also a lot of space. Anemones move, they sting other corals, they get pretty big, and having more than one in a 30 gal. would create "chemical warfare", so I think that sticking to one is the smartest way to go unless you want your tank to be unsuccessful. Just my 2 cents

There are a lot of great, knowledgable people on here, and I strongly suggest taking in any advice you can get. They have really helped me along the way, and so far so good
 
lexluethar

lexluethar

Active Member
Just because your water shows no Ammonia, NItrite, or nitrate doesn't mean tap water is good. Your tap water may not have ammonia or any of the other pollutants you've tested for, but what it does have is hard metals, copper, silicates, and other things you don't want in your tank. If you start testing for those things, then you'll notice that RO/DI is far superior than tap water. You are only using a 30 gallon tank, so spending 50 cents on some RO water should be too large of a purchase. You will spend more on lights on a one time purchase then you will for an entire years worth of RO water for a 30 gallon tank (including water changes and top offs).
I purchased a sunpod MH system for my 30 gallon and i love it, and at that point you can have any corals or anemones you want - notice i say ANY type, not all the ones you want. YOu still need to stick with one anemone per tank. The problem here isn't filtration, it is anemones use chemicals to kill eachother when they are too close. These chemicals will also kill other things in your tank. So when you place two anemones in such a small area, they sense eachother and "wage" chemical warfare, killing eachother and other tank inhabitants.
For a 30 gallon i don't thing 96 watts is adequate, i assume there is one atinic bulb (spelling) and on 10k sunlight one. If you want to use these lights you should get two of these bulbs. Then you can support a bubble tip anemone. BUT you've already indicated that you have an anemone, so my concern is what type is it? How is it doing? What are you feeding it?
 
mie

mie

Active Member
Get a sump or a high end canister filter, about 200 bucks
Lights, i allready said the watts your aiming for. Nice set of pc's about 300 bucks will get you around 300 to 400 watt range (used) around 500 to 800 dollars new.
Halides make the difference in cost.
 
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richardpryor

Guest
I'm not sure which type it is. I looked at all the ones they sell here and couldn't spot mine.
Here's a picture.
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC00571.jpg
Perhaps you could tell me what it is.
It's doing well if you ask me. I've only had it for two days, though. It closes up when there's no light and opens up when I turn them on. I'm feeding them link removed
That kind of money on lightning is completely unacceptable. I swear I didn't have a clue it was so expensive. Guess I'll have to settle with what I have...
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Richard, please do not post links to competitor sites.
Also, please don't ask for advice, then read directions somewhere else and say "not trying to be a smart ***, just saying..."
As has been pointed out, tap water contains a host of elements and compounds you are not testing for. Any one of them in high enough concentration will kill your tank. Some folks get lucky and just have phopshate issues, other's lose all of their inverts (including corals) suddenly.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by RichardPryor
...
That kind of money on lightning is completely unacceptable. I swear I didn't have a clue it was so expensive. Guess I'll have to settle with what I have...
Then go with a fish only tank. The lighting is expensive because it needs to replicate the sun... Trying to do a reef tank (photosynthetic corals) without adequate lighting is impossible. They will starve.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
After looking at that pic...
An honest assessment is for you to take back the fish and anemone to the pet store.
*Read up on salt water tanks and decide what type you want; Fish only, reef, etc.
*Budget accordingly
*Start again
 
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richardpryor

Guest
Sorry for the competitor's link. I searched here first but you guys don't sell Oceanic salt mix.
And the directions I read were from the manual of the test kit, not from some other website. This is the only site I'm currently visiting.
 
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richardpryor

Guest
Well, the guy who gave me the tank had it for 5 years, and the clown is 4 years old. The Yellow Tang is 2 years old. Not sure about the anemone, but why would I take it back to the store if they are ok?
What kind of anemone do I have?
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by RichardPryor
Sorry for the competitor's link. I searched here first but you guys don't sell Oceanic salt mix.
And the directions I read were from the manual of the test kit, not from some other website. This is the only site I'm currently visiting.
Competitor's are anyone that sells anything swf related. As Mods we remove any links to any potential competitor, out of respect for SWF.
The test kit instructions didn't explain to you the dangers of other contaminants in tap water. Just like de-chlorinator will tell you to use it to make water safe for fish....
 
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richardpryor

Guest
And 1 last thing. I AM following your advice. That's why I haven't bought any more fish or anemones and that's why I bought the test kit. And why I'm considering getting a new filter.
 
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