Now what...

[richardpryor]

Hi all.
A couple of days ago my friend told me he had to get rid of his saltwater tank and asked me if I wanted it. I said sure. It's a 30g tank with some good lights (2 kinds of light, one UV and the other one ?), a 55 g filter waterfall like.
He had a clown and a Yellow something. He also had an anemone and a live rock he got from a local beach a couple of years ago. He had owned the tank for over 5 years.
Well, we emptied the tank to about half its original level and saved the water in some buckets. We got here and cleaned the tank. We then put the old water and made some new water. He used tap water, added an anti chlorine and some salt and added it to the tank.
It's been 24 hours and everybody in there seems happy. I guess it's time for me to add more fish and anemone? I really like how they look and wanted to go for the 'lots of different anemone' look.
Is this ok?
The temperature is now 80 degrees because I live in the tropics.

 

[richardpryor]

btw, he didn't tell me I had to monitor a lot of what you guys monitor in the water. He only said I had to test the water to check it's salinity (right word?). But he said 1.027 was perfect and I read 1.025 is the highest one should go.
Sorry for the stupid questions. I guess I'll go buy a book tonight.

 

[lexluethar]

I smell BS, but i'll go with it.
Don't use tap water, your tank is too small to house another anemone, and it is too small to house another fish also.
I really think you are full of BS, so i'll stop here and if you have any more questions don't hesitate to post.
Again, no tap water, no more fish, no more anemones.

 

[lexluethar]

You should test for PH, salinity (buy a refractometer), calcium, alk, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Go buy those test kits tonight, test the water, and let us know what you find.

 

[renogaw]

you'll have to excuse LL we've had a bunch of trolls wasting everyone's time recently and are a tad gunshy.
if you truly are sincere about needing help, we'll be here for you. you are describing a lot of stuff like a true newbie would, which is the only reason i'm tempering LL

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by renogaw
you'll have to excuse LL we've had a bunch of trolls wasting everyone's time recently and are a tad gunshy.

 

[richardpryor]

lol
no worries.
I'm no troll. I'm serious. Tank looks pretty decent now.
Why can't I have another anemone? I was thinking of getting AT LEAST 2 more.
And maybe 1 more fish to add more color.

 

[richardpryor]

How much will those kits cost me?
Obviously budget is an issue... I'll try to take some pictures and post them so you can tell me what you all think.
Regards.

 

[richardpryor]

Should I boil water, wait till it cools down and use that or should I buy bottled water for $1 per gallon?
Again, sorry if this seems stupid, but this is the section to ask stupid questions, isn't it?

 

[wangotango]

1) Anemones require intense light by either T5 or metal halide. From what it sounds like you do not have adequate lighting.
2) Anemones are hard to care for. Given you level of experience, I would suggest against one.
3) A 30g tank is barely large enough to house one anemonem let alone 2-3. Chemical warfare is a nasty thing.
Don't mean to sound harsh, but they're not something to jump into so early.
-Justin

 

[perfectdark]

First you need to post specifics of your tank. Like what type of filters, any live rock in the tank? Any power heads in side the tank? Lighting what kind be specific. I doubt u have an ultraviolet bulb in there but I have been wrong before. You prob have an actinic blue bulb and another white one. Although its important you read the label on the fixture if an and also the bulbs. Then you need get to your LFS and buy some test kits and learn how to test your water. Alkalinity, nitrite, nitrate, amonia, calcium, pH and salinity.
You have taken on a huge responsibility and before you think about what else you may want in your tank you need to first learn how to take care and maintain what you have. That means learning about all the inhabitants you currently have and what their needs are.
Anemones are not easy by an means to care for. They require the hobbiest to be well educated in tank husbandry and knowledge for the species they have. This typically means at the 8 month to a year mark both you and your tank are mature enough to make a decision on weather or not to have an anemone and what kind. While a couple of anemones may not require the typical Metal Halide lighting systems found on a lot of reef tanks. ALL require very very high intense lighting, which means nothing less than t-5's HO and in a wattage that will provide enough photosynthtic light to sustain them.
Hope this helps.

 

[lexluethar]

Boiling the water will do nothing. All that does is kill any contaminats like bacteria, that has nothing to do with mineral content or the things that you want to avoid with a saltwater aquarium. Go but RO water from walmart - it is 50 cents a gallon.
You don't want more fish or anemones b/c they will all die. This isn't like taking care of a dog where if you just feed it, the dog will probably be okay, there is a lot of care and maintenance that goes into the aquarium hobby. You don't have to take our word for it, hell go buy 5 anemones, why hold back at 3? And purchase all the fish you want. Then post back here in 4 weeks and let me know how it went.

 

[renogaw]

NOnono that was nathanrudy...
rich,
if budget is an issue, stop doing anything in this hobby. find someone to take the tank off your hands, and spare some animal's lives.

 

[richardpryor]

Originally Posted by PerfectDark
First you need to post specifics of your tank. Like what type of filters, any live rock in the tank? Any power heads in side the tank? Lighting what kind be specific. I doubt u have an ultraviolet bulb in there but I have been wrong before. You prob have an actinic blue bulb and another white one. Although its important you read the label on the fixture if an and also the bulbs. Then you need get to your LFS and buy some test kits and learn how to test your water. Alkalinity, nitrite, nitrate, amonia, calcium, pH and salinity.
You have taken on a huge responsibility and before you think about what else you may want in your tank you need to first learn how to take care and maintain what you have. That means learning about all the inhabitants you currently have and what their needs are.
Anemones are not easy by an means to care for. They require the hobbiest to be well educated in tank husbandry and knowledge for the species they have. This typically means at the 8 month to a year mark both you and your tank are mature enough to make a decision on weather or not to have an anemone and what kind. While a couple of anemones may not require the typical Metal Halide lighting systems found on a lot of reef tanks. ALL require very very high intense lighting, which means nothing less than t-5's HO and in a wattage that will provide enough photosynthtic light to sustain them.
Hope this helps.
The guy told me he invested around $2,000 in it. The lightning is pretty good, IMO (which is none existent regarding this).
Here are some pics.
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC00569.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC00570.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC00572.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/DSC00571.jpg

 

[lexluethar]

All-be-it the lighting may be sufficient for a BTA, I would still venture to say in a 30 gallon tank you should only have 1 anemone and around 3 or 4 small sized fish (clowns, damsels).

 

[richardpryor]

The BTA looked very nice indeed.
How about another live rock? Or should I give the fish space to swim?

 

[richardpryor]

Forgot to add that he also included a UV filter, for which I have to get a part in the hardware store to get it working.
Does the setup look decent? Fish seem happy... ?!
Sorry again for the newbie questions, but this is addictive and a lot of fun. The ladies will love it as well!

 

[mie]

I will be watching with great intent this has a fishy smell to it.
Way to many similarities With the past few days.
Please place your bets....odds are 10 to 1

 

[stdreb27]

lol, I guess I missed all the "fishy posts". Well there isn't 2000 dollars in that tank, maybe 200. Personally, I'd go buy some more live rock, maybe another 20 pounds. But I'd take the yellow tang with you and give it back to the lfs.

 

[richardpryor]

Why would I take it to the local store? He's good looking... Is it because Yellow Tangs are cheap fish?
And wtf is wrong with you people? I posted some pics of my setup and you still think I'm BSing you? Grow up... I'm looking for serious advice.