Starting my first setup, please help!

the river reef

the river reef

New Member
I am new to this wonderful hobby... I purchased a 56 gallon column style tank 1.5 months ago at a local chain pet store. I had not done any research at this point. At this point I have done a fair amount of internet research and read 2 books on reef keeping. My goal is to have a reef setup with this tank. My equipment at this point is: 56 gallon tank (30"x18"x24"), Fluval 405 Canister filter, 150w Aqueon heater X2. I have a basic flourescent light that came with the tank that I plan on replacing with the Marineland reef capable LED system. I have not purchased any powerheads at this point. The only livestock I have are 2 scarlet hermit crabs that have been in the tank for a week. I ran the substrate and live rock for a little over a month before adding the hermit crabs. I am struggling creating a stock list. I know that I want to start with 2 Black and White Percula Clownfish, that I want to add this weekend. I also want to expand my cleaning crew. I like dwarf angle, blue/ green chromis, goby/ shrimp combo. My first few questions I would like help with are:
1) Did I make a big mistake buying an expensive canister filter? I have read that they become cleaning nightmares. I wish I had gone the sump route, can I use the canister and incorporate a sump in the future? What should I do for filtering considering that I have purchased this canister already?
2) How many/ what type of power heads should I look into? When do I need to make sure these are in place? Can I run with just my filter return for circulation in the beginning with just a few clowns for stock?
3) May I have a stock list suggested that includes cleaners? I would like to have some of the easier corals in this tank after 6 months or so...
4) I have not invested in extra equipment to prepare water for changes... What should/ can I get without breaking the bank that would allow me to have quality water every few weeks? I have limited room for equipment placement. I have an air pump that is not in use, can I rig this up to circulate and get oxygen into the water somehow?
Please give me any advice you feel would help me at this point in planning my first go at starting a reef system. I need to learn a system for water changes before I start stocking my tank. I need to plan what stock I will be placing in the tank. I would like to be sure my filtration is going to work and not cause headaches trying to clean every week. I hope the light I want to get will suffice?
Here is what it looks like so far...
 
S

siptang

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by The River Reef http:///t/390810/starting-my-first-setup-please-help#post_3462691
I am new to this wonderful hobby... I purchased a 56 gallon column style tank 1.5 months ago at a local chain pet store. I had not done any research at this point. At this point I have done a fair amount of internet research and read 2 books on reef keeping. Good on you! Researching is paramount in this hobby. My goal is to have a reef setup with this tank. My equipment at this point is: 56 gallon tank (30"x18"x24"), Fluval 405 Canister filter, 150w Aqueon heater X2. I have a basic flourescent light that came with the tank that I plan on replacing with the Marineland reef capable LED system. I have this light system and while they are great, they are not the best but we will get to that later. I have not purchased any powerheads at this point. Having two would be ideal. The only livestock I have are 2 scarlet hermit crabs that have been in the tank for a week. I ran the substrate and live rock for a little over a month before adding the hermit crabs. I am struggling creating a stock list. I know that I want to start with 2 Black and White Percula Clownfish, that I want to add this weekend. I also want to expand my cleaning crew. I like dwarf angle, blue/ green chromis, goby/ shrimp combo. My first few questions I would like help with are:
Before you add anything, how are your water parameters looking like?
1) Did I make a big mistake buying an expensive canister filter? That wold depends on the person and their opinion but I have both and I'm happy with both. (in two different tanks) I have read that they become cleaning nightmares. I wish I had gone the sump route, can I use the canister and incorporate a sump in the future? Yes, you can. What should I do for filtering considering that I have purchased this canister already? Good protein skimmer is pretty much standard now days.
2) How many/ what type of power heads should I look into? When do I need to make sure these are in place? Can I run with just my filter return for circulation in the beginning with just a few clowns for stock? Koralia makes great powerheads but they can get little pricy depending on the model.
3) May I have a stock list suggested that includes cleaners? I would like to have some of the easier corals in this tank after 6 months or so...
Clowns that you said above
1 Dwarf angel
firefish
green/blue chromis
small reef safe wrasse
royal gramma
purple pseudo
to name a few and maybe a pair of skunk cleaner shrimps, snails and sand shifting starfish as cuc.
4) I have not invested in extra equipment to prepare water for changes... What should/ can I get without breaking the bank that would allow me to have quality water every few weeks? I have limited room for equipment placement. I have an air pump that is not in use, can I rig this up to circulate and get oxygen into the water somehow?
>
You can purchase RO/DI water from local pet stores or from wal mart. You can use that as top off water or mix salt for your change water. If you prepare salt for water change, let it sit there inside a bucket with a small powerhead circulating the water so that it will mix thoroughly.
Please give me any advice you feel would help me at this point in planning my first go at starting a reef system. I need to learn a system for water changes before I start stocking my tank. I need to plan what stock I will be placing in the tank. I would like to be sure my filtration is going to work and not cause headaches trying to clean every week. I hope the light I want to get will suffice?
My advice is take things slow and don't go with impulsive feelings. Do your research and ask around here and you will find your answers soon enough.
Learn from our mistakes. That's why this forum exist.
Here is what it looks like so far...

Looking Good!!!
Hi Welcome to the site and to the hobby! I'm sure you will love it, there's really nothing like having your own little slice of ocean.
Answers are in bold in the box above.
 
the river reef

the river reef

New Member





Date



Salt



Nitrate



Nitrite



Hardness



Alkalinity



pH



Ammonia







2/5/12







10



0



425



240



7.6



0







2/11/12



1.024



10



0



425



260



8.3



0







2/23/12



1.025



10



0



425



250



8.3



0



I have been keeping a log of my tests. I have to admit some of the numbers are tough to tell where the color truly falls. I have 2 test kits that test the parameters listed above, should I be testing anything else? I had low pH initially, which I bought a buffer to raise. Should I get a power head before I buy the clowns, or wait a while? Appreciate the feedback!
 
S

siptang

Guest
I would do a small water change to bring down the salinity down to 1.022 to .023 because salinity swings upwards when water evaporates and until you get corals, it's not required to have it so high. Just my two cents, not a big deal though.
I usually get the equipments prior to the stocking but that's also my two cents, there's no right or wrong in this matter but just opinions. I just feel that they should be introduced and acclimated less frequent as possible.
But looking good so far!
Nitrate is there but for fish only, you don't need to worry about that at the moment. When you get to the coral stage, we will start worrying about it.
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
Welcome! As for the canister filter, they bite but are doable if you have good maintenance habits. I have a canister on my 55 as well as a kick butt skimmer. I clean the canister every other week when I do my water change. I have pretty good water quality.
 
the river reef

the river reef

New Member
So now I have for stock:
2 - Scarlet hermits
1 - Electric Blue Hermit
1 - Halloween Hermit
2 - Astrea snails
1 - Skunk cleaner shrimp
2 - Black and White Percula Clownfish
Everything is going well and I purchased a QT recently. Because they were the first fish I placed the clowns directly into the tank. I am feeding them half a block of frozen brine shrimp every night. The question I have now is pertaining to water for top offs and changes. I was using tap water and treating with water conditioner. I am worried now I have some fish that my town water is full of toxic stuff bad for my new inhabitants. I do not have the funds to buy a RO/DI filter just yet. Can anyone comment on using the conditioned tap water or other water methods? After the fish were placed in I did my first top off with spring water jugs. This will get expensive...
 
xandrew245x

xandrew245x

Member
This is an expensive hobby, there is no cheap way. So if you can't afford it, you mys well not even attempt it. Just my opinion.
 
njbillyv

njbillyv

Member
Looks good!
Conditioned tap water is a very bad idea. You really really need to use RO/DI water for topoffs and for water changes. You can buy it from the fish store fairly cheap if you can't get a filter yet. Now that you have fish I'd watch for a slight ammonia spike, monitor it closely. I'd also do a water change soon.
And consider getting a protein skimmer soon rather than later, very important.
Good luck, go slow!
 
the river reef

the river reef

New Member
All your feedback is appreciated and understood. I will be buying a RO/ DI filter, but need about a month before I can swing it. For now I have a 10 gallon with under gravel filter and heater that is going to serve as my QT. Since I have no use for the QT at the moment I was going to run the tap water with conditioner for a few days and use that water for top offs and add salt and use for changes. Will this be okay until I can get the filter? I am having a hard time finding RO/ DI water without salt already in it... I don't mind spending the money for filtered water for now but just can't find it ATM. Also, when you guys top off a gallon or 2, do you always heat that water? I was wondering if such a small amount of water will impact the temperature of 56 gallon tank?
 
njbillyv

njbillyv

Member
You'll regret using conditioned tap, you really need to find RO/DI. I run an auto topoff, so the small amount it adds doesn't make a difference temperature wise. A gallon or two, probably no big deal as long as it's not too cold if you add it slowly, but when you do water changes make sure the temp and salinity match DT.
 
the river reef

the river reef

New Member
Thank you for the extra motivation to search for RO/DI water... after half a dozen phone calls, I found a LFS about 20 minutes away that sells it for .50 per gallon. That will add up but I plan on buying my own filter pretty soon.
I have something urgent that I need help with. I bought 2 clown fish mentioned above and have a bunch of inverts including a cleaner shrimp. I started noticing on one clown he had a small white spot on his right pectoral fin. He is the smaller of the 2 and I have noticed the other guy picking at him occasionally. That same fin now is starting to rot and I just noticed this morning that the other clown has that same kinda looking white spot on his left pectoral fin. I don't think this is Ich because it was and is one tiny isolated mark. I next thought it might be fin rot and did a partial water change 2 days ago and the issue only got worse since than. I made my QT ready and I don't know what the best next move would be. I will post pictures tomorrow once I can capture something worth posting. Please help, I don't want to loose one of my first living inhabitants, poor guy!
 
sagxman

sagxman

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by The River Reef http:///t/390810/starting-my-first-setup-please-help#post_3464986
Thank you for the extra motivation to search for RO/DI water... after half a dozen phone calls, I found a LFS about 20 minutes away that sells it for .50 per gallon. That will add up but I plan on buying my own filter pretty soon.
I have something urgent that I need help with. I bought 2 clown fish mentioned above and have a bunch of inverts including a cleaner shrimp. I started noticing on one clown he had a small white spot on his right pectoral fin. He is the smaller of the 2 and I have noticed the other guy picking at him occasionally. That same fin now is starting to rot and I just noticed this morning that the other clown has that same kinda looking white spot on his left pectoral fin. I don't think this is Ich because it was and is one tiny isolated mark. I next thought it might be fin rot and did a partial water change 2 days ago and the issue only got worse since than. I made my QT ready and I don't know what the best next move would be. I will post pictures tomorrow once I can capture something worth posting. Please help, I don't want to loose one of my first living inhabitants, poor guy!
Read this:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/390162/snakes-guide-to-quarantine-systems#post_3453433
and prepare to put the fish in your QT / HT. Are the fish rubbing up against the ground or rocks? Is your QT cycled? I'll pass the torch now to someone more familiar with diseases and cures.
 
the river reef

the river reef

New Member
After some research and help in the disease forum... I came to realize that I had an aggressive female that was rejecting the smaller male and picking on him. The LFS allowed me to return one of the clowns at a 10% refund. I did that and picked up a damselfish. I first thought he was a male "Blue Devil" damsel, but I am not positive. Can anyone positively ID him for me? Everything is going well and I have my stock list pretty well decided on:
1 - Black and White Percula Clown (Already in tank)
1 - Blue & Yellow Damsel (Already in tank)/ May replace with 3 - blue/ green chromis
1 - Purple Firefish Goby
1 - Purple Pseudochromis
1 - Dwarf Flame Angel
I may start up a 20 gallon long in the next year or so... I would remove the current damsel fish I have now and start him in the new system. I would replace him with 3 blue/ green chromis, I really like the idea of a small school. Thank you all for the feedback, so far it has been an incredible experience. Here it is with my three mani characters in sight:
 
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