Stuck W/ tank, don't know how to care!

kb68

kb68

Member
Heres the deal, my boyfriend set up a 35 gallon tank and it has been running for 2 months now.
We have:
2 yellow tail damsels
1 stiped damsel
2 clown fish
1 puffer
To many fish right??????
The thing is that my boyfriend thinks we don't have to do anything to it i.e. water change testing PH, nitrates etc, etc.
because we have been bringing our water to a lfs and they say that our water has been perfect.
I have took it upon myself to read this board nightly to see if I can learn anything and boy there is a lot to know! now he thinks that I'm so into these fish because I'm constantly reading these threads so he has more or less given up on the tank
So I now declare these fish mine!!!!!!!
I love the fish, I feel bad for them, they look so bored, I don't know what to do beacause I'm more of a hands on learner then
someone who learns by reading ( does that make sense?)
I don't know the name of the filter, there is a tank below the 55 gal with another smaller tank inside with bio balls and the filter is very loud.
We have one piece of lr with a couple pieces of fake coral in the tank
I know it is sad and I'm pretty upset that he did this, can anyone please tell me what to do.
I know this is probably making a lot of people mad because I'm mad and since I have now declared these fish and tank mine I really want things to work.
P.S. I did go out and buy a water testing kit, so far so good!
Help, Help, Help!!!!!!!!
 
aidos

aidos

Member
you'll do alright, i've only been in to this hobby for 6 months and you will always learn more through hands on experience. but it is still important to read these threads just to keep updates.
dont make it a chore, enjoy it, have a look at others tanks, read some threads u find interesting.
if ur worried that there are to many fish some LFS with exchange or buy back, so that could help u out.
it sounds like ur running a sump to filter ur water which is good, just keep the equipment maintained(if u dont know how to the blocks at the LFS u brought them from should know how to).
everyone will make mistake in the hobby i have learnt that but dont take it personally (even though ya wallet or purse will)
if ya have enough LR then ur fish wont be board even though they look it, aslong as they got plenty of places to chill out, feed and what not they will be cool. u should have at least one pound of LR to each Gallon.
No need to worrie, take it as it comes, people usually get back to u on this site within 24 aswell so if ya need help just ask.
other thing ya could do to is beat on ya BF and get him to help ya.:D
 
kb68

kb68

Member
I just got my first clue. 1 pound of LR per gallon, contact LFS to buy fish back! ( what do you think the puffer? I really love that guy)
Thanks for the advice I really need it!
This could work! I hope it works, I want it to work!
If anyone else wants to share a quick bit for me, I would greatly appreciate it!
Please guys don't be mad at me, I 'm the one who is trying to work this out!
As far as the BF, I should make him sleep with the fish!
 
jag3365

jag3365

Member
Don't worry you'll be ok, we all make mistakes. I've read so many poeple make so many mistakes on here. My biggest piece of advice is get a book, Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert Fenner. You may find it at a local book store or your LFS or can get it cheap through Amazon. I love that book and I am a hands on learner too....but this book is great with a lot of good info for both you and your boyfriend. Almost everything you want to know is in here from water changes to feeding to equipment.
Just keep coming back tho the website and reading things you think are interesting or that you should know. This board is a wealth of information.
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member

Originally posted by kb68
Heres the deal, my boyfriend set up a 35 gallon tank and it has been running for 2 months now.
We have:
2 yellow tail damsels
1 stiped damsel
2 clown fish
1 puffer
To many fish right??????
The thing is that my boyfriend thinks we don't have to do anything to it i.e. water change testing PH, nitrates etc, etc.
because we have been bringing our water to a lfs and they say that our water has been perfect.
I have took it upon myself to read this board nightly to see if I can learn anything and boy there is a lot to know! now he thinks that I'm so into these fish because I'm constantly reading these threads so he has more or less given up on the tank
So I now declare these fish mine!!!!!!!
I love the fish, I feel bad for them, they look so bored, I don't know what to do beacause I'm more of a hands on learner then
someone who learns by reading ( does that make sense?)
I don't know the name of the filter, there is a tank below the 55 gal with another smaller tank inside with bio balls and the filter is very loud.
We have one piece of lr with a couple pieces of fake coral in the tank
I know it is sad and I'm pretty upset that he did this, can anyone please tell me what to do.
I know this is probably making a lot of people mad because I'm mad and since I have now declared these fish and tank mine I really want things to work.
P.S. I did go out and buy a water testing kit, so far so good!
Help, Help, Help!!!!!!!!

I'm in brockton, Ma. not to far away.
If ya need to get rid of any fish let me know.
I can also help you out setting anything up too.
Good luck! You can email me at sw65galma@yahoo.com
 
latino277

latino277

Member
hehehehe welcome...
1st thing I would do is get rid of the puffer... he will get toooooo big for that tank. I would also get ride of the Damsels... they get really aggressive and cause problems.
with the $$$$ you get back from those fish i would buy LR (live rock) or LS (Live sand). Note: do some reseach on these 2 things.
Get a book!!! or 2. this site has some really good ones??? use to have some books???:notsure: (what happened here)
you want to try and find out what kind of Equipment you have. this way you can maintane it correctly.
figue out what you want the tank to look like in the long run. do you want a full blown reef or just fish or fish and simple invert. the options are endless.
Good luck and remember there are no stupid ????
 
birdy

birdy

Active Member
Before you get rid of the puffer, we need to know what type it is, the smaller toby puffers would probably be okay in a 35gallon. If you are doing okay water quality wise and your fish are getting along fine then I don't see why you need to get rid of any of them.
I do recommend more LR, and if you don't have a protien skimmer then that is also recommened.
Other than that is sounds like your tank is fine.
 
kb68

kb68

Member
Thanks so much for getting back to me.
The puffer is a toby and the man at the lfs said he wasn't going to get much bigger. He (the puffer) seems to be everyone best friend in the tank. The clowns keep to themselves and the damsels have marked their terrioty.
I do have LS about 2 inches worth, as far as a skimmer, I have no idea what that is and if we already have one.
My bf is in Vegas right now and took the DC, he comes back tonight and I will take pictures of the tank and the filter and maybe you guys could start naming off parts for me.
We didn't by the tank & filter, it was given to my bf by his brother thats why I don't know what we have.
I have another question.....
One of my clowns strips doesn't connect, I read about a week back on this site someone was talking about that being "mis-bar"
is that a bad thing?
 
birdy

birdy

Active Member
The clown is fine, it is just something that happens in breeding, nothing should be wrong with the fish.
A skimmer is normally a tube that has a pump hooked up to it, the tube fills with bubbles and there is a cup at the top of the skimmer that fills up with nasty green stuff. (this is a very basic description).
As long as your water quality continues to stay good and all fish get along I think you are fine (although at or over a bit on your limit).
 
kb68

kb68

Member
let me try again...can't seem to post picture, I'll have to try later. Boy do I feel like a fool!!!
 
kb68

kb68

Member
what is this thing called on the right and what does it do?
for all you wise guys, the gray thing not the fish ;)
 
obarrera

obarrera

Member

Originally posted by Magic_Carp
take off the black tube on the powerhead, you want water current to move the water arround and add oxygen, you dont need bubbles.
Why do they even have that tube,is it just for looks?
kb68,can you post more pics?:D
 
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