Running a fishtank without any arms or legs

[Prowland]

If you are buying living things and putting them into a tank that is not ready to support them then you are being irresponsible.

 

This is not just a *mistake* and should not be considered lightly. These are living creatures and deserve more than... "it looked pretty and was cheap" attitude.

[reefer123]

hey dexter and welcome to nano-reef.com ! reefing can be very confusing at first but once you make the connection between everything then its all sooo smoooth from there. my advice is to read alot and be patient. my tank cycled for 2 months and now i am adding one fish every week as long as my params stay stable. its not blazeing paced but i'm in no hurry an nor should you. if you ever need any help with anything just email me @ ihrycenko@gmail.com i'll help you out w/anyhiing at all, just ask. your story is very inspirational to me and i am glad to be involved with your soon to be reef. some pple here on this site may come off as harsh but dont worry because they are actually really nice but you dont know wut tone of voice they would say that in and wut faial expression they would have. if you ever need any help or have any questions please email me! i'm happy to have met you i'm taggin along for the ride!

[aparnold]

I want to say to those who said harsh words I do feel kind of hurt when people leave lame comments about what I'm doing though. I know this is a tough hobby and I'm going to learn a lot of things down the road. Make many mistakes, and learn new lessons. So please, give me ideas on what I should do and not beat me up on the little things. It really hurts.

 

[/b]

 

 

Dexter,

 

I know things can be misinterpreted over written text. Everybody here wants you to succeed and have fun doing so. The issue is that you can avoid mistakes by listening to the advice that people offer here. Nobody is beating you up by suggesting that you are moving to fast or that you should return the anemone. They're only trying to prevent you from nuking your tank, which is what could happen if that anemone dies. These are not little things. There is a reason why all the advice on this website recommends a slow pace. If you follow peoples advice here, and read the databases you will avoid many "mistakes" and pitfalls. Trust me when I tell you that you'll have plenty to learn, and mistakes to make even following the advice of people here! Please continue to keep us updated on your progress, and don't be discouraged by anybodies comments here including my own.

 

Al.

[Cytosine]

If you are buying living things and putting them into a tank that is not ready to support them then you are being irresponsible.

 

This is not just a *mistake* and should not be considered lightly. These are living creatures and deserve more than... "it looked pretty and was cheap" attitude.

Its not irreponsable all he has to do is feed the anemone or put more nutrients into the tank. They dont all need high lighting. you just have to feed them. you guys should be nicer. maybe then people would respect you prowland

[ddr_phish]

Its not irreponsable all he has to do is feed the anemone or put more nutrients into the tank. They dont all need high lighting. you just have to feed them. you guys should be nicer. maybe then people would respect you prowland

 

Your right, its not all lighting that an Anemone needs. But people here are worried about the other things an anemone needs, like a stable and balanced system and perfect water conditions, these things are not common in a tank so young, hence why everyone is encouraging him to take it back to the store (which he should do).

 

Dexter you should opt for store credit on the anemone and get something else that your clownfish could be happy in. An anemone is not the ideal purchase at this early of a stage, maybe something more along the lines of Frogspawn, Hammer Coral, Torch, etc. Please pay attention to what everyone is telling you on here, alot of times it may come across as harsh (from people that aren't so eloquent), but the gist of it is this, we are in this hobby because we love it, many of us have spent hundreds (or thousands) of hours over the years doing tank maintenance, research and other things related to our reefs, we won't steer you wrong (we have no reason to). The people at your LFS may also enjoy the hobby but they are mainly in it for the money and will try to sell you things knowing that it MAY die eventually or that you aren't completely ready for a specimen such as a RBTA. HTH and welcome to the hobby/obsession!

[Cytosine]

Your right, its not all lighting that an Anemone needs. But people here are worried about the other things an anemone needs, like a stable and balanced system and perfect water conditions, these things are not common in a tank so young, hence why everyone is encouraging him to take it back to the store (which he should do).

i geus your right his tank is a little young.Imean i guess its probably realy cool, maybe if he has a friend that coud take it for a while that would be better but im sure it will be alright in his tank

[davidr2340]

Hey Dexter... Welcome to NR from another WA native! I'm a bit north of you in Arlington. What LFS do you go to? If you get the chance, check out Barrier Reef!!! Great store!

 

Now for the bad news... Your Clowns don't "need" an Anemone. My clowns love the hell out'ta my Hammer and Xenia! Seriously bro, if the Anemone ends up not making it, do you want to risk all the other life in your tank???

 

But, back on a positive note... Check out Barrier Reef!!! Welcome bro!!!

[Brian Crook]

How long has your tank been running now?

 

Without sounding too dramatic, you've taken a serious risk adding an anemone to your tank at this stage (adding them in general is relatively uncommon). I hope the odds have played out in your favour and the little guy survives, or that you decide to remove him and return him to the store.

 

Besides that, I'll have to agree with a number of other people posting here that you should really consider slowing things down in the realm of livestock purchases.

 

Anyways, welcome to the forums and I hope to see some more pictures soon! Good luck!

 

 

PS, as the above poster has mentioned... My clowns have hosted with an anemone in the past, but they have also done the same with my frogspawn, mushrooms, and even (currently) my pink finger leather, which looks VERY cool with them hugging and lieing in it.

 

[davidr2340]

Brian_Crook... That my friend, is a sweet picture!!!

[aparnold]

PS, as the above poster has mentioned... My clowns have hosted with an anemone in the past, but they have also done the same with my frogspawn, mushrooms, and even (currently) my pink finger leather, which looks VERY cool with them hugging and lieing in it.

 

Amazing Photo!

[Prowland]

What you are doing is far past amazing. You are indeed an inspiration to me as well... but that is why I am going to be blunt and tell you if you make a mistake.

 

I am sure you would rather me be honest and tell you if there is something I see wrong rather than encourage a bad choice.

 

Good luck and slow down.

[dexter1080]

So I went back to my LFS to talk to them about the levels in my tank and if it was too early and they said it would be just fine. She didn't ask me if the anemone was having a hard time and not really doing anything or if it has changed color at all? It seems to be doing fine and it's gained in size a little over double than what I picked it up at. It seems like it's doing pretty well but if there are any other signs of it not I will definitely let them know.

 

Thanks again for all the concerns though, I really appreciate the feedback. It helps me out a lot.

 

So it's been almost a month and a half now that I have had my tank setup. Any ideas on what to look for, check on, modify next to help things out?

[aparnold]

So I went back to my LFS to talk to them about the levels in my tank and if it was too early and they said it would be just fine. She didn't ask me if the anemone was having a hard time and not really doing anything or if it has changed color at all? Which this alert still fine and it's gained in size a little over double than what I picked it up at. It seems like it's doing pretty well but if there are any other signs of it not I will definitely let them know.

 

Thanks again for all the concerns though, I really appreciate the feedback. It helps me out a lot.

 

So it's been almost a month and a half now that I have had my tank setup. Any ideas on what to look for, check on, modify next to help things out?

 

NEVER TRUST YOUR LFS! I just learned that lesson the hard way this week. It turns out the RO/DI water I was buying from them might as well have been tap water. Up until this week I really liked them and thought they were really helpful. A good rule in life is never trust those who stand to make a profit from you.

 

Along with rushing things this is one of the biggest mistakes us noobs make. I've been doing this for a year and a half and still consider myself a noob!

[dexter1080]

Hey Dexter... Welcome to NR from another WA native! I'm a bit north of you in Arlington. What LFS do you go to? If you get the chance, check out Barrier Reef!!! Great store!

 

Now for the bad news... Your Clowns don't "need" an Anemone. My clowns love the hell out'ta my Hammer and Xenia! Seriously bro, if the Anemone ends up not making it, do you want to risk all the other life in your tank???

 

But, back on a positive note... Check out Barrier Reef!!! Welcome bro!!!

Washingtonians unite. Thanks for the tip. I make my way up to the Tulalip Casino every once in a while. I just might have steer over that way when I make the trip sometime. Thanks. Maybe I'll give you a holler when I do.

[brian92]

Any ideas on what to look for, check on, modify next to help things out?

Well there is a lot of options for modifications and add on equipment to you tank. I would look into getting a good protein skimmer maybe an Aqua C Remora (not so much tweaking required as a tunze 9002 IMO) and maybe a Metal Halide light like a sunpod these things aren't necessary but I think they're great to have the skimmer does a good job in getting brown crap out your tank and the Metal Halide is great to have so you keep most any type of coral.

[dexter1080]

Well there is a lot of options for modifications and add on equipment to you tank. I would look into getting a good protein skimmer maybe an Aqua C Remora (not so much tweaking required as a tunze 9002 IMO) and maybe a Metal Halide light like a sunpod these things aren't necessary but I think they're great to have the skimmer does a good job in getting brown crap out your tank and the Metal Halide is great to have so you keep most any type of coral.

 

good idea. Thanks.

[dexter1080]

I have a question for everyone about their cameras. Do you set your camera on the macro setting to get such great color or do you use the regular setting and use a tripod to keep it very still? Just curious.

[MR.FEESH]

Macro settings are generally for close-ups. You may have to adjust your cameras white balance to get the true colors, close to the ones you see with your eyes. This can be tricky. Most digital cameras are allergic to fish tank lights!

[davidr2340]

Washingtonians unite. Thanks for the tip. I make my way up to the Tulalip Casino every once in a while. I just might have steer over that way when I make the trip sometime. Thanks. Maybe I'll give you a holler when I do.

Right on bro!

I live about 10min. from the Tulalip Casino...

[Brian Crook]

I'm way to lazy to mess around with my camera's settings, so I usually just leave it on auto and take pictures with and without the flash on. I took the above picture by zooming in and snapping with auto settings and with the flash on, using a Nikon Coolpix L18 (8MP?) digital camera. It took a few takes because it's hard for me to hold my hand perfectly still and the fish sometimes jerks just as the picture is being taken. I don't have a tri-pod.

 

Here's one with the flash off:

 

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

 

 

PS. It REALLY helps to turn off any lights in your room while taking the pictures. Also, turn off all of your pumps and the pictures will come out far clearer.

[dexter1080]

Okay. So here's a question... so I took out all the bioballs and replace them with live rock instead as I've heard from quite a few people on here. I have heard from somebody else that they replaced all of their bioballs with chemipure and purigen instead.

 

Has anybody else done this? If so, what is the difference? And/or what do you think about the difference between the two?

 

Any thoughts would be awesome to hear.

 

Thanks again everybody. I appreciate your help.

[xenon]

Why exactly do you feel that you need to add more live rock? Do you not have enough in the display tank for biological filtration?

 

I would keep chamber #2 for a skimmer or refugium.

[petkingdom619]

quite a few people use chemi-pur and purigen.

I am using chemi-pur elite, and it helps me out alot. i belive it helps controll phosphates. But it really helps the water looking crystal clear.

neither of them will hurt your tank and only need to be replaced every few months.

 

but someone else might chime in and help you alittle more than i can.

[Rocket]

People throw in Chemicals/ chemical removers when their levels start getting out of hand. Usually this is just sporatic and will calm down. Or they do not have enough LR to take care of the problem Naturally.

 

In My Opinion. The more natural the filtration the better. OH and much CHEAPER too!

 

Run a skimmer. and a Filter sock. And recently added phos-ban because of a bad RO/DI unit adding phospates.

[Prowland]

On my aquapod I get the best result running only filter-floss AKA pillow stuffing and a poly reactor with carbon.

 

Poly reactor link:

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/m...ode=phosreactor

 

With the LR rubble in the back chaimber you have the possibility of crap building up and becoming harmful to you tank.

 

Oh and I replace the filter-floss about every other feeding or 6 days. Replace when dirty.

 

I do not run a skimmer in mine and am able to keep everything in check with W/C's.