24 Gallon Aquapod Newbie and questions.

[pbernardo711]

Greetings Everyone,

Extreme NEWB here! I have always wanted a saltwater tank and now that I have more time in my hand after finishing my undergrad – I thought I should just dive into it. I’ve been skimming through a lot of websites and even downloaded some apps on my iphone to try and figure out how to maintain a tank. Although, I have read numerous posts/blog…I still find myself confused and want to ask more questions on how to properly maintain my tank.

I purchased my tank from Craigslist about 4 weeks ago from this really nice person for only $200. Here are the items that were included with my purchase:

-24 gallon aquapod with lights (although one of the lights ended up not working when I picked up the tank)
For those that dont know - there are only two sumps in the back of the tank.
-25 to 30 lbs of live rock (unknown what type of rock)
-Live sand (extra unopened live sand as well)
-Brain Coral
-Lunar Wrasse
-3 star fish
-Hermit Crab (qty unknown)
-Tube Anemone
-Tank Stand
-some small corals (don’t know what they are called – about the size of a quarter and is white colored)
-Hydor Koralia Wavemaker
-Oceanic UV Sterilizer ( I didn’t know I was suppose to put the pump and the uv sterilizer together. For three weeks I had the sterilizer on and was not hooked up to a pump – I just realized that about a week ago – like I said ..extreme newb!)
-Some type or Pump (do not know the make)
-Tetra Submersible Heater ( I mistakenly thought this was the UV sterilizer and had it on as well - no wonder my temp was always at 82)
-Oceanic Protein Skimmer ( I need a new airstone though – I have not tried installing it in the pump since it wont fit with the UV sterilizer already in there..more questions about this one later)
-*Bioballs (these were in the back of the tank in the 2nd sump)
-*Sponge (these were in the back of the tank in the 2nd sump)
-*Carbon Filter (these were in the back of the tank in the 2nd sump) – After reading some blogs - I took all three out at the same time and replaced it with 5 lbs of live rock and YES…this FD up my ammonia levels – I didn’t know I was suppose to take each item out slowly – extreme newb!)
-Fish Net
-Two 5 gallon jugs
-Two 5 gallon Buckets with cover
-API Saltwater Master Test Kits
-Reef Builder and a bunch of other types of supplements

I thought this was such a great deal that I couldn’t pass it up.

So fast forward to today:
I had to get rid of my lunar wrasse cause I heard that they were very aggressive to other fish and I really wanted a Nemo in my tank for my lil 13 month girl. I gave the lunar wrasse to my LFS and got a $5 credit ( I know it aint much but I had no other choice). I purchased 10 hermit crabs, a cleaner shrimp and have changed my water twice using my RO/DI (5 gallons each time). I didnt have to deal with cycling the water since the previous owner had the tank for about 11 months.

Here are my many errors that occurred during the past 4 weeks:
- I bought myself a red legged hermit crab – which ate one of my small white corals – I returned the crab the next day to Petco.
- I purchased 2 turbo snails – acclimated them to my water – however I dumped all the water that came with the bag to my tank ( don’t judge me…=) ) Both turbo snails died…
- I had a starfish that died on me,I don’t know the cause – the other two are thriving..i think.
- I took out all the mechanical filters…at one time…causing my ammonia to spike.
- I dropped the UV sterilizer and broke the bulb – I hear I have to change the bulb anyhow so I wasn’t that disappointed.
- I purchased a Condy anemone before doing any research – both my clownfish are not hosting with anemone – So I have two anemones that are not compatible with my clowns, however the clowns have been staying away from both of them (Tube and Condy)
- I HAD a peppermint Shrimp…its gone now – I don’t know who the culprit is: Condy, Tube, Cleaner Shrimp,Clownfish??
- I have another murder mystery as well - One of my hermit crabs is dead and is out of its shell, how can this be? The front half is all that remains. Who killed it? Condy, Tube, Cleaner Shrimp,Clownfish??

These are my levels:
Ammonia – 0
PH Level 8.4
Nitrate – 0
Nitrite - 0


SO here are my questions…hopefully someone can answer it.
First of all - I want to know if I should put some kind of CUC in the 2nd sump where I put 5 lbs of live rock. My thinking is that the CUC will clean up any algae or other stuff that is growing back there or should I just leave the rocks alone? If so, how do the LR get cleaned up?

2nd. I bought myself a maxijet 1200 and wanted to use that as a pump with my UV sterilizer…however it seems that the maxijet 1200 may be too much for that sterilizer and will render the sterilizer ineffective. Any thoughts on this? I was thinking of returning the maxijet to Foster and Smith and replace it with a 900. I want to keep using my sterilizer to combat the ICH.

3rd I also want to use my protein skimmer – but the only way my protein skimmer would fit is if I put it in the 5 lbs live rock section in the back of my sump. In order to do that, I will have to make room and move some of the LR to the front of tank or to where my Maxijet and UV sterilizer are currently placed.

4th – will a UV sterilizer and a Protein skimmer be an overkill for a 24 gallon tank?

5th – I cant seem to get rid of these floating white things in my tank. They move about with the current of the wavemaker. I was wondering if this was ICH? I had to battle with ICH already with one of my ocellaris ( had to put him in freshwater for 3 minutes – Thank GOD it worked!) How do I get rid of these very small free floating white things and what are they? I also bought myself a cleaner shrimp to battle with ICH.

6th- I cant maintain my temp level…aside from purchasing a chiller, what else can I do? I purchased an automatic power strip as well as a small fan. I open up the small opening in the hood of the tank and aim the fan directly to the water. Everytime I get home, the water is at 72-73 degrees, isn’t this a lil cold? The small fan doesn’t add any bonus style points either.

7th – quantity of food. So far I feed them every other day with one cube of frozen shrimp. Is that enough for:
2 Clown Fish
2 Anemones
1 Brain Coral
2 StarFish
1 Turbo Snail
11 Hermit Crabs
1 Cleaner Shrimp
4 Nassarius Snails

8th – My true perc is acting such a bully to the smaller occelaris even though the occ is displaying its submissive dance. I’ve even seen the true perc bite the fin of the occ and had its full tail fin inside the true perc’s mouth. Will they ever get along????

I know it’s a lot of questions, but I know you guys are the experts…so I’m hoping one of you guys have the time to reply…thank you very much!

Attached is a pic of my tank.

[Chris27]

1. You don't need live rock in the back chamber in place of the bio-balls, you have enough in the display to handle your bio-needs.

2. The UV sterilizer is highly ineffective against Crypt (Marine Ich), it can be good for water clarity, but in all reality, some activated carbon is easier to use, and less prone to leakage and failure.

3. See note one....remove the rock.....and install the protein skimmer....it's far more beneficial to your tank then a few pounds of rubble which tends to accumulate waste given the nature of a back chamber on a system like yours.

4. Nope...at least the Protein Skimmer....a UV has it's place, but it's not for Crypt.

5. If the free floating things look like little shrimp...they are good...in fact most little things in a tank are good...sure there are some bad hitchhikers...but far more good ones.

6 Temp for a reef tank can be quite high....like 80F....so if the tank has a heater, adjust it such that it maintains that temp when the lights aren't on.

7. Look into either making your own food, or buying a pre-made mix such as emerald entree, marine cuisine, etc., a varied diet is far better for your livestock then one type of food. A half cube per day is a good starting point, you can adjust the quantity from there. Your livestock will surely be happier if they can eat two small meals 2X a day vs. 1 large meal once every two days.

8. Your clowns are either fighting or mating...hopefully the latter....it's a good indication that your system is stable enough for them to display a healthy behavior.

[sophelia76]

1- take out the live rock. I keep an aquarium sponge (I cut one made for an aquaclear filter) in one compartment of my nano to catch big particles and rinse it with R/O every few days.
2- I don't use a UV on any of my tanks. You'll get lots of different opinions on it, but I've found that with a stable tank and quarantine of new fish, the stock stays healthy without UV.
3- I would ditch liverock in the back and use skimmer.
4- UV + skimmer will be fine, if you choose to use UV
5- you can't see ICH off the fish (at least I don't think you can). It's likely copepods, or amphipods (good critters).
6- best temp control is with a controller such as an APEX, where the controller turns on and off a heater, fan or chiller based on temperature. These are pricey though. Without a controller, set your heater to a temp such as 78 and use a fan to cool.
7- For a nano, I would buy a frozen food that's says its a variety food (mix of enriched brine, mysis, algae, etc.). If you go with a single food, mysis is better than brine. You can even use a turkey baster and shoot some at your brain coral.
8- Hopefully the clowns will get along better as time goes on, or hopefully the smaller can find ways to avoid the larger.

[pbernardo711]

Thank You Chris and Sophelia.
I will take out the LR and place it in the main tank and install my skimmer back there.
As for the heater - I only have a Tetra Submersible heater and I dont think I can control the temp on that.(unless you know any different)
I'm hearing different stories about how the UV can control the ICH if it does't and will only apply for clearer water then I am still for it.
Lastly - the white stuff that is floating around my tank doesn't seem to be a floating shrimp,copepods or amphipods - the tiny white things look like sand.( doubt that it is though)

[Chris27]

In that case, run a little filter floss in one of the back chambers, it should clear up whatever is floating around.

[pbernardo711]

Can I bring back the sponge I had previously and use that instead of a filter floss? Thanks Chris.