Help for the new guy! :)

[azdad]

Hello everyone!

I have had planted tanks in the past. Most recently a 90 gallon tropical planted that I lost in a my divorce. I haven't had tanks in a while. I've ALWAYS wanted a salt tank but wanted to wait until I was in a stable home first!

I was just given a 20 gallon with complete salt setup, a clownfish, a tang, and a ton of live coral.

It is VERY clear that this tank has been severely neglected. There are 100s of Aiptasia and the coral is all covered with nasty algae. 2 sides of the tank is covered with some serious calcification.

I'm VERY excited to finally have a salt tank but I have no clue where to start with clean up. I don 'tknow what will damage the coral or how to get rid of the Aiptasia. I would like to keep a few but I hear they are worse than weeds.

It is currently on my kitchen counter and I need to get it cleaned and moved to it's permanent home in the next few days. If anyone can give me any guidance I would REALLY appreciate it!

I'm looking forward to all that you all have to teach me! btw - I live in Mesa, AZ.

Roger

[Reverend Reefer]

try some peppermint shrimp. they'll eat all the aiptasia. i have 2 peppermints and in a week all my aiptasia disappeared, but i never saw one eating. i think they eat at night.

[footballdude2k3]

ditch the tang, get some peppermints in there asap

[fstar25]

+1 on trading away that tank, way way too small of a tank. I bought 1 peppermint shrimp and he ate the few aiptasia I had and I have never seen one return. You will probably need more than one if you have that many though. And, if you have any really big ones, i have seen a picture of one eating a PS lol. Make sure you get peppermint shrimp and not camel shrimp, they look very similar.

Good luck and welcome to ReefCentral!

[golby]

get a scraper and get to work on the sides of the tank (that you want to be able to see through). In terms of equipment, make sure your lights are adequate and get a small protein skimmer. most peppermints like aiptasia but some don't--and yes, they eat at night.

[azdad]

Originally Posted by golby

get a scraper and get to work on the sides of the tank (that you want to be able to see through). In terms of equipment, make sure your lights are adequate and get a small protein skimmer. most peppermints like aiptasia but some don't--and yes, they eat at night.

What is a protein skimmer?

[cubsFAN]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1696795

ditch the tang for sure. im sure you can find him a good home. you might be able to trade a local reefer for a more appropriate fish for your tank size. youre gonna want to do a bit of reading. the link above should help explain filtration and equipment and more. I'd try peppermint shrimp too, but you may have to inject them with joes juice or aptasia x or something similar.scrape down the viewing sides, and see where the hobby takes you. probably to an upgrade from the 20 before you know it.

[fstar25]

in my opinion you have no need for a skimmer. just do weekly water changes of 15-20%. this will help replenish needed elements and ensure good water quality. protein skimmerd are essential on bigger tanks, but not a nano.

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[Powdermonkey]

Berghia might be a good choice for your aiptasia problem.

[855012 reefer]

I have had multiple peppermint shrimp from multiple LFS's. none have eaten aptasia. I have researched for a coulple of hours and I decided that berghia nudibranch are the way to go. I recently placed my order from here: http://www.saltyunderground.com/index.php?cPath=6


this place also sells them and has a lot of info:http://www.berghia.net/marketprice.html

[drstratton]

Hi Roger,
I am also new to saltwater aquarium keeping. I just recently read an article on how to get rid of Aiptasia, peppermint shrimp will work but for larger Aiptasia you might need to do something different. I have included the link. http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/msu...a/aa061903.htm
Good Luck~Rene'

[855012 reefer]

Scrape off what sounds like corraline algae, sell the tang to a friend with a bigger tank, and use the money to upgrade your cleanup crew.

If you could post a pic we would be able to help further.

Welcome to the SW aquarium hobby and good luck!!

[danielsbees]

If the peppermints dont work guarantee the copperband butterfly will get rid of the aiptasia had tons got a copperband non left.

[Chiefsurfer]

^copperband is FAAAAAAR too big for a 20, AS WELL as the tang.

First trade the tang in to the shop. If you like the clown you can keep him.

Go out and buy a 40 breeder(minimum I would reccomend for a starter), get a HOB protein skimmer like an eshopps psk75H, get a good 4-bulb t5 fixture, and start over, only using the fish from the tank you were given. Oh, and don't throw the fish in when you set the tank up. You will need to get live rock, and give it 4-6 weeks to cycle completely fishless.

If there is a big algae problem, and it's all over the live rock, you may fight it for months, maybe even YEARS. Something that will make you want to quit REALLL fast.

That is my personal opinion. Between the aiptasia, and the algae, and probably horrible rock and water parameters, just start over if you want a SW tank. You will have a MUCH!!! easier time getting it going.

Lastly, aiptasia is FAR worse than dandilions. Wipe one out, pop comes up another 5. Also peppermint's are hit or miss on aiptasia.

[Muddy35]

+1 on both peppermints and copperbands HOWEVER; DO NOT KEEP a copperband in a 20. Use it and loose it!! 20 is way to small for a copperband.

[855012 reefer]

heres a link to my thread which will help you know what peppermint to buy.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1811143

[855012 reefer]

only a certain species will definetly eat them. As far as the Berghia I had told you about, I put 2 in my tank and they were eaten immediatly by a terribellid worm.

[Playa-1]

I would use the 20 as a QT and use a larger tank for the Salt tank. I would also suggest that you start by reading as much as you can before making any rash decisions.