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Unread 05/10/2007, 12:34 PM   #1
jr202
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I'm New any advice appreciated

I am new to this hobby I have a marine land octagon tank (5 Gallon)
bio wheel filtration 10 watt 1/2 and 1/2 (flourcent + blue atinic) crushed coral substrate 12lbs fiji live rock, 1 crown conch, 2 blue legged hermits, 1 red legged hermit, 1 condy anemone, 1 fiji island blue devil, looks like some coral polyps growing on rock. Tank has been up for 2 weeks. I really enjoy this hobby looking to get a 29 gal. at that point i will give tank to my son (5 Gallon). My nitrate was high but no signs of stress to fish or inverts. since the nitrate was high i bought some go juice (beneficial bacteria to cycle tank) pet store recommended. i add daily immunovital. have added i bottle over a week of cycle. and ph was low so i added marine buffer. what else can i add to tank. can i add corals and what inverts would be beneficial. any advice would be appreciated


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Unread 05/10/2007, 12:41 PM   #2
shag26272
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if you are using a filter pad and biowheel on your filter its causing the nitrates, you can remove these and replace with liver rock rubble, make sure you are doing are doing a water change every week, your lights are not strong enough for corals, or an anenome


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Unread 05/10/2007, 12:52 PM   #3
jr202
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So I replace the bio wheel and filter pad with live rock then if i get a 20 watt 1/2 and 1/2 would I have enough light.


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Unread 05/10/2007, 12:53 PM   #4
cdangel0
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If the tank is brand new it really should not have anything but LR in it right now. I do not think the filter pad is adding to the nitrates yet, it is probably just the cycle. You need to do a water change to bring the nitrates down.

You really do need to upgrade those lights if you plan on keeping coprals or an anemone. I would also reccomend not waiting too long to upgrade the tank as the anemone will quickly outgrow the 5g he is in now.

And if the pet store is selling you live stock at the same time they are selling you a set-up I would immediately stop shopping there. They are obviously more concerned with your dollars then your success in this hobby.


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Unread 05/10/2007, 12:53 PM   #5
Nano Chris
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Hold up i think you are moving too fast, if you just set that up and its only 2 weeks old i would not add anything else to that tank, also i would get rid of the bio wheel and get some lr rubble like shag26272 said.


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Unread 05/10/2007, 12:55 PM   #6
cdangel0
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Quote:
Originally posted by jr202
So I replace the bio wheel and filter pad with live rock then if i get a 20 watt 1/2 and 1/2 would I have enough light.
You will need at a minimum Power Compact lighting. Normal flourecent lighting is just not strong enough to feed the anemone.


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Unread 05/10/2007, 12:55 PM   #7
shag26272
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you could keep some polyps and mushrooms, return the anemone though,your lights arent strong enough and they can eat your fish and sting your corals what is the length of the light you are looking at? at least take the pad and biowheel off your nitrates should fall if you have some rock rubble put it in


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Unread 05/10/2007, 12:58 PM   #8
shag26272
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I agree with cdangel your local store is setting you up for failure, a 5 gallon aquarium is very hard to take care of and I would never recommend it for beginners, the larger your aquarium is the more stable it is and if you make a beginner mistake its easier to fix because you have more water volume


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Unread 05/10/2007, 01:21 PM   #9
jr202
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thank you all I really need a larger tank is the 24 gallon bio cube good i seen one for 389 with metal halide lights white and blue moon light and it says a good bio ball filtration. It says it has a full 24 hr light cycle
would this tank be a good starter tank
thanks to you all again


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Unread 05/10/2007, 01:51 PM   #10
shag26272
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it will be easier to take care of then your 5 gallon and you could keep most corals, bio-balls are the same as your biowheel, people use them on fish only tanks but they create nitrates that are bad for corals, you would just remove them


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Unread 05/10/2007, 02:01 PM   #11
Travis L. Stevens
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I would read through the sticky at the top of this forum. Lots of information to gain there.


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Unread 05/10/2007, 02:23 PM   #12
taillonjohn
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my suggestion is to stop adding animals, and stop adding additives, till you do more research. there is alot to understand in this hobby, and going forward without any knowledge will be very expensive lessons for you. Ask questions on this webste, instead of your lfs. just my opinion


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Unread 05/10/2007, 03:01 PM   #13
lilith
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I myself am a newer reef keeper but I have been in FW for many years. I have had my tank set up for a little over a month and I have done a lot of research and talked with a lot of people before setting it up.I am still learning and have a long way to go. This is my 29 gal.

I would not suggest doing anything except selling back any corals or creatures you have until you get a larger tank with proper lighting. The biocubes and Nano cubes are great for mini tanks. Any tank smaller than a 29-30 gal is going to be extreamly difficult for a beginner and you will not be able to keep many creatures as it is. I do not have any fish right now, only softy corals (mushrooms, zoas, zenia, ect). I will not be adding anything else for at least 3 more weeks until I can get my calcium levels stabalized and my nitrates stablized.

Good luck to you and please do your research before getting anything living in the future.

PS - your 5 gal is not even great for freshwater unless you want a single fish like a betta. I suggest selling it.


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Unread 05/10/2007, 03:14 PM   #14
Ty1e
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i have a 6week old 30gal tank i'm trying to turn in to a realy nice reef tank, so far i have the 15lbs of live rock two clown fish and a brown tang, for lighting i was tricked in to buying a corial life super thin 10000k + atinic for $79.00cnd new. i new it didn't look bright enough. for filteration i have a fluval canister filter.
i real want to stick to this tank and not buy a nano tank, so what can i do with what i have or is it worth it to just get a nano tank?


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