Lots of questions ! Help Please !

VixonAzaria · 06/04/2009, 08:30 PM

Alright so I am new to haveing a Salt tank, yes yes a Newbie. I am haveing trouble keeping much alive, but green, and red bubble algie, sponges, hermit crabs, snails, and a Lawnmower Blenny.... Everything else like Anomines, Clown Fish, Britle Star Fish, and Sea Horses Die in there I know that Sea Horses are for Experts... now... so I am just trying to keep some fish for now and I would like to see what I need to check other than temp water slenity and clarity? Any hents out there ? I have a bow front tank, that I believe is 48 gl.s but I am not sure and I haven't yet had much of a chance to calculate it out. I have a corl-light florecent light, but I don't know the wattage. I have a carbon filter, and a bubble stone to help oxigenate my tank. I am not quite sure what else I would need to have to keep my tank helth, and my little Muchrooms happy. I can upload a picture of my tanks if that might help....

dogstar74 · 06/04/2009, 09:21 PM

Welcome to Reef Central

some people test for Nitrate and Alk and Ca. The latter are mostly for stony corals. Nitrate can give you an idea about the amount of waste in the tank. This can give you an idea about when to change the water, but for a newbie. Just keep an eye on the temp, and set a regular water change routine with a quality salt, and you should to OK.

dogstar74 · 06/04/2009, 09:25 PM

Oh and increase flow, and forget the bubble stone. It will lead to an immoral amount of salt creep around the tank. Use surface agitation for oxygenation, instead of the bubble stone.

A great 25 dollar investment in this hobby is "The New Marine Aquarium" My Palletta. It's the best 25 bucks you'll spend in this hobby.

Hope this helps.
Aaron

BeanAnimal · 06/04/2009, 09:28 PM

Your questions are much better suited to the "new to the hobby" forum.

There are plenty of people over that that will be more willing to help you get on the right track.

Here is the link: (I will ask a moderator to move your question over there).

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...hp?forumid=104

To give you a general answer, you need to start out slow with just a few easy to take care of fish. It will take time to learn how to manage the tank and its chemistry. The process is rather easy, but it does take some time to learn. It will be important to monitor the salinity of the water and the amonia and nitrate levels. Water changes are something that can not be avoided (especially for beginers). Once you get the basics figured out, then you can decide on harder to keep fish and corals.

szwab · 06/04/2009, 09:36 PM

This thread has been moved to the current forum.

uncleof6 · 06/04/2009, 09:38 PM

Anemones are for experienced only also. They are about the most difficult of critters to keep. I would stay away from coral and other reef associated critters-- till you learn how to keep your fish alive. If the fish die, so will the rest. Along with salinity, and temp, other tank parameters that you need to check:

pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, for now. Later, (when it is safe to start a reef) calcium, dKH, (alkalinity) and magnesium should also be tested. Dissolved oxygen is also a valuable parameter to keep track of, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2).

A reef tank requires three things: Good light (metal halide, T5, etc.) Good water flow 20x + your total water volume per hour, and a good protein skimmer (a fish only tank needs that also).

I suspect your fish are dying because your tank has no chemical balance, e.g. the nitrogen cycle and poor oxygenation.(lack of flow) The carbon is not doing much for you except keeping the water from turning yellow. (although carbon is not a bad thing to use). I also question having the bubble algae in there.

Strongly suggest you head over to this forum for beginners:

New to the Hobby

Hope this helped shed a little light on the problem, and welcome to reef central.

Regards,

Jim

Well, it got moved while I was typing, geez it takes a long time to type sometimes.

Michael · 06/05/2009, 12:07 AM

hi-welcome to the forum, firstly before we go any further its best if we can see some history.

can you list all your equipment, and livestock for us please, and confirm how you replace water and what source as well for water changes and evaporation, what salt mix, and anything else you can think of.

a general discription of feeding and what you feed etc, if your unsure of some of the kit you have a brief description may be enough

To Reef Central

06/04/2009, 08:30 PM	#1
VixonAzaria Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Friendswood, Texas Posts: 1	Lots of questions ! Help Please ! Alright so I am new to haveing a Salt tank, yes yes a Newbie. I am haveing trouble keeping much alive, but green, and red bubble algie, sponges, hermit crabs, snails, and a Lawnmower Blenny.... Everything else like Anomines, Clown Fish, Britle Star Fish, and Sea Horses Die in there I know that Sea Horses are for Experts... now... so I am just trying to keep some fish for now and I would like to see what I need to check other than temp water slenity and clarity? Any hents out there ? I have a bow front tank, that I believe is 48 gl.s but I am not sure and I haven't yet had much of a chance to calculate it out. I have a corl-light florecent light, but I don't know the wattage. I have a carbon filter, and a bubble stone to help oxigenate my tank. I am not quite sure what else I would need to have to keep my tank helth, and my little Muchrooms happy. I can upload a picture of my tanks if that might help....

06/04/2009, 09:21 PM	#2
dogstar74 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 2,152	Welcome to Reef Central some people test for Nitrate and Alk and Ca. The latter are mostly for stony corals. Nitrate can give you an idea about the amount of waste in the tank. This can give you an idea about when to change the water, but for a newbie. Just keep an eye on the temp, and set a regular water change routine with a quality salt, and you should to OK. __________________ "If there's nothing wrong with me... then there must be something wrong with the universe!" Current Tank Info: 10 gallon nano with ATS

06/04/2009, 09:25 PM	#3
dogstar74 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 2,152	Oh and increase flow, and forget the bubble stone. It will lead to an immoral amount of salt creep around the tank. Use surface agitation for oxygenation, instead of the bubble stone. A great 25 dollar investment in this hobby is "The New Marine Aquarium" My Palletta. It's the best 25 bucks you'll spend in this hobby. Hope this helps. Aaron __________________ "If there's nothing wrong with me... then there must be something wrong with the universe!" Current Tank Info: 10 gallon nano with ATS

06/04/2009, 09:36 PM	#5
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	This thread has been moved to the current forum. __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

06/04/2009, 09:38 PM	#6
uncleof6 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: AWOL Posts: 12,013	Anemones are for experienced only also. They are about the most difficult of critters to keep. I would stay away from coral and other reef associated critters-- till you learn how to keep your fish alive. If the fish die, so will the rest. Along with salinity, and temp, other tank parameters that you need to check: pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, for now. Later, (when it is safe to start a reef) calcium, dKH, (alkalinity) and magnesium should also be tested. Dissolved oxygen is also a valuable parameter to keep track of, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2). A reef tank requires three things: Good light (metal halide, T5, etc.) Good water flow 20x + your total water volume per hour, and a good protein skimmer (a fish only tank needs that also). I suspect your fish are dying because your tank has no chemical balance, e.g. the nitrogen cycle and poor oxygenation.(lack of flow) The carbon is not doing much for you except keeping the water from turning yellow. (although carbon is not a bad thing to use). I also question having the bubble algae in there. Strongly suggest you head over to this forum for beginners: New to the Hobby Hope this helped shed a little light on the problem, and welcome to reef central. Regards, Jim Well, it got moved while I was typing, geez it takes a long time to type sometimes. __________________ "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (oft attributed to Einstein; most likely paraphrasing by Roger Sessions; compactly articulates the principle of Occam's Razor) Current Tank Info: 325 6' wide Reef

06/04/2009, 09:28 PM	#4
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Your questions are much better suited to the "new to the hobby" forum. There are plenty of people over that that will be more willing to help you get on the right track. Here is the link: (I will ask a moderator to move your question over there). http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...hp?forumid=104 To give you a general answer, you need to start out slow with just a few easy to take care of fish. It will take time to learn how to manage the tank and its chemistry. The process is rather easy, but it does take some time to learn. It will be important to monitor the salinity of the water and the amonia and nitrate levels. Water changes are something that can not be avoided (especially for beginers). Once you get the basics figured out, then you can decide on harder to keep fish and corals.

06/05/2009, 12:07 AM	#7
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	hi-welcome to the forum, firstly before we go any further its best if we can see some history. can you list all your equipment, and livestock for us please, and confirm how you replace water and what source as well for water changes and evaporation, what salt mix, and anything else you can think of. a general discription of feeding and what you feed etc, if your unsure of some of the kit you have a brief description may be enough *To Reef Central* __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)