Help! New tank setup concerns! (Beginner)

[nanotankdan]

Hello everyone here at Reef Central!

I have just dived into this highly addicting saltwater tank hobby. So here I go.

I have a 28 gallon bowfront tank. I went to PetCo and bought everything I needed there.

-AquaClear 30 gallon filter
-Oceanic Powerhead (rated for 30 gallons and under)
-Heater
-Thermometer
- 2 fixture ballast with Hamilton 10000k daylight and CoralSun 420 actinic
- and so on

I have run into into a problem that is just bugging me. I had bought the tank,skimmer,sand, and liverock all secondhand off of Craigslist. My cycle has been going on its second week now. I was told that my tank would cycle faster than usual because of the previous sand and rock. Petco also gave me some of their water.

This is where my problem started. Had I known better, I could have prevented this. They had told me I could put some snails and hermit crabs in the tank now. So I got excited and put 99 cent hermits and 5 snails with the long snouts (excuse my lack of knowledge) and 2 turbo snails in the tank about a couple days into the cycle. I also have a long spined urchin in there as well.

Everything seemed to be going good and about a week into the cycle they had told me I could put a few fish in there, so I put 2 blue green chromis fish in there. I do not see them as they are hiding in the rocks all the time.

A few days after I had added all this I started noticing my diatom bloom. I was excited. But now it is just horrible. Green algea all over my glass and rock. Brown algae everywhere else. After researching this I found out that it does go away and that after it does I was supposed to add fish and a cleanup crew. Seems like I was deceived by PetCo and did it the other way around.

So my question is, what do I do? The algae will keep feeding my cleanup crew and fish and never die out? Oh yes, I have forgotten to mention the worst part, they had also sold me a coral. A pagoda cup coral. I feel so bad not waiting until all the bloom had died off.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I will try to post some pictures of what it looks like.

[Lig]

What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? What are you using as a water source?

[nanotankdan]

I have the tetra easy test strips. Just did a test and according to them my Nitrate looks like its around 20-40 (says its in the "safe" range. Nitrite is at 0-.5. Alkalinity is around 300 and pH seems to be in the range of 8.4 (says "ideal"). Salinity is at 1.022. I do not have the ammonia tester but I do have an API saltwater kit coming in the mail that should have it. I use our well water for my water source it is supposed to be very clean and I use Prime water conditioner. I use Instant Ocean for my salt mix as well.

[EllieSuz]

It's time for you to do some earnest research. You have a rare opportunity to correct your mistakes and do things the right way. I wish I had known about Reef Central when I started out years ago. Read the stickies at the top of this forum, especially those that deal with setting up a new tank. Look for a retail store that sells saltwater fish and supplies and discount most of what you hear from an employee at a chain pet store. Even if you have a good LFS (live fish store) nearby, take their advice with a grain of salt too. They're in business to make money. Even those with good intentions often haven't kept up with the latest theories and technology in the hobby. The diatom bloom will subside. You can do a water change now, which will offer at least some temporary results. Natural saltwater is slightly above 1.026. Raise your specific gravity from 1.022 to 1.025 or so. The best way to do this is to add freshly made saltwater to top off the tank, instead of the usual freshwater. It's fine if this takes several days to accomplish. Raising salinity should be a gradual process. Once you've done some reading, you'll be able to formulate specific questions and we will all be able to help you get off to a great start.

Oh, and I almost forgot:


To Reef Central

[reeferstace]

You need to do a ton of research before you add any more livestock. If there's ammonia in your tank get those fish out before you kill them.
Please look at all the stickies here. They are full of good info. Stop listening to petco.

[zoafarm]

Well from all the things we see on these forums about Petco, the saltwater business at Petco must be good. They unfortunately gave you bad advice. Elliesuz is dead on. I would also add that your well water is probably not clean enough for a saltwater tank. I would highly recommend RO/DI water.

Happy Reefing

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by EllieSuz

It's time for you to do some earnest research. You have a rare opportunity to correct your mistakes and do things the right way. I wish I had known about Reef Central when I started out years ago. Read the stickies at the top of this forum, especially those that deal with setting up a new tank. Look for a retail store that sells saltwater fish and supplies and discount most of what you hear from an employee at a chain pet store. Even if you have a good LFS (live fish store) nearby, take their advice with a grain of salt too. They're in business to make money. Even those with good intentions often haven't kept up with the latest theories and technology in the hobby. The diatom bloom will subside. You can do a water change now, which will offer at least some temporary results. Natural saltwater is slightly above 1.026. Raise your specific gravity from 1.022 to 1.025 or so. The best way to do this is to add freshly made saltwater to top off the tank, instead of the usual freshwater. It's fine if this takes several days to accomplish. Raising salinity should be a gradual process. Once you've done some reading, you'll be able to formulate specific questions and we will all be able to help you get off to a great start.

Oh, and I almost forgot:


To Reef Central

+1 The PETCO guy who told you that some of their water would help the cycle is an idiot. Its OK for a new hobbyist to be partially idiot, but not a LFS employee. Please don't buy their (or any) fish or corals without research. You should start by learning what the "cycle" is. Water is not "cycled"; the tank is. Forums like ours are great, but I think reading some good books on our hobby is vital for beginners. Low-tech, I know. A good start would be Fenner's "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist". Our hobby really doesn't have much that isn't constantly debated, so basic research is vital. You must know enough to make decisions; because you will always get more than one opinion. My opinion of the PETCO guy and his water info is, of course, 100% accurate. (CMA, I assume he thought his water was "cycled", a common misconception.)

[Lig]

I agree with the others saying to read the stickies. I would also do a few large water changes over the next few days using either RODI or distilled water. I personally would do a 50-75% water change ASAP, then some smaller 20-30% changes over the next several days.

[nanotankdan]

Darn, well I wish I was informed earlier about using rodi or distilled water. I guess it just looks like this hobby isn't for me, too much money to spend for a student like me haha. Thanks for the help guys

[kbacon]

you need to buy your own RODI unit. or if you buy distilled water, make sure it is clean and NOT from the dehunidifier in your basment.

[Sethjamto]

Just buy your RODI water. For a 28g tank, it won't be much at all. I can get RODI for $0.50/g at my LFS. That is what I did when I had my 29g tank and it was real cheap. For my current 90, I have RODI water maker in the garage and make all my own SW and RO for topoff.

Good luck, and read read read!

[Led Bizkit]

Guys he is long gone lol

[denny crain]

That's ashame. This can be such a rewarding hobby but when you get bad advice and start out so bad it can really get you down. Don't give up, hang in there.

[HUNTER1]

I remember my first tank, 5g and went to fish store and bought 2 goldfish and found out later they were koi. I had no idea my tank was a gift. They'll sell you anything for a profit
I'm sure almost everyone went thru the newbie stage.

[chrisfont23]

Originally Posted by HUNTER1

I remember my first tank, 5g and went to fish store and bought 2 goldfish and found out later they were koi. I had no idea my tank was a gift. They'll sell you anything for a profit
I'm sure almost everyone went thru the newbie stage.

Ha. Me too. I now have a 300 gallon pond though

[slavver01]

Agree with the comment bout LFS owners being somewhat outdated. I get blank stares when I ask their opinions on some of the stuff regularly discussed here