Krislena

I set up a 12 gallon saltwater tank about 2 months ago. I have fish who are living (yeah!) 3 Damsels and 1 snail. I don't understand much about cycling so I may need some help with this... As far as I can tell all levels in the tank are at normal with the exception of ammonia which is in the stress (mid, not high) zone. I have had alot of algae but its much better now and also alot of waste buildup. The waste is definitely much less but there is still some waste stuck to my filter sucker (whatever it is called). I went through 2 filters in 1 week to fix that situation... I'm not sure that my live rock is still Alive as most of it is white. I'm not really sure what the next step is to reduce the ammonia or if its just going to happen naturally... What is the next step other than that? I don't think I can really add more fish bc one of the damsels (medium blue with a black dot on the back) is very aggressive to the two smaller damsels (blue with yellow tail) He doesn't attack them but he herds them. Any thoughts?

Miss Mouse

Hi, it should be coming to an end of the cycle. The only way to reduce ammonia is to do lots of little water changes. You can buy a liquid called "Cycle" which helps encourage the cycle process.

Your live rock will still be alive but takes a while to grow the purple coraline algae on it. Dont worry about that...
Dont add any more fish for now.It's a small tank and damsels are very aggressive and it will only end in tears!

The thing with marine is to take it very very slowly; I have had mine running for nearly 5 months now and its still settling in.I only have 3 fish for now as well although I think its finally time to add one or 2 more. You'll probably still go through some cyano breakouts - nasty sludgy algae and it will take a while for the good bacteria to grow enough to deal with the waste that the fish produce. What substrate do you have?Sand or gravel or none?

Oh and with your filter pads - keep them - just rinse them under some water from the tank and throw that out. It really helps cycle quicker because if you just throw them away you lose all the colonies of beneficial bacteria and then the new filter pad has to build them up again. It's basically like starting the cycling process in your filter all over again.

Krislena

It's gravel (coral) ... that's what the kit suggested I get. the reason I've been getting rid of the filter pads is because they get SOOO dirty I can't get the mess off of them. I guess I'll just try like you said. Do I CHANGE the water or do I just keep adding water. I haven't ever REMOVED water when I added it. I guess that could be a problem...

Miss Mouse

You'll need to do small water changes weekly - maybe like 10%. Remove some water and replace it with clean water.

I recommend letting your water stand for 24 hours, then mix the salt and let it stand for another 24 hours. I normally heat it up in the microwave when its ready to go into the tank and meassure the temp with a thermometer. There's a lot of debate about how long to leave the water etc but i have found that it gives the salt a thorough chance to disolve. It cant do any harm anyway!

What colour is the dirt on your filter pads?
Ursula

Mike

The blue damsels can be mean little fish, especially the all blue one with the dark dot which sounds like the "blue devil damselfish".* Fish stores used to tell people to start the cycle with them, but the problem is, if these damsels make it through the cycle they will pester most fish you put in the tank with them.* My little yellow tail damsels nip at any fish that goes by their cave, including much larger fish.* I wouldn't put anything else in a 12 gallon saltwater tank besides what you already have.

It'll take some time for the white live rock to bounce back, although I wouldn't expect it to completely bounce back if there has been a major die off, which may be what you're seeing in the filter.* If you have an algea problem, try cutting back on the amounts you feed the fish and do the partial water changes that Miss Mouse recommends.

bandito974

I just bought a used nano, it had a little water in it along with live sand. I bought 13lbs of live rock and I bought 8 gallons of pet store saltwater, I put everything in the tank and after a few hours the tank is super clear, can I expect a cycle? what can I expect to see and when can I introduce critters?
My 1st saltwater tank BTW

agsansoo

Please read the following. http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

bandito974

Yea thanks for the schooling, I am aware of what to do. What I was asking was what to characteristics to expect.. There really is not much posted on nano's and setup. I have read that in smaller aquariums the parameters change very quickly and you have to really keep any eye out.
I wanted to know when to expect the red slime. I've been doing cic's for some time now and have been succesful so now I try my hand at saltwater. At some point I'd like a large reef tank but want to practice on this nano

Mike

Hopefully, you'll never get red slime algae (cyanobacteria). Use Reverse Osmosis water, frequent water changes, protein skimming, low stocking levels, and plenty of water movement.

Also, you may not see the tank cycle if the live rock was indeed fully cured.

bandito974

Thank you for the response, I have had the tank up since Sunday with the live rock in it and water flowing, I have not seen any change it looks crystal clear, Now I do not have lights turned on as I am waiting for some new bulbs I ordered to arrive, I plan to do a 20% water change once I add light to the tank then wait another week to add some critters. Does this sound like a good plan?
B

Mike

If you don't already have them, you'll need to get the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate test kits to make sure that your tank is cycled. If you don't get any readings on the ammo and nitrite, then it's most likely safe for very small fish since it's a nano tank.

bandito974

well I added 2 anenomies, 2 hermits and 2 snails! On Sunday I added a clown fish,
I think I am ok, I plan on doing weekly water changes since I added the anenomies, being it such a small tank I plan on buying my water direct from the aquarium shop.
I have one major question. If I buy 5 gallons of water and just use 2 1/2 can I keep the other 2 1/2 for a week in the container and use it for the follwing weeks water change? Or does it have to be fresh water?


I added a pic guys in the member forum please check it out!

Mike

Any leftover new water will be fine for a few days.

What about the test kits? Did you test your water yet? If you don't know your parameters you risk losing your new fish and anemones. If you're seeing any ammonia or nitrite the clown may not make it. If you don't have a test kit, take a sample of your tank water to the store and have them test it for you.

Anemones are notoriously difficult to keep, even for the very experienced salties. Looks like you have a bleached anemone on the bottom of the tank in front of the rock? Is that a sebae? What are the other 2 anemones?

Some upkeep info on the anemones:
You'll need to get some really good lights over these guys like T5's or Power compacts at the least. Frequent feedings (like every other day or so) of small pieces of shrimp and silversides will help keep them alive. If you're not up to keeping these anemones well fed and providing good lighting you risk losing them and it might be better to return them because they can be somewhat demanding. They can live for an extremely long time in good conditions.

Mike

bandito974

Thanks for all the info Mike, I took a sample of the water to the store, they told me it was excellent! Of course I bought the water there, when you say its good for a couple of days to store it I am looking at doing weekly changes and will be keeping it stored for 7 days. Is this ok?
Also on the anemones, When we 1st brought them home they shriveled up, then the next day they doubled in size! This morning the rice looking one looks like he has gotten bigger yet again. The bubble tip (purple) coughed up a dead clown first night in the tank! That was weird! So you suggest feeding then every 2 days shrimp?
what kinda shrimp? Popcorn? I had just been sprinkling extra clown fish food, Do I need to place the shrimp in the anemones, or just drop it in and it will make its way to them?
Thanks
JM
** Update**
I had some Tilapia Fillets in the freezer, I chopped them up in two a few small pieces I dangled the 1st piece in front of the smallest anemone IT GRABBED IT!@ it was the coolest thing ever! the other 2 guys did the same thing!
I think caring for the anemones is going to be more fun than seeing the fish!
I have 2 24 watt bulbs its the combo deal where half is white half is blue should that be enuff light?
Thanks Mike!

pistorta

If you want to keep pre-mixed saltwater for a week, I would suggest throwing a small pump in the container to keep it circulating. You don't want to add stagnant water to your tank.

As Mike mentioned, most anemones are notoriously difficult to keep due to their high demands. They can be aggressive, grow large and even pollute the tank.

When feeding, you'll want to place the thawed shrimp (buy frozen and unprocessed) or other meaty foods on the tenticles. Depending on the type of anemone, it should bring the shrimp to it's mouth.

How big is the tank?

bandito974

I have a 12 gallon nano! Like I said in my update, I put the piece of fish about an inch away from the tenacles and they GRABBED it! So I shoul dnot use the stagnant water then hu? Just out of curiosity, petco sells premade water in a box and it doesnt seem to be circulating.. Any thoughts on that water?

pistorta

You have a 12 gallon...that was a stupid question on my part.

The water at Petco you mentioned must be vacuume sealed. Otherwise, I don't know how it would be usable. Do you have any other info on it? - as I have never seen such a product.

bandito974

well its in a box, it really didn't look vacuume sealed, it is sold in 5 gallon sizes and is in a box very similar to a wine box so it might be under the cardboard, its sold for 11.99, wish is about double what a good local pet store would sell it for. I may do a partial change tonight so that water doesnt go bad, I bought it on Saturday.