swannie

I have inherited a 65 gallon tank from my father. He was moving so I had 2 weeks to set up the tank and then the fish arrived. I used his live rock in the 2 wk cycle and new live sand. I have bought a marineland double bright LED lighting system for it as his light system was smaller than the 36" across that I needed for this tank. I have a lot of stuff starting to grow on the live rock (mushrooms, polyps, little red feather things).
I inhertied a large blue damsel (I think), a clownfish, 2 lack and white damsels and a boxer shrimp. They have been in the tank for a week now and seem happy. I have added in a few hermit crabs, 2 emerald crabs and 3 snails.
The blue damsel has started to dig a hole under one of the rocks to make itself a burrow I guess.
Is the lighting enough - since I am growing things in there now - to get a few other mushrooms?
How long do I cycle from this point - all water measurements are good.
How often do I change the water and how much.
Do I need more cleaners?
Why is that blue damsel burrowing?
THANX

aquarist48

Hello Swannie and Welcome to Fish Lore!

I'm sure some of the salt tank members will help you out before long.

I hope you enjoy the site.

Ken

kloseo

with lighting for SW tanks, its about watts per gallon. take the number of total wattage for all light on the tank and divide it by 65g and you will know the amount of light your tank has. As far as the mushroom polyps are concerned, they like lower light( defined as around 3w per g) and may do fine, especially if you already have mushrooms and they are doing well. the little red feathery things sound like feather dusters, which are very common on live rock and a good addition to a tank.
did you use your fathers filter, if so your tank may be close to cycling especially if it was up and running before you got it.
also, do you have a protein skimmer on your tank, if not i strongly recommed you get one. clean up crew is all appropriate for your tank, and you could get a few more hermit crabs and snails ( astria) if you like, i would consider adding purple up to the water once a week when you do water changes, it will help your boxer shrimp get the iodine he needs to molt and grow, expect that to happen about once a month and if he looses a claw in the process dont worry as it will grow back the damsel may be buring setting up his territory or is being bullied by the other two damsels. most tanks only have one type of damsel due to their aggressive nature
as far as water changes, i would do a 10% change every 7 to 10 days
hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions, best of luck

swannie

Yes I did inherit the filter to and so I didnt have to worry about the bio-build up. I did a water test today and everything is perfect. I Love how they all go to bed at night in their own little nooks. Surprisingly though the Blue Damsel doesnt go in its burrow? The shrimp molted on Wed/Thurs this week and he is now starting to come out.
I was wondering about the protein skimmer - which I dont have - so I guess I will go to BA and get one of them.
How long before I can add new fish? The black and white damsels seem to be picking on the clownfish some what. Should I get a second to keep him/her company?
Can anyone recommend some god books? I got a few from my Dad but they dont get into the meat of it. Only Fluff.
Also, someone told me I should get 2 filters? I think that is too much for the tabnk (36x18) but am now wondering about a second power air blower lower in the tank. The one I have is up at the top of the water line.

kloseo

i like the consciencous aquarist by robert fenner. the filter issue relates to tank turn overs per hour, is your filter a canister or a hangon the back.. with canister filters it is reccomended to have a tank turn over around 7 to 8 and with hang ons around 10. i have 1 canister and 2 hangon filters with a turnover around 17 and i also have 3 powerheads, but i am setting up a reef tank. i would not recommend a second clown as it is best to add them together and make sure they are a mated pair. if your paremeters are fine, and your tank is cycled, you could add fish now just add them slowly to give the bacteria time to catch up so you dont send your tank into a mini cycle, also with saltwater tanks, it is recomended to keep fewer fish than you would if the tank was freshwater. There are quiet a few fish you could choose from, dwarf angel, various wrasses, gobies, lion fish, i would research the fish you want before adding any to make sure you get fish you will be happy with and are compatable