Shamrok

Hi guys! Im new to the forums and im really glad that i found em this seems like a pretty nice place. I've grown up around fish my whole life im currently 17 and my girl friend and i have decided to start a saltwater reef aquarium at her house. I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions for some tough fish that could stand up to a newly setup tank. I've been told that Damsels and Clown fish are good for the job is this true?

Peterpiper

Hello and Welcome to FishLore
Ok, what size tank are you setting up ? are you going to run a sump?

COBettaCouple

welcome to FishLore!

Wolfgang8810

i personally think it is a bad idea to "share" such an expensive setup with a girlfriend. your 17 man and chances are you guys wont be together forever like planned ive "shared" before and ended up paying for most of it and never seeing it again

Mike

Hi Shamrok - welcome to FishLore.

Many of the damselfishes are rather hardy, but they can also be quite belligerent with their tankmates (including those of the same species). Clowns can be good in fully cycled tanks. Look into letting live rock cycle the tank and not the fish.

Gozer_1

Welcome. You've come to the right place.

I'm sorry to say but I'd kinda have to agree with Wolfgang8810. A reef is a VERY expensive operation both to set up and to maintain. It could be thousands when you add it all up depending on the size of your tank and set up.

Peterpiper

OK I know I may get in trouble for this.. I to have lost $ due to a marrage brake down. But I beleave every one has a soul mate, and we should live for today, plan for tomorrow and love the one we are with. I wish you all the best Shamrok's. Nobody knows what the future holds for any of us. BUT DONT LET THAT STOP YOU LIVING LIFE!
Pete

Richard

Dude.. I was 17 once, a long time ago.. back then the only thing I would've wanted to hear is " Do your thing!".. so do your thing and BTW, welcome to Fishlore.

Shamrok

its really hers im just helping out shes paying for it all... Its a 12 gallon tank... u say live rock is better for cycling? ill prolly get a damsel or two they are only 4 bucks and maybe a live rock its kinda cheap... just lookin to get something in their to get it goin at first. we prolly wont spend to much on as long as its colorful and the fish are healthy we will be happy...

Gozer_1

Thats cool. Just know that it is an investment of more than money, not to mention how much money.

I prefer Blue green chromis instead of Blue Damsels. They're a little more friendly. Though mine always cannabalize their numbers to 3 in my 55. Guess they want to be 3 not 5. Live Rock is the best place to start. You set up your tank with an inch or 2 of live sand. Place your live rock and let her roll. The curing process of your rock will cycle your tank as well. You don't really want to ever cure rock in a stocked tank.

Peterpiper

Hi attached is the link to SW set up. For a 12g sw you would need 12lb live rock. and you may have some problems keeping the water perameters correct with this size tank... have a read and good luck

http://www.fishlore.com/SaltwaterAquariumSetup.htm

Shamrok

Whats a good pH/alk level for the tank?

Shamrok

fish tank is up and running... i got this biozyme stuff... idk what it is but it looked like it would be good i didnt put any in yet what do you guys think? it breaks down organic buildup and helps to culture the tank

COBettaCouple

i don't believe that biozyme does much.

Peterpiper

I would let the tank cycle with the live rock, with out adding chemicals.
what type of filter are you running?

Shamrok

some pictures of the set up.


the filter.


how long will it take to culture properly?

thanks =)

Peterpiper

You will need to keep testing the water. Once your ammonia= 0, nitrite= 0 and your nitrate is below 20 you should be right. this can take 1-8 weeks

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
This link will explain it better

Shamrok

What can i do to lower the levels of ammonia in the tank?

COBettaCouple

For our FW tanks, we would do partial water changes and tap water treatments to lock up ammonia (like Prime or Amquel+). I think the same would apply for your SW tank, just be sure the tap water treatments are acceptible for SW.

Shamrok

we were sitting looking at the tank for a few minutes and noticed a feather duster came living in one of our live rocks. It popped out to say hello lol.



He lives in the white coil, but we were wondering, did he move into that white coil? Or does it... actually produce the coil? Will he relocate if he gets bigger? Or will the coil grow? We dont know much about the feather dusters, heh.

Peterpiper

http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm
This site will help ID THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY. Got the link from ATMmachine, You may want a Peppermint Shrimp to keep to algae down. its looking good so keep up the good work

Shamrok

what exactly does a protein skimmer do? and where can u get a small one?

Peterpiper

This link will help you understand
http://www.fishlore.com/fishdictiona...proteinskimmer
And sgould has a great thread on skimmers with photo's of what is removed from the tank.

With skimmers you get what you pay for.... any LFS should have them or be able to get one for you

Gozer_1

Featherdusters are one of my favorites. I have a half dozen different varieties. The one in your picture is the calcerous type. Which means it is building that white tube as it grows. It will not ever move from that tube. As your rock matures you will likely see others. Eventually you'll start to find these little white tubes ALL OVER THE PLACE. They grow in my filter canister, on the glass, everywhere. Mine are red. Well, only the calcerous type. The rest of mine are a little different. They too make their own tubes but the tube is more like parchment paper than a hard calcium tube. I have a LARGE colony of Colonial Dusters and 4 or 5 other kinds of this type. There are dusters that get VERY large. I have heard of 12in + Dusters. My largest is maybe 1 inch in diameter and growing. Some consider these worms as somewhat of a pest because of their ability to multiply. Colonial dusters will seriously multiply if they are happy. If you check out my tank thread here
http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/me...s-55-salt.html I have put up a picture of my main colony. It started as about 12 dusters a couple months ago. I now have small patches in every spot I set this rock for any period of time. I moved it a few times before deciding where to put it. The calcerous kind can be a pest too because they have hard tubes. You have to clean them out of moving parts in the filter and stuff. I love them and have no problem with their prolific multiplying though.

Shamrok

thanks you for your answer! I like them a lot too. very pretty. I hope to see more in my tank! btw, this is the girlfriend lol. <3

Gozer_1

Well Welcome to Fishlore.

I'm positive you'll see more. The only dusters I ever bought are the Colony dusters. The rest just showed up over time. You'll be amazed at all the things that start popping out. At one point I saw something new everyday.

Shamrok

are there any small reef safe eels? i've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find one...

Gozer_1

UH Hmm I don't know. I don't think so. Pretty sure eels are all pretty big and hungry.

≈ D ≈

Just wanted to say hi and welcome to the forums. Nice setup you got going too.