EASY SALTWATER QUESTIONS?????????

kano5003

This Is My New 75 Gallon Saltwater.
Jan 12, 2007
164
0
0
34
Australia
HELLO I HAVE A MARINE TANK WITH A BIG PROTEIN SKIMMER, AN INTERNAL FILTER AND A HEATER WITH 10 KG OF LIVE ROCK. MY AQUARIUM HOLDS 95 LITRES AND I WANT 2 PERCULA CLOWN FISH WITH 1 ENEMONE AND I ALREADY HAVE A HERMIT CRAB AND MY TANK HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR 2 WEEKS NOW THESE ARE MY QUESTIONS:

1.HOW LONG DOES MY PROTIEN SKIMMER NEED TO BE ON FOR.
2.WHEN CAN I ADD MY 2 CLOWNS AND ENEMONE.
3.WHEN DO I DO MY FIRST WATER CHANGE.
4.ALOT OF PEOPLE SAID I CAN ADD 2 CLOWNS IN 2 WEEKS I THOUGHT 4 WOULD BE ENOUGHT IS THIS OK
5.WHAT DO CLOWNS AND ENEMONES TEND TO EAT.

HELP ME ANY WAY POSSIBLE THANKS.

KANO5003
 
Hi!

Forgive me, I've made these mistakes before, so all that I say is really slapping my own wrist.

You can add 2 small clowns in two weeks, and they'll have a decent (read this as not necessarily happy) survival chance. You'd do better to instead judge the time you wait on if you're done cycling or not.

Just cause your tank's been running for 2 weeks means little because your live rock could be cured or uncured, you could have added or not added bacteria or water and sand from an established tank,etc.

So please provide us more info about how your tank's been (started cycling) set up. And no, it won't be done cycling for another two weeks.

Tell us instead:
Ammonia level
Nitrite
Nitrates
Salinity

This is the time line I'd suggest if I were doing this:
Months from now:
1/2 month. Add a cleanup crew (astrea snails, and know that hermits can be pests and misbehave). Research clownfish behaviors, likings, tankmates, life cycles, mating and care needs.
1. Add two small TANK RAISED FALSE percs at the same time.
2. get used to taking care of your tank. settle in and dedicate yourself, decide if this is really what you want to do and spend money on. It'll take you about 5/3 as much money as you originally think even after you buy a tank and LR.
3. Dream about anemones.
4. REALIZE THAT WRITING IN CAPS LIKE THIS IS ANNOYING AND HARD TO READ.
5. Keep dreaming about anemones. Research their requirements, and save up for the VHO or metal halide lights you'll need to sustain them.
6. Keep dreaming.
7. Ditto.
8. Ditto.
9. Oh! Now that you know everything about them, ESPECIALLY their myths, and know how to keep them, and realizing they only live 1/100 of their lives in an aquarium because we're unable to care for them well enough. If you know all this, and we willing to accept the circumstances, then go for it!
10. Curse when you realize your tank raised clown fish have never seen an anemone before and they will refuse to host in it like the cute pictures say they will.


You may not want to do 4 percs in 95L (25ga) because two would be better, happier, and you'd get to see the wonderful relationship that two percs develop. Also, you may want to wait until your aquarium is settled and established (6-9months) before adding an Anemone. Others can help you out on the skimmer question.

And just so you know where I'm coming from (ie, why I'm dumb, impatient, and irresponsible):
I have a 12 gallon nano reef with five anemones (different types, NOT recommended, they'll war against eachother). Plus, I'm overstocking by a huge margin (only vertibrate I have are 2 tiny percs) and I barely have enough lighting as is to support the anemones. But I know (most of) what I'm doing wrong, and I work hard to keep this tank on the knife edge, because it's an obsession.

If you're willing to do 10% water changes every one or two days, target feed everything, and check your ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels daily... then you can do an anemone and 4 percs.

But before that, you must read, read, READ!!! Ask tons of questions (like you're doing, great first step!!!), and also decide what you are and aren't willing to do.

And last lesson: Never trust completely what someone like me says, because we're all wrong at times, make bad decisions, or like to toot our own horns, trot out our latest non scientific theories as truth, etc. You get the idea.
 
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yes my levels are this:
Ammona is 0
Nitrite is 0
Nitrate is 5
p.h is 8.4
phosphate is 0.5
and salinity is 1.023
and i got so much bacteria from live rock and live sand from an established tank and i also got cycle from pet store.....
 
Great!

Wow, it sounds like you're already cycled then, since it sounds like you basically took everything from an established tank?

If this is so, then I'd start looking to add two false percs next week. IMO you might be happier with a pair of clowns, then one of two other small fish, but be careful, because clowns can be nastily territorial.

Any other members want to give a shout of advice?
 
how long ha syour tank ben set up? have you put anything in it as far as food or nutrients? it is possible that your cycle hasnt even started yet....

i agree with malex to kep waiting for quite some time. you are going to want to make sure you have enough lighting.



and malex: i love the #4.... so incredibly true. haha
 
LOL@#4's "suggestion." I agree with Malex. Having 2 clowns is ideal because, chances are, any more than that will fight. The anemone should probably wait a few months until your tank is established and stable. As malex also brought up, the clowns may show no interest in the anemone. They may act indifferent toward it and ignore it.

Blue-green chromis stay small and would make decent tankmates for the clowns and a tank your size, if you really want 4 fish.

I waited a month to turn on my skimmer (I had no fish the first month). You can turn it on now or wait until you have fish. It should be kept on at all times.

Biggest advice that you've already been given...read and research everything thoroughly.

:)
 
I only want 2 percula clowns and maybe an enemone later on like 3 months or so but first the clowns maybe in about 2 weeks and my tank has been set up for 2 weeks now and all my tests are fine so yes i am going to get clowns in 2 weeks and all my readings are posted up top and there all good and i have heeps of live bacteria.....
 
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That's great, as long as your tank is cycled they should be fine. My first 2 fish were 2 clowns and I still have them to this day. :)

They're silly and like to "clown" around. Seriously though, they have very interesting personalities- I'm sure you'll enjoy them.
 
Yes, i did get my live rock and 2 cups of live sand and the hermit crab from a established tank. I also said i got cycle from the pet store which is live bacteria. Thanks and is this all ok?? can i add 2 percula clowns in about 1 and half to 2 weeks?? Thanks, i bet you can remember when you got your first marine tank and couldnt wait to add fish and corals... LOL.
 
FYI "cycle" is snake oil... doesn't work and is just adding nutrients to the tank. From what I can see, it should be ok to add them.
 
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