noob help

[b1pkkf26]

Hi

As you all can tell I am a noob to this fourm and to this hobby. My brother recently move out and left the aquarium behind. Now I have no clue on how to clean it and he told me just leave the light off and it should be fine, we have a 160g and 300lbs of lr. I know he left some test kit but I have no clue on how to test the ammonia, nitrite and ph. All the fish seems okey. Any help welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mogurnda]

At least it's an established tank. That will make it easier. It will need some maintenance, like adding fresh water to make up for evaporation, and whatever filtration it has will need at least a little attention.

Can you describe the system a little? Does it have a sump? How many fish and what kind? What kind of filtration does it have?

 

[b1pkkf26]

Thanks for your quick reply.

I have no idea what a sump is sorry, and the system iam not too sure also. What he told me is once a month just change the filter on the bottom of the tank with a new sheet of cotton. As for fish I have 1 yellow tang, 1 blue tang, 1 purple tang, 1 koran angel, 1 coral beauty, 1 flamming angel and 7 clowns.

 

[redtailhemi]

sell it to me but if your really interested in keeping SW look up as much info on the internets <--- (i hate bush too) and buy some good books like Conscientious Marine Aquarist

 

[Crown Royal]

Shame on your bro for not leaving better instructions for you.

As mogurda said, if the tank's been up and running for a while it makes things easier for you.

Keep the water level topped up daily by adding FRESH water. Do a 20% water change AT LEAST once a month with SALT water mixed to 1.025 specific gravity (I'm assuming he left you a hydrometer to measure this - probably looks like a little plastic box with a swing arm inside).

Also scrape the algae off the glass regularly. An old credit card is useful for this if you don't have a special scraper handy.

Don't overfeed your fish. Since you have tangs, clip some dried seaweed inside the tank for them to graze on each day.

A "sump" is simply another tank connected to the main tank (usually underneath). Does filter underneath the main tank look like a cannister or another tank?

Also, if the tank has a skimmer, that should be cleaned regularly. A skimmer looks like a cylinder with millions of tiny little bubbles rising up to a collection cup on top. If there is a sump, the skimmer usually sits inside.

The test kits should have their own instructions.

 

[Siklid]

do not use tap water for adding water ..................


if you have an RO use it for making your water

if not
get a water storage bucket ( new garbage can that you will need to run water throught a few times to get any residual chemicals off of will do nice )

fill it 1/2 way or so with water, add declorinater about 1/2 - 3/4 of what is suggested, add an air stone to the bottum of the bucket and a small power head, the air stone and power head will keep the water moving around, use this water as your basic water for your tank

you can use tap water if you want, but you will get algea realy bad and clorine will burn your fish's gills even if they are hardy fish

and if you have only filter floss in your "filter" you may want to change it a little more often then once a month, more like once a week, filter floss and bio balls are not exporters of nitrites or nitrates, get a light into your sump and get some macro / micro algea in there in stead of that filter floss

your off to a good start by asking questions, keep asking and learning its a great hobby, but its not always as easy as every one says, but it can be if you learn how to do it right

 

[b1pkkf26]

Thanks for all the replys, my bro came by three weeks ago and show me how to do the water change, not that hard once I learn the process.

Three other questions

1. Their are green algea on the lrs should I take them out and scrub them off or the tangs will eat them off the rocks?

2. The blue tang has some kind of burn marking on him or more of like a little hole on his body, what should I do? I really cant catch him because of all the lrs in the tank and he is really active and eating well. Should I be concern?

3. The purple tangs has some ick on his body, any way to help. Hear is what I tried (can't catch him also, add garlic to the sea weed and minced shrimp/squid, change 20-30 water every two weeks)

Many Thanks Again!