Tank Setup

M

Mike_yo

AC Members
Jan 16, 2008
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I'm lost as to the proper set up for a reef tank (26 gallon bow front). When I purchased the tank I was told all I needed was a surface skimming filter, and that would be enough to take care of all my filtration and water flow.

I bought everything, dropped in a damsel, 3 weeks later everything cycled, the world was good. Last week I bought a spotted yellow eyed tang, he was doing great,all was good.

3 days ago I bought an additional powerhead to supplement the lack of water movement, and while I was there I picked up a hammer coral. Now today the tang and the damsel are lethargic look like they are gasping for air. I took a water sample to my lfs and me told me my parameters we all good. When I told him what was going on with my fish, and told him what kind of set up I had, he told me I needed a sump.

Do I need a sump? Everything was fine before I added the second power head. Like I said, the damsel has been in there for almost a month.

:help:
 
While a sump offers the potential for greater reef stability and natural filtration, it isn't mandatory on a nano. I don't have a nano tank but I think that others with nano experience will chime in. Can you tell me specifically what your "surface skimming filter is" and what you are using in it (media)?

Also, you yellow eyed tang needs a much bigger tank -- even though this is one of the smaller/peaceful tangs a larger tank provides for it's food source of algae, your 29 will most likely not be adequate to supply it's needs.

T damsel is also likely to be more aggressive and if you read articles on the kole you will find it is great in an appropriate community tank, but should not be housed with aggressive species. Damsels tend to be aggressive. IMO.
 
I agree the Tang needs a bigger tank. Chalk that up to me not researching enough before purchasing. It's really small now so I hope he will be alright for a while longer. The damsel is sort of a dilemma. I bought him to help the tank cycle, but now that it is done, I'm sort of stuck with him. I do realize he is aggressive, he screws with shrimp and even some of the crabs. But what do I do with the guy?

Sorry for not giving more info on the filter previously ...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+18381&pcatid=18381

It has a small mechanical filter, a layer of bio balls, and then a layer of carbon.
 
The tang will be ok for now but will quickly outgrow your tank. Unless you plan on sinking some money into a larger tank rather quickly your best bet is to return it. Same goes for the Damsel. I got fooled into thinking I needed it to cycle my tank originally. He is a little fiesty at first to newcomers but has mellowed out and gets along with my inhabitants rather well. If he is causing you problems or you don't really want him I would return him to the store you got him and ask for a in store credit. If they refuse the credit then just give the fish back for free and not shop there again. =) During my early, naive days, I bought a horseshoe crab. Needless to say I ended up returning that & try to research EVERYTHING before hand so I don't get stuck in those situations again.
 
vorlx said:
Same goes for the Damsel. I got fooled into thinking I needed it to cycle my tank originally. He is a little fiesty at first to newcomers but has mellowed out and gets along with my inhabitants rather well. If he is causing you problems or you don't really want him I would return him to the store you got him and ask for a in store credit. If they refuse the credit then just give the fish back for free and not shop there again. =) During my early, naive days, I bought a horseshoe crab. Needless to say I ended up returning that & try to research EVERYTHING before hand so I don't get stuck in those situations again.
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He's is not causing me as much trouble as he does others. He tried to bow up against the Tang after I had acclimated it, and the Tang just ignored him. Now he follows the Tang around and mimics him. If the Tang picks at a rock for a few seconds, he is right behind him to see what he was picking at.

Is it cool to "return" a fish? I never thought of doing that.
 
Mike_yo said:
He's is not causing me as much trouble as he does others. He tried to bow up against the Tang after I had acclimated it, and the Tang just ignored him. Now he follows the Tang around and mimics him. If the Tang picks at a rock for a few seconds, he is right behind him to see what he was picking at.

Is it cool to "return" a fish? I never thought of doing that.
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Most any reputable fish store will allow you to return it. They honestly should have asked more details about where it was going. Most don't care though. I would just tell them that you didn't research enough before buying it and that you don't have the proper tank for it. I have only returned one thing and got store credit for it.
 
vorlx said:
Most any reputable fish store will allow you to return it. They honestly should have asked more details about where it was going. Most don't care though.
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I will try that.

Any tips on what I should try to do in the meantime? They don't look very well.
 
I would remove the nano-bio balls if it were me and use the filter pad and carbon. If you can, replace the bio balls with some rubble of LR and remember that carbon needs to be changed every 30 days or it starts to release back into the water all the impurities that it pulled out. If you have a piece of your LR in the tank that is small and your not attached to you can remove it and make your own rubble instead of buying more LR.

And for the record...don't add anything more until you get things stable.

About your earlier comment about the damsel. Everyone has done the same sort of thing buying something before they really researched it, but as Vorix says...typically we take the bad decision back to the LFS. Most are ok taking it back, you might not get all your money back and you might just get a store credit, but you are doing the right thing for the fish.

What is your lighting?
 
Mike: do you have your values foryour water test, or are you relying on the LFS to just say good or bad. You really need to invest in at least the basic kit. Phosphate kits are not part of the basic and run approx. $20. I use Salifert for the specific, non-basic tests and AP for the basic kit.
 
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