A little trip to the fish store

Hello everyone, I am new and fairly new to the hobby. (freshwater tanks my whole life, salt for 1 month now).

My girlfriend and I met Craig Manoukian today at a fish store and he recomended I come to this site.

I will attempt to keep this as short as possible. Almost exactly a month ago me and my girlfriend set up our first salt water tank. As I have read in a couple books and on various sites... we got sucked into the impulse buy. (entire 20 gal salt water set up for $150) Well needless to say this already had come back to haunt us.

My main question is we have a 20 gal. (please dont get mad we are new and didn't know better and have bleached coral) and a crushed coral base on a undergravel filter.

After talking to Craig today we realised that our brown algae problem is probibly due to an imbalance. Currently we have 5 damsels.

My question really is, should we just start over, get the live rock, live sand? Im pretty confused right now on what to do next. I have 2 books but they more cover setup and matence.

Well I hope you all don't mind a couple of rookies joining.
Thanks

Mark and Marsha

 

Well, a 1 month old salt water tank is still sooo new it's probably still cycling!! The brown algea (probably diatoms) is a natural part of the cycling stage. This happens at the end of the cycling stage and carries on with different stages of algae for the first year or so. (my own personal experiences). The undergravel filter, I don't think I'd live with. Some other type of filtration would probably be better, IMO. The crushed coral bed is up to you. More personal opinion than anything, I think. Just remember , things happen very slowly in SW tanks. (except death!). You probably need a small test kit set, like this cheapie..

http://www.petsmart.com/global/prod...r_id=2534374302030149&bmUID=1108099568652

or go with a better brand, like Salifert. Stay with the damsels for awhile, couple of months probably, then move up to the next stage. As it looks like you got a little taste already, try to plan you tanks growth. IE, what fish, inverts , corals to add, and when, so you can learn how to care for each, and if they are safe for each other, ahead of time...very important!!! ANd NEVER, EVER, go to a fish store with any credit cards, checks, or more than $20 bucks cash on you. You WILL spend it!!!

Protein skimmers are also a most have in most eyes, including mine. A little investment that has big potential!!!!

Just be patient, enjoy the learning effect, and enjoy the life you've helped grow...

it will work itself out in time...

Good luck, and welcome to 3reef!!!!

Scoffer

 

Mark and Marsha,
Welcome to 3reef, Karma to you!

Test kits are a must!
It really depends on what you want. Once you decide that then you have to take small steps to achieve what you want. It really is early in your tanks life to trash it and start all over again. Also all the equipment you have is usable. You haven't wasted anything.
Read the forums [glow=red,2,300]look at pictures[/glow] and make a decision based on your economics and lifestyle. Above all have fun, if it's not fun then its not a hobby. ;D
Jim

 

Hi Mark and Marsha and Welcome!!!

What you do next depends on what you are aiming for.

What stuff did you get with your setup?

If you want to keep coral, I feel that Live Rock is a must have.

The crushed coral with the UG filter....if you are looking to keep small polyp stony corals (acroporas or montiporas, etc) I would get rid of that and go with either (here you will need to do research on your best option)
1) Barebottom (your tank , not you ;D)
2) Some argonite sand
3) Deep Sand bed

All have benefits and disadvantages.

I personally run a shallow sandbed in the main tank, and a deep sand bed in a refugium underneath my tank.

The smaller sand has the benefit of being able to process nitrogenous waste (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates.

Some disadvantages could be hydrogen sulfide build up in the deep sand , which if released = bad news. There are ways around that tho.

So, what type of tank are you shooting for? ;D And please, feel free to ask all your questions!!!!

 

Well when we first got the tank I wanted a reef, my girlfriend didnt (she thinks the live rock is ugly) I told her it takes time, she isnt very patient. But now her cute bleached coral is all coverd in brown algae...

I would like to have a reef... but our money situation is currently a little low.

Ahhh frustrating jumping into this the way we did.
Mark

 

have you ever read these books:

The Simple Guide to Saltwater Aquariums
The Conciencious Marine Aquarist
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saltwater Aquariums
Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies
The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide
The Simple Guide To Mini-reef Aquariums ( will be out soon)
???
They are all good reads and should give you plenty of information to starting your first marine aquarium. usually you can find some of them at your local library (free!) or buy them from amazon.com. Setting up an aquarium doesn't have to cost alot of money! Just read some of the threads around here, they help find you ways to save money (like the DIY section) If you have patience, you can set up a beautiful marine aquarium for alot less money!

Believe you me, soon you will want to ditch the undergravel filter and get a really nice protein skimmer and some powerheads so you can support some gorgeous live rock, live rock and protein skimmer = lots of life and less ugly algae buildup

 

Mark,  I agree with everyone else, get rid of  the undergravel filter.  It's not that it can't work,  it's just that there are better options.  Protein skimmer and power filter like a peguin 170 or 200.  These can be bought online cheap at www.thatfishplace.com or petsolutions.com.  If you decide to run the undergravel filter you need at least a 4" sand bed and will need to vaccum the substrate from time to time.  This would work ok for a fish only tank.  You still should get a skimmer though.  If you forgo the UGF then go with either a 2" or less sand bed or min. 4" bed.  And don't forget your monthly water change, more often for a reef tank.  Hope this helps some and good luck and keep researching.  This is an ever learning hobby and we all have different  experiences and opinions. One last thing. Check out www.aquatraders.com and look at the Propack skimmer. Its cheap and looks like a carbon copy of CPR's BakPak skimmer which sells for over twice as much. Although I do not have any experience with this skimmer.

 

SHhould they not be using R/O? What about them cycling with table shrimp instead of fish? Just curious...

Hi Mark and Marsha!!
[smiley=wave.gif]

 

Well, RO water for a reef, but if fish only, not really necessary

As for the cycling, the deed is done :-/  Damsels are pretty tough, altho 5 in that size tank is asking for trouble.

Well,  if Marsha does not like the look of rock...check out maybe getting a few pieces from

www.tampabaysaltwater.com

, they have beautiful "deco" pieces, but you will pay for them!!!

Rock is really recommended , even for a fish only tank.  It is more natural for the fish, and is the best filtration around!

I have personally fallen in love with the much smaller species of fish such as the gobies, blennies, and jawfishes.  Check those for options in a small tank.  I find it best to get to a good LFS that carries these fish because their personalities are so endearing!!!