Also New to SW

Hello all. I'm also new to saltwater. I've had several aquariums as a kid, but nothing big. I had roughly a 30g saltwater tank in college with some tangs and stuff we'd catch offshore, but no coral. Now I've started a new 20g reef tank. I'm starting small so my investment in learning won't break the bank, but I've learned a ton just by reading this forum. I'm also learning that its really hard to tell the difference between those who know what their talking about and those who don't when you're first starting; so be careful.

My tank equipment list, due to its size, has a power filter vs a sump, a maxijet 600 for flow, only 20lbs of live rock (will add more), a heater and a light balist that came with both the white light and uv light. It's only 10,000k, but I think it will work for a 20g reef tank based on readings. It's been running for two weeks now and I have not scene any spikes in the ammonia or nitrite. The pH is is around 8.2, 8.3, salinity normal, temp normal and I have a nitrate reading of about 5.0. That being said, I'm starting to see some signs of life. I first noticed some aiptasia, which I was excited about at first; but was quickly informed of how bad they are. I also got lucky and bought LR with some coralline algae growing on it and it is spreading really well. I've seen some different pods darting around, what I think is a chicken liver sponge or possibly a snail (looks like a piece of lint with antennaes slowly crawling across the rock), some bubble algae (yeah) and a spionid worm. I'm going tomorrow to have my water tested by a 3rd party and to get some peppermint shrimp to help control the aiptasia.

Well, that's my story so far. I'll have more questions in the not so distant future and look forward to everyone's help. I'll try to post some pics along the way.....even though its only a little 20g.

Regards.

 

Hi Parabol , welcome to 3 reef, nice introdcution by the way

 

welcome to 3reef. no tangs for this 20g tank i trust

 

welcome!

 

I'm not sure yet. I was just looking in my tank again. There's lots of various pods roaming about. I have a piece of dead coral in the tank and they tend to habitate it more than the live rock. I've been searching the internet trying to find out what my little worm critter is, but I know now that it's not a sponge. Definitely some kind of snail or worm. Again, it looks like a piece of grey lint from your pocket in the shape of a worm, with distinct long antennaes. He can't be more than a cm or 1.5 cm. Fun stuff! Thanks for the feedback.

 

Hi and welcome! Have fun and good luck

 

Welcome to 3reef

 

Update

Yesterday I add some new life to the tank ;D. My water has all tested well, so I added a small cluster of sand polyps, a peppermint shrimp, some snails, an eilee angel and a clown. Everything is doing really well, with an a possible exception of the clown. I've created a small protected section in the rock. Yesterday I added the clown and he was very active exporling the tank. Both the clown and the angel ate some mysis shrimp right away. I gave them about 1/2 a frozen cube. Today the clown is hiding in that protected area and has not left it for several hours. He appears to be breathing really heavy. I'm not sure what could be wrong for him. The angel, polyps, shrimp are all active and doing well; so I don't think its the water. Plus all ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are fine, the temp is around 78-80 and the salinity is around 1.023. He came from a tank that was around 1.018 at the fish store, but I introduced him/her gradually to the new water over an hour period.

Any thoughts on chemical imbalances in the water that can affect clowns specifically? Any thoughts on test that I could run?

Thanks for any advice.

 

how long has the tank been running, what is your ammonia level?

 

I'm about to check my ammonia level. It was 0 prior to introducing everything. The clown is happy now. He's always hungry and I hear that's just their nature, but I'm wondering if I should feed twice a day. I put my hand in the tank today to see if a snail had died. When I did, he started pecking at my arm. I've never had a pet fish do that before. Any thoughts on twice a day feedings? The angel eats everything in sight, as well. (I'm currently feeding 1/2 a cube of the frozen shrimp)

Second, my polyps are looking bleek. They're open, but don't appear as vibrant and healthy as they did upon introduction 4 days ago. Again, I'm going to check ammonia, nitrites and nitrates now. Salinity and temp are still good. I also set the tank on a timer recently.

Third, I had a snail die. I've always been under the impression that it's hard to kill a snail. Is this is bad omen?

Lastly, I have a type of toadstool (I think) that appears to have a dead spot on its rock. I've heard that you should get these guys out of the tank whenever something like this appears as it can create problems. Any thoughts on this?