My First tank - Did the LFS mislead me?

I don't know how you'd use a skimmer on that particular tank, but get one of these power heads and place it so that it disturbs the surface of the water to help oxygenate the water better Amazon.com: Mini-Jet 404 Powerhead: Kitchen & Dining

I have no idea why that's listed under kitchen & dining on Amazon LOL.

 

Thanks WhiskyTango

- is it possible that dumping so many fish in too soon would set back my cycling?
And I am familiar with what cycling is

And would Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Reef Master Test Kits be a good test kit?

 

That API kit is a basic no frills kit. Fair measurements and so forth. You need to check your pH first and foremost and check your salinity as well. You MUST get some air in the tank as too. Either a Koralia Nano or a small airstone will help. You can not grow many corals with the light your tank came with...so keep that in mind as well. You can put a small fish in the tank in a month or so after all things have been tested, re-tested and stable. I would opt for you very favorite Damsel and get the smallest one you can find. When it outgrows the tank, just net it and put it in the larger tank you have started. or trade it in at the lfs. This hobby is a sickness and you most likely will have a 40g breeder(just a shape of tank) setup before you know it. How often are you performing water changes?

 

Sorry i may hvae missed this somewherein the thread but i didnt see anything noted about acclimating the fish to the water that could be the issue here oxygen yes but ive had some 2g nanos and kept fish just fine dominio's also in the 2g lol im just wondering if he no acclimating (i may have missed it)

 

Thanks for the Help NOR_CAL_GUY

I'm holding off on corals for awhile (and just for terminology sake a reed is a bunch of corals right?)

Also check out these pix i attached, my tank is a closed top tank, but i have filled it up to the top should I tank a glass of water or so out? that way there is about 1/2in or so of air space? Would that help?

Also i do a 10% every sunday.

TBSTR3 - you didn't miss anything, what is acclimating my fish mean?

 

Sushigirl - What exactly do powerheads do?

And i have a cyphen i made out of some tubing i bought will that work for a skimmer? Will i need a skimmer with this small of tank? Skimmers just clean the top of sand right?

 

A skimmer removes proteins from the water.Power heads just circulate the water. You will not be able to run a skimmer on that tank without alot of DIY. do it yourself. Which you are clearly not ready for. My advice is to add a small power head or airstone to help aerate as I am sure this is your problem. Don't add any fish. Leave your shrimp in there. Test the water for a few weeks and if everything is still good then maybe add a fish or coral. Just remember with that light you will only prob be able to do soft coral. I still think with your level of experience you are better off settting it up freshwater but its up to you. Read,read, and then read some more.

 

Like Vinny said, powerheads circulate the water, which gives a few benefits. 1) it keeps crud from building up on the bottom of your tank, and 2) if you have it close enough to the surface of the water, it disturbs the surface to promote oxygenation.

 

Any replys to the taking a couple glasses of water out of my tank?


Also can anyone explain acclimating to me??

 

A top on the tank is going to prevent oxygen exchange also. I'm not sure what you should do with that particular kind of tank. Maybe someone else has one and will know.

Here's an article on acclimation How to Acclimate Fish in Aquariums