Advice for New Tank [Archive]

glimo

10-02-2008, 03:34 PM

Hello,

I am a new to this site as well as salt water / reef aquariums.

I am setting up a 12g Nano-Cube and I am feeling like I need additional information, the store I purchased from seems to be simplifying the task of maintaining this tank.

Our intentions are to have a couple of clowns, goobies (sp?), a shrimp or two and maybe a hermit crab. I would like to have an additional species of fish but I understand this may prove difficult with the clowns. Any advice?

We would also like to introduce some live corral but this seems like it requires a higher level of care due to additional nutritional requirements.

Also, any advice anyone is willing to offer on water changes for this size of tank as well as advice on nitrates and anything else you can think of...

Thank you in advance for your time, I really appreciate it.

travie

10-02-2008, 05:40 PM

I am setting up a 12g Nano-Cube and I am feeling like I need additional information, the store I purchased from seems to be simplifying the task of maintaining this tank. Not as hard as it use to be; it is much easier with equipment that we have at our disposal. Just requires more time in the way of maintenance.

Our intentions are to have a couple of clowns, goobies (sp?), a shrimp or two and maybe a hermit crab. I would like to have an additional species of fish but I understand this may prove difficult with the clowns. Any advice? You will not be able to have 2 clowns in a tank that small unless they are a male and female pair. If you get a pair, you will not be able to have goby in a 12g with them. You might be able to have one clown, one goby, one shrimp, and hermits and snails. Exact number on snails and hermits, I'm not sure.

We would also like to introduce some live corral but this seems like it requires a higher level of care due to additional nutritional requirements. Coral will depend on what kinds you are interested. I have no experience will coral yet. Some one else should be along to help there.

Also, any advice anyone is willing to offer on water changes for this size of tank as well as advice on nitrates and anything else you can think of. Weekly 10% water changes should be fine if adequate filtering is used(Enough live rock). You will want parameters at zero and nitrates under 10 ppm

I underlined my thoughts. Hope that helps a little, and others should be around to correct and add to what I wrote. What all equipment have you acquired so far?

oldhead

10-02-2008, 05:48 PM

Coral also need varying amounts of light. What kind of lighting does the tank come with?

AABatteries

10-02-2008, 08:01 PM

First of all a 12g for a first time marine tank probably wasn't the best choice. Also DO NOT use TAP water, use RO water.

glimo

10-02-2008, 10:02 PM

Although this is my first marine tank, my husband has kept salt water tank before and I have experience with tropical tanks. Space constraints lead to our decision on tank size. We have a great store that I have worked with for several years and we are buying water from them.

glimo

10-02-2008, 10:10 PM

Thank you so much for your reply.

We have a Nano Cube 12g tank, live rocks ( don't know the lbs ), live sand, salt water supplied by our store, heater. I will have to reference the lighting specs. The tank has been up and running for 6 days and I will have the water tested on Sat. before I begin to add critters.

Any advice on which order to add the animals. I have read the clown(s) may need to be added last due to establishment of territory and aggression issues.

again, thanks for your time.

glimo in sunny socal

AABatteries

10-03-2008, 11:31 AM

Salt water needs to cycle for atleast 2 weeks. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

oldhead

10-03-2008, 11:40 AM

Salt water needs to cycle for atleast 2 weeks. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Not sure what you mean. Are you referring to aging water for that long? Or do you mean the tank itself needs to cycle for 2 weeks before it's ready?

travie

10-03-2008, 02:50 PM

Salt water needs to cycle for atleast 2 weeks. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't think there is ever a set time for a tank to cycle whether SW or FW. Tanks cycle in however long it will take for the specific tank to cycle.

labnjab

10-03-2008, 04:28 PM

After adding enough live rock and live sand, my tank took 3 days to fully cycle, but like travie says, it differs from tank to tank. It can also take close to a year to fully mature and go through all the algae stages.

AABatteries

10-03-2008, 05:30 PM

Yeah, I meant aging, sorry.

cocoa_pleco

10-03-2008, 05:52 PM

Yeah, I meant aging, sorry.

to get a fully mature reef takes about a year, not 2 weeks

AABatteries

10-04-2008, 04:14 AM

to get a fully mature reef takes about a year, not 2 weeks

Okay, now I think I got what I was trying to say... atleast 2 weeks before adding fish(does that sound okay?).

cocoa_pleco

10-04-2008, 04:37 AM

Okay, now I think I got what I was trying to say... atleast 2 weeks before adding fish(does that sound okay?).

depends on alot. most new reefers should spend 3-4 months alone with just live rock getting used to running equipment and eveything

AABatteries

10-04-2008, 04:41 AM

And for an expierenced one, untill the water tests good?

cocoa_pleco

10-04-2008, 04:47 AM

And for an expierenced one, untill the water tests good?

still depends on alot, but if its stable and say a 125g or larger, a couple of safe could be okay. when i tore down my 55's, i added 60lbs of established live sand and 60lbs of new sand to my 125g. i added about 125lbs of cured live rock also, and i transferred my lunar wrasse and clown goby too. i added a pair of chromis, a cinnamon clown, and bicolor foxface too. dont forget ive worked with saltwater for 8 years though, and i know certain fishes needs

AABatteries

10-04-2008, 04:49 AM

I know, you have mroe knowledge than I will have for a long time. And my amount of expierence with saltwater: 0 years. Freshwater: My whole life exposed to it, and 4 or 5 years of caring for my own tanks.

cocoa_pleco

10-04-2008, 04:54 AM

it takes alot of reading. ive had freshwater for about 16 years and saltwater for about 8. everything i know ive taught myself or read.

AABatteries

10-04-2008, 04:56 AM

I've learned most things from here or my parents.

cocoa_pleco

10-04-2008, 04:58 AM

saltwater i totally taught myself though, back then i had no idea about fish forums and it was actually one of my corals dieing that made me find forums.

Gemstone

10-06-2008, 03:11 PM

saltwater i totally taught myself though, back then i had no idea about fish forums and it was actually one of my corals dieing that made me find forums.

and aren't we all glad you did, cocoa..:19:

(learning lots about reefs here...us starting our own and all)

iceiscool

10-09-2008, 06:07 AM

Hello guys! I'm a new member in this forum. I have learned a lot just reading your post. Can I share some tips as well? I came across this video and discovered it's very educational specially for beginners like me. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znTmyVeKunM

Hope it would be helpful for everyone. Thanks!

oldhead

10-09-2008, 11:12 AM