Frustrated

[Sang72]

Ok, so I have set up a 20 gal marine tank, let it cycle for a week, tossed in a shrimp, waited a few days, then got a nemo fish and an anemone.

Ok, the shrimp molted a few days later.

The darn anemone keeps moving all over the place.

Nemo died suddenly, he looked bloated and had his mouth open the day before he floated.

The shrimp is fine, so is the anemone.

S.G. is excellent.

Nitrate is good.

Nitrite is ok.

I dun want to kill another nemo

 

[parker313]

Take the anemone back. They're just ASKING for trouble in a nano tank. If (when) it dies, it will quickly poison the entire tank It's moving all over the place b/c that's what anemones do. They move until they find a place they're comfortable, which probably won't happen in a small tank.

How much liverock do you have? In a 20g, you should have about 20lbs for the most effective filtration.

 

[Sang72]

I have 20 lbs live sand, 65W CF 50/50, but I only have 3 rocks. Maybe I should get more rocks. How do you know if the anemone is sick?

My plans were 2 false percula clowns, one anemone and 1-2 shrimp.

 

[parker313]

You should definitely take back the anemone and get more rock. Anemones don't always look sick, they just up and die on you and WILL kill everything in your tank Most people don't even bother with them at all they cause so much trouble.

If you want something for your clowns to swim in, there are LOTS of options out there that are much better suited for a small tank like a toadstool leather mushroom coral. Clowns don't need something to swim in and even if you have something, they may not take to it.

2 false perc clowns and 2 shrimp will be great in a 20g - you would even have room for another fish or 2 if you wanted. You could get a yellow watchman goby to go with the shrimp, if you get a cleaner shrimp.

 

[Sang72]

Ok, I was led to believe that if I went with Coral, I would need to buy a protein skimmer (pricey-ouch$$$) because of the large amount of liquid waste they generate.

The reason I wanted the anemone was because the clowns cuddle up in them.

The shrimp is a banded shrimp (mean lil bugger nipped at me the other day) I dunno if its a cleaner shrimp.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[parker313]

No, in a 20g tank, you don't need a skimmer. That's about the biggest tank you can do without a skimmer, but if you don't overstock and stay on top of your water changes, then you don't need a skimmer for a 20g.

Tank bred clowns sometimes don't cuddle up in *anything* and even if you have a wild bred clown, it doesn't need anything either. Navarre here has the cutest pictures of his pair of clowns cuddled up in his toadstool leather mushroom coral.

 

[parker313]

Plus, skimmers don't always have to be expensive. I got a Miniflotor brand new off ebay for about $40.

 

[Sang72]

Ok, thanks so much. Now I gotta see if the LFS will let me exchange my $20 anemone.

 

[Chac]

I completely agree get shot of the Nem it is nothing but trouble, I am a bit concerned regarding the reading you given (Very Vague) ie Ok, exclellant, good not really helping here

I would say that a skimmer would be a good idea

Also what is the overall flow of your tank.

Did the tank fully cycle, it could have been NTS, that killed the clown

Your system IMO is far to young for a nem and still needs some time for fsih

 

[parker313]

I know that Chac disagrees with me on this point (and that's ok), but if you get in the 20 gallons of live rock and it is CURED live rock, then your tank will automatically be cycled as its the organisms in the live rock that complete the biological filtration, so it would be almost instantly ready for fish. I'd wait a week or 2 just to make sure you don't have any LR dieoff, and then you could add fish.

 

[Sang72]

Well the package of livesand came in a bag of saltwater (dunno what cured is) and it said on the package no need to wait, add fish immediately, however me being very cynical decided to cycle for a week anyway. Oh well, I'm gonna 86 the anemone and get some coral. Actually I think I'll wait another week to get any more fish. Maybe get a small crab or something in the meantime.

I dunno what the flow is, but I have a Tetratec PF150 (150 GPH?)

What is NTS?

I'm good with FW fish and puffers, but not having much fun with my first marine setup.

 

[Chac]

I really think that you need to slow down Sang and be patient, why rush it

As Parker says leave the live rock 2 weeks just to make sure

I may have came across as stroppy in my last post this is how I intended it, If I offended you i am sorry

 

[Chac]

Cured is a term given to Live Rock that is fully colonised with bacteria

Realistically this is beginner info and you should know these things before looking to add livestock

I am nagging again but this is as I say beginner info

Do you have a clean up crew

Del

 

[Sang72]

Well, when it comes to Saltwater, I am a beginner. We were all beginners once and that's why I came here to get some "Beginner" information from those more experienced in these matters.

IMO Going from FW to SW is like learning to drive on the right hand side of the road. (i see you are from the UK) Some of the basics are the same, but the rules of the road change drastically.

Cleanup crew consists of 1 banded shrimp right now. Want to add another, or a small crab.

 

[DJGonzo69]

When I started my 12gal I used fully cured LR & LS & added a 15oz of Bio-Spira & still waited for a month before I added livestock. At that time I only had a 13watt light & I did have a little of algae bloom on the walls, but no corraline came out yet. Recently like about 2 weeks ago I bought a 96w Power quad & all of a sudden I'm getting my 2nd algae bloom!!! Green, brown, corraline the works. So looks like I'm getting my 2nd cycle because of my new light. So adding fish in a new tank with in a week is too early. Your tank has not matured yet even if you have fully cured LR & LS.