Help And Advice Please

[shmoothemoo]

hi i have just got back into marines after a break of about 8 years and so much has changed that im feeling like a newcomer
im running a rio 240 with standard filters lighting and heating and i was wondering what you people out there would suggest changeing or buying
the tank is stocked with 2 seahorse 1 coral beauty 1 copper band butterfly 1 blue damsel 1 small clown
and 1 small blennie 1 fire shrimp and 1 blue star fish
i have just read an article that says my standard lighting is t8 if that
means anything to anyone
oh and i am currently running a air driven skimmer while i wait for my v2 which someone told me was one of the best
any help would be excellent
thanks shmoothemoo

 

[Navarre]

Do you have any liverock?
The T8s are ok but you might find them weak if you want to keep corals.
I would advise upgrading to T5s or better still halides if possible should you want a reef setup.

What are your tank readings with a mechanical setup? Im interested in knowing what your nitrates are as you seem to have no means of converting them to nitrogen.

 

[shmoothemoo]

Do you have any liverock?
The T8s are ok but you might find them weak if you want to keep corals.
I would advise upgrading to T5s or better still halides if possible should you want a reef setup.

What are your tank readings with a mechanical setup? Im interested in knowing what your nitrates are as you seem to have no means of converting them to nitrogen.

all my tests show 0 or very close ie ammonia nitrate and nitrite i did have a little hitch keeping my ph at8.2 but i have since cured this with an additive
my standard filter consists of 3 wool type pads 1 carbon sponge and 3 bio sponges
youve got me worried now do i need something else to convert to nitrogen
i have got a 6 kilo lump of live rock but other than the skimmer no other means of filtration
regards shmoothemoo

 

[Fish Fingers]

I'm not sure a how big a Rio 240 is, but it sounds like you have no where near enough LR. You need about 1 pound per gallon of tank water! This is the main type of filtration for a marine tank and it is essential for your tanks well being! Your mechnical filtration will more likely add to the production of nitrates than get rid of them (unless you wash it out every few days). This is because the waste caste in the filter pads breaks down into nitrates and it becomes a nitrate factory! T8 lighting is fine for a fish only tank but if you want corals you'll need to upgrade to somethign more powerful. Also I'm not sure how well your fish will get on with the seahorse.

How long has the tank been set up for?

 

[Navarre]

OK first of all DONT PANIC

Your filtration system is OK but as mentioned it could produce nitrates which in the long term means larger and more regular water changes to keep the nitrates down. Marine fish cannot tollerate nitrates in the same manner that freshwater can so we salt water enthusiasts endevour to keep nitrates at a minimum if possible.
Now most mechanical means of filtration will convert waste easily to nitrate but that is where it stops and thus you get a build up of nitrate in your tank. You will only be able to get rid of it by larger water changes etc.

Liverock however has bacteria deep within that can convert nitrate into nitrogen which is harmless and will escape into the air. Another way of doing this is to get some macro algae as this will eat nitrates also.

For thetime being you need not panic, your fish wont die overnight etc. But in the longterm i urge you to invest in much more liverock. 1kg per 2 gallons of water or 1lbs per gallon is about the correct measurement of rock needed. I know its expensive but its really worth it IME. What i suggest you do so its not so hard on the wallet is to purchase the rock bit by bit so that over the course of a few months you will slowly build up the needed amount of filtration.

In the meantime hate to alarm you further but please dont forget your cleanup crew. Probably one of the most important factors in your tank that so often get overlooked. IF you dont have an effective cleanup crew then your nitrates will climb even further as the waste foods etc wont get eaten. Now cleanup crew should be at a ratio of 1 snail/hermit per gallon of tank so a 60 gallon tank would need 60 snails/hermits

Again dont panic, what i suggest here is that you make a purchase of a snail or hermit each time you visit the shops. THey only cost a couple of £ each usually so tagging a single snail or hermit onto the bll whether it be a fish or food etc wont break the bank. In no time at all you will have the cleanup crew needed to operate in a tank this size.