Setting Up Small Tank!need Help Desperate!

[connorsbala]

I have a tropical fish tank at the moment and will soon be upgrading.Anyway, i am really interested in a small 48litre marine tank (on ebay click link here)http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150069608656&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=150071740848&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=active_view_item&usedrule1=StoreCatToStoreCat&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget
So, would i be able to use this for 2 little clown fish, the orange ones with 3 white stripes.
I just wanted to ask a few questions:
-Do you have to cycle the tank with bacteria or something?
-Are coral hard to keep alive?
-Do you have to add salt monthly?

If you have any other info please post it here!!!
MAny Thanks

 

[adam.crouch]

Yeah you will be able to keep to small clowns in there.

Do you have to cycle the tank with bacteria or something? - Yes the tank will have to be cycled - usually done with adding your live rock

-Are coral hard to keep alive? - some are harder than others but you can get things like polyps, mushrooms and some anemones are easy to keep aslong as u have enough light

-Do you have to add salt monthly? - depending on how you filter your water you will have to do water changed. when these are done you will have to add back the salt you took out wit#h the water change!

Any more questions just ask!

 

[connorsbala]

So you dont need to go out and buy some special bacteria, the live rock and live sand add it all in?
And, would a little seahorse be too big for a 48cmx33cmx36cm tank which is 48 litres?
And how many 'clean up crew' invertebrates could i have?

Thanks adam

 

[adam.crouch]

So you dont need to go out and buy some special bacteria, the live rock and live sand add it all in?
And, would a little seahorse be too big for a 48cmx33cmx36cm tank which is 48 litres?
And how many 'clean up crew' invertebrates could i have?

Thanks adam

Nope you dont need to buy special bacteria. You dont even need live sand. The live rock will seed the sand. I dont know anythin about seahorses but i dont think you can put them with other fish, not to sure though.

for your tank if your goin to use live rock for filtration you will need around 1-2lbs per gallon of water. you will also need a powerhead or pump for water flown around the tank and through the rock. It also helps to have a small internal or external filter to take out any small bits or particles.

I have a 36l tank. it has
2 clown fish
5 turbo snails
2 hermit crabs

4kg of live rock

fluval 304 external filter which i also use for the circulation of water.

corals:

pulsing coral
beadlet anemone
polyps
banana coral

coming today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 x Floreceant Green Zoa (About 40 Heads)
1 x Floreceant Green Zoa (About 20 Heads)
3 or 4 x Red Zoa's (about 5 Heads Each)
1 x Orange Zoa (About 15 Heads)
1 Peice of Liverock with 2 x green Muchies

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i think seahorses can be a bit delicate and sensitive, i wouldn't recommend them for a beginner and a small tank, a little tank will actually be a lot harder work than a big one cos it's less stable.

clean up crew the 'rule' is 1 per gallon... your tanks about 13g so 13 members of CUC

 

[adam.crouch]

i think seahorses can be a bit delicate and sensitive, i wouldn't recommend them for a beginner and a small tank, a little tank will actually be a lot harder work than a big one cos it's less stable.

clean up crew the 'rule' is 1 per gallon... your tanks about 13g so 13 members of CUC

never heard the one per gallon cuc rule. I've got that in my tank n e way without realising. Y do deliverys always come late when u cant wait for them to come.. grrr

 

[Chac]

Seahorses are not suitable for that size of tank & IMO are not a begginner fish.

1 CUC per G is the usuall rule of thumb most work on



Also, I would read as much on here as possible regarding Nano's as there are issues you may encounter that wouldnt be as bad in a larger tank -

Temperature swings due to evaporation
Salinity swings again from evaporation
Due to the small amount of water in your tank you will need to keep a constant eye on parameters as reading could swing quickly (pH, Sg, Nitrate, Nitrite & the killers Ammonia & NitrIte)

 

[connorsbala]

What would you need to feed marine fish, flake food? Can you feed marine fish bloodworm.

 

[Chac]

I feed the following

Mysis
Krill
Marine Dream
Marine Cusine
Delica Sea Flake
Mysis
Cyclopeeze
Nori

Sure there are a few other things I have forgotten

 

[connorsbala]

Will i be able to add fish the same day as i add live sand and rock(the same day i setup the tank) or do i have to wait for the readings to shoot up, then come down and then do water change. Can soemone tell me when i need to do water changes plz, im really confused!!!

 

[adam.crouch]

Will i be able to add fish the same day as i add live sand and rock(the same day i setup the tank) or do i have to wait for the readings to shoot up, then come down and then do water change. Can soemone tell me when i need to do water changes plz, im really confused!!!

you will have to add the live rock and sand first

Then the Amonia levels in the water will rise and peak
When the nitrite rises the amonia will start the decrease
then when the nitrate levels rise the nitrite levels will decrease
Then the nitrate levels wil start to decrease becasue the live rock will filter it out.

When amonia and nitrite is 0 and nitrate is below 40 then u can sowly start to add fish.

You will have to buy a test kit to test for amonia, nitrite and nitrate, you will also have to test the pH to make sure its aroun 8.3


LINK TO HOW TO CYCLE YOUR TANK

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Connor, you really need to think about your already horribly overstocked tank and get that sorted out before you make a mess of your next one.

 

[connorsbala]

Connor, you really need to think about your already horribly overstocked tank and get that sorted out before you make a mess of your next one.

I no, im not definetly getting a marine, i just want to know about it. Im hopefully getting the juwel rekord 70 fo rfor xmas for my tropical fish

Will i be able to add fish the same day as i add live sand and rock(the same day i setup the tank) or do i have to wait for the readings to shoot up, then come down and then do water change. Can soemone tell me when i need to do water changes plz, im really confused!!!

you will have to add the live rock and sand first

Then the Amonia levels in the water will rise and peak
When the nitrite rises the amonia will start the decrease
then when the nitrate levels rise the nitrite levels will decrease
Then the nitrate levels wil start to decrease becasue the live rock will filter it out.

When amonia and nitrite is 0 and nitrate is below 40 then u can sowly start to add fish.

You will have to buy a test kit to test for amonia, nitrite and nitrate, you will also have to test the pH to make sure its aroun 8.3


LINK TO HOW TO CYCLE YOUR TANK

Thanks alot Adam. But, when do you do the water changes whilst cycling, everday? And can you use the same test kit that you use for tropical fish?

 

[adam.crouch]

not sure about the water changes, My tank didnt need cycling becasue it wasnt a new set up when i got it,

 

[connorsbala]

not sure about the water changes, My tank didnt need cycling becasue it wasnt a new set up when i got it,

Lucky Did you get it off ebay?