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Starting a Small Marine Tank... Advice?

20K views 178 replies 4 participants last post by  killavixen 
#1 ·
Hello, My name is jodi!
I've decided to start an 8 gal saltwater tank. I currently have 2 inches of live sand, 4 1/2 lbs live rock, and i purchased water from lfs. All current reading are nitrate 0 nitrite o kh 300 ph 8.4 hydrometer 1.23 temp is 78F. And i have one Yellowtail Damsel to help cycle the tank.
I have a hang on power filter.
I plan to have add one of the following as a *permanent* resident, clownfish &/or orange goby with shrimp , pseudo fish. Eventually i would like to add some coral when coralline algae begins to grow. I dont have a light as of yet ( it blowed today) so i need a screw in light ( sugestions) I would love any advice to help me establish a healthy reef ecosystem. (please no bashing about tank size)
 
#2 ·
Welcome to the forum!

I won't bash your tank size, but be aware that pick tanks are very hard to keep. You must keep a constant eye on salinity, as evaporation can lead to large salinity swings in short periods of time. During hot summer days or cold winter nights, water can evaporate very quickly...

As far as the fish go, I think that tank is too small for a clownfish. Minimum tank size for a false perc is 20 gallon. Maybe a red banded high fin Goby and a pistol shrimp combo should be the only inhabitants.

As far as coral goes, I would start with softies, and then once you feel comfortable with them start some LPS. I dont think SPS would be good in that tank because of the quick salinity swings and their sensitivity...

Get rid of the power filter. It's nothing but a nitrate factory. Get a good protein skimmer. And maybe find a new home for the damsel. It is going to outgrow that tank quickly.

Sorry if I sound candid, but pico tanks are really difficult, even for aquarists with decades of experience.

Keep us updated and don't forget pics!
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#3 · (Edited)
I def plan to rehome the damsel after cycling. I nedded a small hardy fish for the process. And i was wanting to get that really tiny clownfish, Ocellaris Clownfish i think its called... What is the problem with the filter? i cant quite afford the skimmer atm but i'm getting one in a month... the lfs was teeling me about the salinity so. I bought a hydrometer that gives constant readings
 
#4 ·
Hang on back, canister, wet/dry and internal filters all use filter pads to trap detritus. This accumulation of detritus results in elevated nitrate and phosphate levels. Elevated nitrates have a direct effect on alkalinity, which controls a waters ability to maintain its pH.

My method of filtration is 1-1/2 lbs of live rock per gallon, a deep sand bed (4-6" of oolite sand) and a protein skimmer. The deep sand bed and live rock provide anaerobic bacteria that turns nitrates into nitrogen gas (which leaves the system naturally).

Ocellaris clownfish are false percs, the fish I mentioned that should be in a minimum 20 gallon tank.

Because of the live rock and live sand in your tank, there is no need to use a fish to cycle the tank. Those two things provide your system with the necessary bacteria and the tank looks to be already cycled.
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#6 ·
I would ditch the filter and just do water changes until you get the skimmer. 1 gallon every couple of days should be fine.

I think you need about five more lbs of live rock. What do you mean by you "only have two inches of sand until [you] get a sifter"? Do you mean a sifting tool? Or a sand sifting creature?
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#10 ·
Check parameters today
Nitrate 0
Nitrtite 0.5
alkalinity 180
ph dropped 7.6 when added freshwater for evaporation...
How to fix the acidic water?

Ok instead of a goby, how about a Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab as a sifter and for clean up?
What kind of sifter are you talking about? A sand-sfting star wouldn't be good, this tank is too small. The Zebra hermits (you could add 4-6 of them) and maybe a snail or two would be good as clean up.

What is your source water?
 
#29 ·
My camera broke... so i cant get any pics... all i can tell you is the scales over the gills looks very red. And the fish is a really light blue color, it doesnt "act" stressed per se but visually it showing the signs. SO test the water in the am?
 
#31 ·
A few questions that haven't been asked. Was is true "cured live rock in your tank or dry base rock? If it was cured, you shouldn't be going through a cycle even being a bit under the recommended 1 to 1 1/2 pds per gallon. If it wasn't cured live rock, your going through a cycle and your damsel will not survive in a tank that size. There will be to many swings in your water parameters due to size.

Did you add the Damsel at start-up based on advice from your LFS? If so, find another LFS.

Do not add any other live stock until it's detemined that your tank is or isn't going through the cycling stage. Especially inverts.
 
#34 ·
True. Even "cured" live rock can "cycle" if the bacteria count wasn't high enough, or the trip out if water was too long. Since he was using aragamax live sand, the bacteria count should have been good enough to shorten the cycle to almost non-existant. The surface area of sand is far greater than the surface area of rock, so the beneficial is always exponentially greater...
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#37 ·
I am even more concerned about the nitrite count if nitrates are zero. Almost as if the correct bacteria for the second step in the nitrogen cycle wasn't present.

I personally do not put a fish in any tank for at least a month. The rock and sand will properly cycle the tank, so I just wait for it to mature. Can you rehome the damsel for now? How is he doing?
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#45 ·
Do you have a power head in this tank? If so (but I can't see it if it's in there) you need to point it towards the surface. This will allow for gas (CO2) exchange and will help with your Ph issues. You need at least 80-160 GPH (asumming it's an 8 gallon tank) flow for your size tank. You also need to get the Alk down but get the PH up first.
 
#54 ·
Damsel is looking good still. Whats curious to me is that the nitrites aren'g going up OR down... Just rechecked
Nitrate 20
nitrite 3.0
Kh 180
Ph is still in between 7.4-7.8 Thats the available numbers on my test strip and the color is in between. I added a little more ph up. want a solid 7.8 or 8.2
 
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