Hi!
I have a 46 gallon bow front running a Whisper 40 and a Whisper 60. I had originally set up a 20 gallon saltwater tank(running the 40) and switched everything over around a month ago. The 20 had been established for 6-7 months, and everyone was doing well. In starting, I lost a brittle sea star and 2 yellow tailed damsels(as soon as I put them in...thinking bullying. First fish.) all that being in the first two months. I lost a sea urchin around the 4 month point. When I switched, I lost my fire shrimp, and I believe that was because he got his tentacles caught in the filter. :frustrat:
We have (and have had for 6 months) 2 yellow tail damsels, 2 blue fin damsels, 2 domino damsels, 2 four stripe damsels, and a Neon velvet damsel. Also we have a Coral Banded shrimp, hermit crabs, an emerald crab, and a pink and green sea cucumber. :sfish:
After testing the water over a several day period, everything tested at 0. So we went to the pet store and purchased a pair of mated sebae clowns and their host anemone, a Haitian condylactis. When I got home, i tested again PH was 8.2, Ammonia was undetectable, Nitrites were less than .25 ppm, and the Nitrates were less then 20 ppm. Since nothing was CRAZY high, I added everyone. At first, the anemone was closed up. He opened up over the course of the night. Yesterday morning he had shriveled up. After the lights came on, he came out and looked GREAT all day.(including immediately after a 10% water change.) About an hour before I went to turn the lights out, he was shriveled again. This morning, i tested the water again. PH 8.2, Ammonia was undetectable, Nitrites were undetectable and the Nitrates were 40 ppm.:frustrat::frustrat::frustrat: (really confused on that one...did a water change and it went UP, while everything else went down?) I use tap water that I treat with a dechlorinator. I also add trace elements once a week and PH buffer when necessary. This morning, I have had the light on for nearly 2 hours and he is just now puffing up and coming out.
The one thing I haven't yet mentioned is my light. I have a SolarplexHE Deep Blue 24" light with 4 led moonlight on the tank right now, so almost 50 watts. I know that's a watt per gallon, but it is directly over the anemone. half the tank isn't lit, so its more like 2 watts per gallon. I intended to get a new light at Christmas ..(well, my mom is buying me one.) the guy at the pet store said that we wouldn't need to worry about lighting...I am just concerned about the well being of the anemone and wondering if he will make it another 19/20 days until Christmas or if I should tell my mom to get me something else and go get the new light myself...this is the light i plan to get: LCD Timer 36" 234W 6x39 Fluorescent Actinic T5 HO Aquarium Light Fixture Marine | eBay
What will happen if he does pass? Hes still stuck firmly to the rock, and is just now starting to puff out for the day. I know i need to get him out asap if that happens But what will the clowns do? Will they host another anemone? Also, would putting some macroalgae help my Nitrates problem? I can go get some later this afternoon.
Sorry this is so long winded we really got into saltwater not knowing much about it because the guy at the pet store said it was easy, (which its not been bad) and now we are hooked. Unfortunately we have two young children and dont have a disposable income to spend thousands on this system.
Thanks in advance!!!
Sarrah
PS water temp is 75.5...keep it there/77
I have a 46 gallon bow front running a Whisper 40 and a Whisper 60. I had originally set up a 20 gallon saltwater tank(running the 40) and switched everything over around a month ago. The 20 had been established for 6-7 months, and everyone was doing well. In starting, I lost a brittle sea star and 2 yellow tailed damsels(as soon as I put them in...thinking bullying. First fish.) all that being in the first two months. I lost a sea urchin around the 4 month point. When I switched, I lost my fire shrimp, and I believe that was because he got his tentacles caught in the filter. :frustrat:
We have (and have had for 6 months) 2 yellow tail damsels, 2 blue fin damsels, 2 domino damsels, 2 four stripe damsels, and a Neon velvet damsel. Also we have a Coral Banded shrimp, hermit crabs, an emerald crab, and a pink and green sea cucumber. :sfish:
After testing the water over a several day period, everything tested at 0. So we went to the pet store and purchased a pair of mated sebae clowns and their host anemone, a Haitian condylactis. When I got home, i tested again PH was 8.2, Ammonia was undetectable, Nitrites were less than .25 ppm, and the Nitrates were less then 20 ppm. Since nothing was CRAZY high, I added everyone. At first, the anemone was closed up. He opened up over the course of the night. Yesterday morning he had shriveled up. After the lights came on, he came out and looked GREAT all day.(including immediately after a 10% water change.) About an hour before I went to turn the lights out, he was shriveled again. This morning, i tested the water again. PH 8.2, Ammonia was undetectable, Nitrites were undetectable and the Nitrates were 40 ppm.:frustrat::frustrat::frustrat: (really confused on that one...did a water change and it went UP, while everything else went down?) I use tap water that I treat with a dechlorinator. I also add trace elements once a week and PH buffer when necessary. This morning, I have had the light on for nearly 2 hours and he is just now puffing up and coming out.
The one thing I haven't yet mentioned is my light. I have a SolarplexHE Deep Blue 24" light with 4 led moonlight on the tank right now, so almost 50 watts. I know that's a watt per gallon, but it is directly over the anemone. half the tank isn't lit, so its more like 2 watts per gallon. I intended to get a new light at Christmas ..(well, my mom is buying me one.) the guy at the pet store said that we wouldn't need to worry about lighting...I am just concerned about the well being of the anemone and wondering if he will make it another 19/20 days until Christmas or if I should tell my mom to get me something else and go get the new light myself...this is the light i plan to get: LCD Timer 36" 234W 6x39 Fluorescent Actinic T5 HO Aquarium Light Fixture Marine | eBay
What will happen if he does pass? Hes still stuck firmly to the rock, and is just now starting to puff out for the day. I know i need to get him out asap if that happens But what will the clowns do? Will they host another anemone? Also, would putting some macroalgae help my Nitrates problem? I can go get some later this afternoon.
Sorry this is so long winded we really got into saltwater not knowing much about it because the guy at the pet store said it was easy, (which its not been bad) and now we are hooked. Unfortunately we have two young children and dont have a disposable income to spend thousands on this system.
Thanks in advance!!!
Sarrah
PS water temp is 75.5...keep it there/77
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