Finally 20 Gallon Setup

[Plee_cO]

Well it took me a while but just read through your entire thread here. all 14 pages. after reading it im thinking of going saltwater with my birthday tank.

ive always been too scared to go saltwater because i dont know anything about it and ive never tried it before and it just seemed like it would be hard. well if it starts to becaome too much to handle then ill just come to good ol' MFT for some help

nice inspiration

 

[Igor The Cat]

all at once, but add hermits last as sometimes they can get a little agressive with their territory, lol, but thats just my experiance with red legs and zebras.

cheers

-Java

 

[Panther28]

Well it took me a while but just read through your entire thread here. all 14 pages. after reading it im thinking of going saltwater with my birthday tank.

ive always been too scared to go saltwater because i dont know anything about it and ive never tried it before and it just seemed like it would be hard. well if it starts to becaome too much to handle then ill just come to good ol' MFT for some help

nice inspiration

Well it is really good to know that i am an inpiration to somebody. Thats Inspiring. Well as for you going saltwater you will never regret that you did. Its not that difficult as people say it is. Although reef tanks can be a little tough as I am going for that. At the begining the most difficult thing for me and is still a little dificult is the salinity. I really have problems adjusting salinity of water. I will someday get used to it. The main thing for a saltwater tank is patients. It is very important. If you want results in a few days then its not for you. And offcourse I am really thank full to alot of people on this site. Who have been helping me with this tank. Go ahead and go for it. If you need any help just come to MFT and here someone will definetly help you out.

Igor The Cat all at once, but add hermits last as sometimes they can get a little agressive with their territory, lol, but thats just my experiance with red legs and zebras.

Thanks Igor The cat for the list and for the tip about the hermits. I will get them by friday hopefully and will post some pics, then see how it goes.

 

[aresgod]

congrats, you could even throw an emerald crab in there.

 

[Panther28]

Before I get any critters I wanted to know about critter Acclimation. Need a few pointers on how to and For how long? I did some research but was not that clear on how exactly to do it and for how long. Anyone??

 

[saltwater4life]

umm i just stick the bag in the water for 15minutes then cut the bag at the top then i add half a cup of salt water every 10-15 minutes for like an hour then for inverts i just stick my hand in the bag and let them get on my hand then stick them right into the tank but that's only on snails and crabs that help?

 

[Panther28]

umm i just stick the bag in the water for 15minutes then cut the bag at the top then i add half a cup of salt water every 10-15 minutes for like an hour then for inverts i just stick my hand in the bag and let them get on my hand then stick them right into the tank but that's only on snails and crabs that help?

ok. After you add the 1st half a cup of saltwater do you drain the water out halfway or you just keep on adding water every 15 mins. After all this do you through the water away or just put it in the tank? Should I use how they are doing it? Link below

Fish, Coral, and Invertebrate Acclimation Procedure: Adding New Fish to a Tank.


It just seems like a lot of work. Adding removing and adding again.GOD!!

 

[saltwater4life]

I do the Floating Method but instead of draining i just keep adding since there should be plenty of room if they get alot of air in there and I NEVER PUT THERE WATER IN MY TANK i don't think you should do ether not only because are tanks are smaller but just because you can run into something bad

 

[Panther28]

I do the Floating Method but instead of draining i just keep adding since there should be plenty of room if they get alot of air in there and I NEVER PUT THERE WATER IN MY TANK i don't think you should do ether not only because are tanks are smaller but just because you can run into something bad

By using the float method have you lost any critters? Do you do the same for coral and live fish?? if not how do you do it then? So I should just add half a cup of my tank water every 15 mins and should do this for atleast an hour (which is 4 times). And after all that just pick them from the bag and add to the tank? Ohh and try not to put any water into my tank? Hope I got everything right? I dont want any deaths in my new fresh tank. If I am missing anything please feel free to reply.

 

[saltwater4life]

Sounds good and i do that for all my stuff fish i use a net but corals i use my hands since the guy at the LFS said not to use a net since the corals can get stuck and get more stressed out that way but i think you'll do everything OK and cant wait to see the tank I've only lost one thing in my tank and that was my clown which i found out had an illness found on the east coast i believe

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

i would use the drip method for corals and fish but that sounds fine for inverts.

 

[Panther28]

Sounds good and i do that for all my stuff fish i use a net but corals i use my hands since the guy at the LFS said not to use a net since the corals can get stuck and get more stressed out that way but i think you'll do everything OK and cant wait to see the tank I've only lost one thing in my tank and that was my clown which i found out had an illness found on the east coast i believe

Thanks! Now I have a better idea of the Acclimation Process. For the past few mins i have done a lot of research about the process and I think I am ready to get some critters. Will post pics as soon as i get some. Ohh and I finally removed the egg crate from the tank. Broke a few rocks with a screw driver and a hammer. And found a 2" clam decaying in the rock. I am not that good in aquascaping but i tried my best. Can't do any better then what I have now. Will post some pics later tonight if I am wont be busy with the critters.*DRUMMER*

i would use the drip method for corals and fish but that sounds fine for inverts.

Thanks yahoo. I was also thinking about the same thing for corals and fish. I have everything ready for them the drip valve and tubes. But that is all for a later date for the Nemos and Corals *BOUNCINGS

 

[saltwater4life]

is the clam alive? i dont know if you've seen it but i got a 2" clam on my LR dead... my fish like to hide in it though so i lefted it and yea the drip method is good for corals and stuff

 

[Panther28]

is the clam alive? i dont know if you've seen it but i got a 2" clam on my LR dead... my fish like to hide in it though so i lefted it and yea the drip method is good for corals and stuff

No the clam was dead and stinking. I don't remember seeing the clam on your LR. So the fish like it. It must be like a cave for them. I am thinking of getting the cleanup crew today after work. Will think about it. The guy at LFS is a little rude so I'm a little reluctant in going there. His brother is very friendly. Just have to know when he will be in. Anyways might get them today or tomorrow. Will keep you guys updated.

 

[Igor The Cat]

I personally use the half drip method for everything, only taking about 15min

but fish are probably the most hardy animals for the tank (save the clean up crew) and corals being in general the most fragile.

cheers

-Java

 

[Panther28]

I personally use the half drip method for everything, only taking about 15min

but fish are probably the most hardy animals for the tank (save the clean up crew) and corals being in general the most fragile.

cheers

-Java

Yeah I think I read it somewhere on the internet when I was doing the research about the Acclimation process that the most fragile are corals and critters. I'm not sure yet how I am going to Acclimate the crew. Will make up my mind when I will have them in my hand.

 

[Panther28]

A little update of the tank and the rock work. I know its not good but this is the best I could do. I am not good at aquascaping sorry. Although the LR setup now has a little more advantages this way. More water flow. Ohh and I also added a new bio wheel filter 350 rated 350 GPH. I have not added the bio wheels and the carbon. Anyways pics below.


Full tank at present!

Center Tank.

Left Side.

Right side.

Oh by the I will be adding clean up crew tomorrow.

 

[Lorna]

that looks great! The pieces on top are stable right? you don't want them falling and killing something. Otherwise, nice job. And nice rock.

That clam was probably the reason your cycle took so long......

 

[saltwater4life]

Nice that isn't bad for not being good at it and what are your plans for cleaner uppers?

 

[Panther28]

Update CLEAN UP CREW

Update time.

So today I finally went to the LFS and got a clean up crew. But am not that happy with it. As I had said the guy at the LFS does not like me, he is not friendly at all. He was like rushing me and when I ask questions he was being rude. Well not a good experience. I was asking what other snails i could get and all that he's telling me everybody uses these you should use them too. "JERK". I have to look for another LFS. Anyways. I got :-

10 turbo snails $1.00 per snail.
9 Blue leg Hermit crabs $1.00 per crab (Although I paid for 10, Only found out at home!)

AND

1 Emerald Green CRAB. (My fav) $3.99.


I got them home and put them in the tank have a few bad pictures. I used the float method and am not sure if I did ok. Well I added all the snails and the crabs to the tank but they are not moving just sitting at one place. Most propably shock. Will see how they do in 24 hours.

Nice that isn't bad for not being good at it and what are your plans for cleaner uppers?

Thanks. It didn't look that good to me. Well if people are liking then thats perfect.

that looks great! The pieces on top are stable right? you don't want them falling and killing something. Otherwise, nice job. And nice rock.

That clam was probably the reason your cycle took so long......

Thanks Lorna. Yeah the top rock is very stable. I double checked all the rocks. I also kinda though that it was the clam which made things worse.



Pictures.

Snails floating.

Crabs floating. You can see the Emrald crab. Not that clear.

Snails

Crabs

This is what I used for adding water every 5-10 mins

Pic of the crabs waiting in the bag.

Sorry the picture quality is not that good. There was very low lighting. I will post some better pics once I go home.