New to Knoxville and salt water

[Esage]

I wouldn't setup a QT tank if I was only stocking a 29g display tank, but that is just my opinion. You will only be able to stock a few small fish in a tank that size. I have three fish in 34g tank.

 

[k2parkstar]

I don't use one myself. I like the idea of QT, but the practice is just more work . Plus in my opinion tangs are the main thing to QT so this of us with little tanks don't have to worry about that.

 

[EvilMel]

What are your guys' thoughts on having a QT tank for the fish?

Given the size of the tank you're setting up, I would absolutely not bother. But truth be told, my opinion is that fish do better when they're put into an established reef tank rather than added to a QT. That may generate a bunch of arguing too though!

 

[chemfisher]

OK well it seems the general census of ETRC that with my size of tank I'll not need the QT which is fine with me for now!! lol (don't need the additional cost now anyway :smile:.

So is it just me or is this the worst part of having a SW tank (the setting up and watching your LR for weeks) lol

 

[k2parkstar]

OK well it seems the general census of ETRC that with my size of tank I'll not need the QT which is fine with me for now!! lol (don't need the additional cost now anyway :smile:.

So is it just me or is this the worst part of having a SW tank (the setting up and watching your LR for weeks) lol

That's the easy part. The hard part is when fish and coral die, and you can't figure out why. But the waiting does suck, but that's the nature of this hobby.

 

[chemfisher]

Here is the tank tonight with my new lr I picked up last night . I hope to eventually fill in the middle area with rock

 

[k2parkstar]

Add as you can, but before you get to much coral. That's a nice live piece.

 

[NanoPoseidon]

OK well it seems the general census of ETRC that with my size of tank I'll not need the QT which is fine with me for now!! lol (don't need the additional cost now anyway :smile:.

So is it just me or is this the worst part of having a SW tank (the setting up and watching your LR for weeks) lol

Take a little while to sit close to your newly established ecosystem! Some of my most memorable Aha moments came in those first few weeks when the "itty bitties" came to life! The great thing is, amazingly I continue to have those moments til this day! "Hey, what is that? I haven't seen that before!" Hahaha gl

 

[chemfisher]

Take a little while to sit close to your newly established ecosystem! Some of my most memorable Aha moments came in those first few weeks when the "itty bitties" came to life! The great thing is, amazingly I continue to have those moments til this day! "Hey, what is that? I haven't seen that before!" Hahaha gl

LOL thanks! I have been watching but nothing has crawled out quite yet but I'm sure it won't be long!!

 

[Gladfelter]

I about flipped the other day when I turned a rock and found a couple of star fish lol.

 

[NanoPoseidon]

When I set up my tank, I used ~15 #'s Dry Pukani from BRS and seeded it with ~ 20#'s Live Manado from Premium Aquatics.... I got things like feather dusters, starfish, stomotellas, sponges, other snails, etc... Really was fun (and still is) seeing new things each and every day!

 

[EvilMel]

The hard part is when coral die, and you can't figure out why.

TELL me about it. I'm right there with you Justin. I couldn't figure out why my corals were dying then couldn't believe the answer once I figured it out. It's super frustrating when things die and you have no idea why.

Some of my most memorable Aha moments came in those first few weeks when the "itty bitties" came to life! The great thing is, amazingly I continue to have those moments til this day!l

I totally agree with this. When I set up my first tank I bought about a pound per gallon of good live rock. I used to sit there for hours watching all the little critters running around on it.

 

[chemfisher]

OK ... so I have a ho T5 light fixture that I put on the tank but the top is no longer fully covered. What do you guys put over your tanks if anything? and if nothing what is the best way to keep junk from getting into the water?

 

[Gladfelter]

Mines open top for a top of tank t5. I like an open tip for gas exchange in a smaller tank. That's my .02 lol

 

[chemfisher]

Mines open top for a top of tank t5. I like an open tip for gas exchange in a smaller tank. That's my .02 lol

Do you ever run into any problems with little bugs or anything getting into the water though?

 

[k2parkstar]

Mine is open too, no real issues. Just don't use any cleaning sprays near the tank.

 

[NanoPoseidon]

Mine is open too, no real issues. Just don't use any cleaning sprays near the tank.

+1 to this! And more then likely, your surface skim keeps the top quite agitated and moving keeping anything that gets in it stuck in the filter floss... Just maintain it a couple times a week until you are comfortable with a maintenance schedule.

 

[Gladfelter]

I have had a fly or two attracted to the lights but no actual issue. Nothing gets in the tank. When there is no sump especially I just like to have that open top for maximum oxygen exchange. If you have kids, which I have two young boys, they have to know not to put stuff in daddy's fish tank lol

 

[chemfisher]

Thanks for the inputs !! I think it's going to be just fine ... If it would just hurry up and finish cycling though

 

[Gladfelter]

There's a couple of tricks to help. One is swapping some of your water with an established tanks water change "dirty" water. The more established live rock the faster as well. I've never used the bottled startup bacteria but some people with very successful tanks have.