new to Salt tanks! Need some help!

[csail777]

Hey y'all! I switched my 25 g from fresh to salt last Jan (2024) - currently only have 2 clowns (ocellaris) 1 B&W Damsel & snails. Just added a candy condy nem yesterday! Worried about lighting, because I want to add a bubble tip also. Only change from 'stock' setup for the fresh water is a Penguin 125 filter. Nothing in the media basket yet, but think I need to. The lighting posts get really technical - I'd like to keep a lid on the tank. I did try to add a third ocellaris - but the other 2 were not having it, and I relinquished it back (sans refund) a day and a half later. Tech said - go with 2 clowns, or 20. Your tank - 2. Tried a cleaner shrimp 2x - no luck. Any suggestions?

 

[haslip]

Hey y'all! I switched my 25 g from fresh to salt last Jan (2024) - currently only have 2 clowns (ocellaris) 1 B&W Damsel & snails. Just added a candy condy nem yesterday! Worried about lighting, because I want to add a bubble tip also. Only change from 'stock' setup for the fresh water is a Penguin 125 filter. Nothing in the media basket yet, but think I need to. The lighting posts get really technical - I'd like to keep a lid on the tank. I did try to add a third ocellaris - but the other 2 were not having it, and I relinquished it back (sans refund) a day and a half later. Tech said - go with 2 clowns, or 20. Your tank - 2. Tried a cleaner shrimp 2x - no luck. Any suggestions?

Do you have any live sand or rock in there? You stated the only change was the filter? I would worry more about that then the light IMO. Get some bio media in that filter. Why have you not btw? Have you tested the water?

 

[landlubber]

Is there any intent on a tank upgrade in the future?
Reason i ask is that while the idea of the symbiotic clownfish/anemone relationship is very appealing, anemones get big, like sometimes 14-16" across big and will be the only coral you'll be able to add.
whether or not the clowns take to the nem is the other thing. one of mine took just over 4 years to discover the anemone and the other clown never did.
Not trying to be a buzzkill but i sure would have loved to know these things ahead of jumping on them myself.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Freshwater is very different than salt, you generally cannot add multiples of the same fish. Salt water fish are very territorial and each fish needs its own space

Rock is the main biofilter in a salt tank, and you should have powerheads in the tank to move the water,water flow is very important in a salt tank.

The anemone is a delicate animal which requires stable water conditions and proper reef lighting. You need good testing kits, not API. You should be using rodi water. It’s really a lot to learn but important to do the research for success.

 

[csail777]

Do you have any live sand or rock in there? You stated the only change was the filter? I would worry more about that then the light IMO. Get some bio media in that filter. Why have you not btw? Have you tested the water?

Do you have any live sand or rock in there? You stated the only change was the filter? I would worry more about that then the light IMO. Get some bio media in that filter. Why have you not btw? Have you tested the water?

Sand and rock from Petco = live - but only 1 1/2 sand - thought it was just gonna be fish, but love the nems! Was gonna get some bio - then there was a million choices! Charcoal is in the filter - still reading on the options. I acually kept the old filter on a while, and just changed it.

 

[csail777]

Freshwater is very different than salt, you generally cannot add multiples of the same fish. Salt water fish are very territorial and each fish needs its own space

Rock is the main biofilter in a salt tank, and you should have powerheads in the tank to move the water,water flow is very important in a salt tank.

The anemone is a delicate animal which requires stable water conditions and proper reef lighting. You need good testing kits, not API. You should be using rodi water. It’s really a lot to learn but important to do the research for success.

Thank you! probably not enough rock based on the 1lb per gal - they are light! Not sure how to fit more. 2 huge now, and left the only fake once since the clown love it and made it a home. (Fake driftwood made a cave for them) The api was leftover - been having done at fish store, but they use STRIPS! Hanna testers on the way. I'm learning! Thank you for your help! BTW - the condy 'withdraws' at night. The first morning I thought I killed it! It was only the size of my thumbnail. Got beautiful all day, then tonight, as I was turning off the lights and checking, thumbnail again! Google (that wise sage - quotes many links here on reef to reef) - showing that might be normal?

 

[csail777]

Using salt from the fist

Freshwater is very different than salt, you generally cannot add multiples of the same fish. Salt water fish are very territorial and each fish needs its own space

Rock is the main biofilter in a salt tank, and you should have powerheads in the tank to move the water,water flow is very important in a salt tank.

The anemone is a delicate animal which requires stable water conditions and proper reef lighting. You need good testing kits, not API. You should be using rodi water. It’s really a lot to learn but important to do the research for success.h

Do you have any live sand or rock in there? You stated the only change was the filter? I would worry more about that then the light IMO. Get some bio media in that filter. Why have you not btw? Have you tested the water?

Lighting is what I was asking about - It seems PAR matters more than watts - do I need 250 PAR? Most only tell watts..

 

[csail777]

Thank you! probably not enough rock based on the 1lb per gal - they are light! Not sure how to fit more. 2 huge now, and left the only fake once since the clown love it and made it a home. (Fake driftwood made a cave for them) The api was leftover - been having done at fish store, but they use STRIPS! Hanna testers on the way. I'm learning! Thank you for your help! BTW - the condy 'withdraws' at night. The first morning I thought I killed it! It was only the size of my thumbnail. Got beautiful all day, then tonight, as I was turning off the lights and checking, thumbnail again! Google (that wise sage - quotes many links here on reef to reef) - showing that might be normal?

On the water - using salt water purchased at fish store - top with distilled.