New Tank

[Pierre Venter]

Hi guys

Thanks for a great site and all the handy tips on the forums.

My tank is 2.5 months old. It is a 200l display and +-50l sump with skimmer, heater, etc. I've invested in quite a bit of live rock. (3 big rocks).

It cycled for 1.5 months before I added any livestock. I first started with a box shrimp, snail and Hermit Crab. I went on holiday for 10 days and luckily all of them survived. My tank had plenty of algae when I returned as expected and my water reading was perfect on my return. (Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 25 mg). Then I bought 2 clown fishes (Nemo's for the children), yellow tail damsel, and camel back shrimp. They are all very happy in the tank and feeding well.

A week and a half ago I bought a Yellow Tang knowing that I am taking a risk as my tank is probably over stocked (any comments?). I put it in my quarantine tank first for a week but looked fine. It has been in my display tank for almost a week now and looks very happy and feeding well.

My only worry is that my NO3 (Nitrate) is pushing towards 50 Mg/l. I have done a 15% water change yesterday. Any comments or help to keep the Nitrate under control. My
Ammonium and Nitrite are both still 0.

I must say, I am totally addicted to this hobby and can't wait to get home from work to look after my tank.

I am looking forward hearing your comments.

 

[lanzo]

hey hey welcome to masa.

nice to hear that all livestock is alive
How long is that tank of yours and how big is the yellow tang?
tangs need alot of room too swim in and grow very very fast, try feeding him some nori, they just love it.

if you want to keep fish only,then your nitrate wont be a problem, u can bring it down a bit too.
try 10% WC(water change weakly), don't over feed
do you have a DSB( deepsand bed)?

 

[Mike]

Hi Pierre, welcome to MASA, you need to tell us much more about your system and your maintenance for us to help with the nitrates, there are many reasons for high readings. Do you run bio-balls? filter floss? do you use R/O water to top up? synthetic salt or sea water?

Also, you should have approx 20 - 25kgs of live rock for the tank.

Sorry for all the q's but it helps to know more.

 

[geoffrey]

hey bud! good to hear all is good in your aquarium! but we need pics of tank and sump! then we can see how your tanks layout looks. ie, waterflow, powerhead placement, type of algae growing, amount of liverock etc. then the GURUS here on masa will share their TONS of knowledge... OH AND WELCOME!!

 

[jacquesb]

A very WARM welcome to MASA, Pierre!

You have been asked a LOT of questions already. Please supply the answers.
Here's some more:
- do you have a skimmer? What make/brand?

Do you have some macro algae (ie. chaetomorpha) in the sump?

Also - please post some pictures for us to oogle at? Pics are the absolute best way for us to share - is via pics...

 

[vzyla]

Welcome to MASA

 

[Alan]

Hi Pierre welcome aboard, as Wee-Man said plenty more info is needed, the chances are your nitrates will continue to rise but having said that, they are not too difficult to keep under control either.

 

[sunburst]

Welcome Pierre. Beware uncontrolled nitrates. Algae issues could soon be knocking on your door.

 

[marine101]

Hi Pierre, welcome to marines. First good thing, second good thing is posting.

wrt Nitrates, add a deep sand bed if possible in your sump (cheaper option) or add a denitrator (more expensive).

Problems i see/foresee (and yes, more info regarding your system is needed)

U put in a damsel, these are aggressive peaces of shit (yes, put that image in your mind). This was the first mistake i made when i entered the hobby years ago, lost lots of fish too. Get him out ASAP.

Secondly, u put a yellow tang in early.... Again, in my experince, i have lost many fish due to their aggression, namely: 2 yellow foxfaces, naso litteralus, bi-colour abgel and others i cant remember.

i dont usually recommend them as your first tang, would have gone for a regal, foxface, long nose butterfly etc, simmilar shape or colour.

To save money in future, know a fishes BIO before buying.

Goof luck, u doin well so far.....


Parker

 

[Mike]

Hi Pierre, welcome to marines. First good thing, second good thing is posting.

wrt Nitrates, add a deep sand bed if possible in your sump (cheaper option) or add a denitrator (more expensive).

Problems i see/foresee (and yes, more info regarding your system is needed)

U put in a damsel, these are aggressive peaces of shit (yes, put that image in your mind). This was the first mistake i made when i entered the hobby years ago, lost lots of fish too. Get him out ASAP.

Secondly, u put a yellow tang in early.... Again, in my experince, i have lost many fish due to their aggression, namely: 2 yellow foxfaces, naso litteralus, bi-colour abgel and others i cant remember.

i dont usually recommend them as your first tang, would have gone for a regal, foxface, long nose butterfly etc, simmilar shape or colour.

To save money in future, know a fishes BIO before buying.

Goof luck, u doin well so far.....


Parker

Good advice there bud

 

[Pierre Venter]

Hi Everyone. I can not tell you how much I appreciate your willingness to help me. Thanks a million! I will try to take your advice as far as I can.

You asked me a lot of quistions and I will give you all the answers. Unfortunately I have limited time this weekend and will attend to this on Sunday evening.

Marine101, thanks for the tip on the Damsel. How do you suggest I get rid off the Damsel, will a Pet shop take it back? I don't want to flush it down the toilet!

The other problem was that I tried to post pictures but without success. Tried to find it on the search function, once again without success. Please help.......

Have a wonderfull weekend. I will track any advice on my cellphone's internet over the weekend. I am off to Bloem for the rugby.

Cheers,

Pierre

 

[Reef Maniac]

Have a wonderfull weekend. I will track any advice on my cellphone's internet over the weekend. I am off to Bloem for the rugby.

Hi Pierre,

I live in Bloem - send me a PM with your phone number and we can arrange that you pop around to my place some time over the weekend, if you like. Should then be able to help with some advise/suggestions...

Hennie

 

[Pierre Venter]

Hi Hennie

Ongelukkig moet ek meer as 5 posts al gepost het om vir jou n PM te stuur. Sal jy asb vir my n PM stuur waarop ek my selnr vir jou kan stuur. Ek sal jou graag wil ontmoet.

Groete, Pierre

 

[lanzo]

hey pierie, bly om te sien jy praat afr, but you need to type in English because people like weeman in uk won't understand you

 

[Warr7207]

Pierre, the best advice for your nitrogen compound problems is DSB

It will keep your levels in check.

 

[Pierre Venter]

Herewith the photo's:

The tank as displayed in my house:

Display tank:

Tank with Sump

Sump from the left:

Skimmer department and bio balls. I have removed the bio balls on Hennie's advice.

Last compartment, Returning pump and noodles:

Powerhead behind Live Rock:

Ok, that's it for now.

 

[Pierre Venter]

Hi Pierre, welcome to MASA, you need to tell us much more about your system and your maintenance for us to help with the nitrates, there are many reasons for high readings. Do you run bio-balls? filter floss? do you use R/O water to top up? synthetic salt or sea water?

Also, you should have approx 20 - 25kgs of live rock for the tank.

Sorry for all the q's but it helps to know more.

Hi Wee-Man

I am sure from the photo's you will see the bio-balls. I don't know what is filter floss, sorry. I don't know what my live rock weigh, I think +-8kg's.

 

[Warr7207]

nice looking setup. I would suggest getting more Live Rock, natural filtration.

Not sure what the sponges are for, but make sure they are cleaned regularly (3-4 days) or that will become a nitrate factory worse than your bio-balls.

 

[Pierre Venter]

hey bud! good to hear all is good in your aquarium! but we need pics of tank and sump! then we can see how your tanks layout looks. ie, waterflow, powerhead placement, type of algae growing, amount of liverock etc. then the GURUS here on masa will share their TONS of knowledge... OH AND WELCOME!!

Well, I supplied the pics, now I will leave it to you Gurus!!!!

Thanks, I feel welcome........

 

[sunburst]

Hi guys



My tank is 2.5 months old.



My only worry is that my NO3 (Nitrate) is pushing towards 50 Mg/l. I have done a 15% water change yesterday. Any comments or help to keep the Nitrate under control. My

I rule of thumb would be 10% per month. Agree on the sponge. Nitrate factory.
Neat little set up. Look forward to updates