First saltwater!

Tateopotatoe · Apr 18, 2016

Naiad said:
I have never had a problem. Try to top off every day or other day so the total change in SG is not more then .01 or so. If you have a refugium of any type slowly add water in there so you don't stress your more delicate critters. If something happens and your SG gets way high it is often best to bring it up over a period of time by adding lower SG saltwater and doing wc.

Yeah, I try to top off as many times as needed a day

Tateopotatoe · Apr 18, 2016

So I was thinking about tank mates for my bipolar blenny. I know they're playful fish and like company, so what should I get? I was thinking a clown or hector's goby and a cleaner shrimp or sexy shrimp. The only drawback to the goby is that it also likes rocks to hide in. I don't have too many rocks in my tank, and it's already smaller than I would want a bicolor blenny in, so I don't want to push for space. An open swimmer would be the best choice, but are there any that can live happily in ten gallons? Remember, the fish come first, so I don't want to push it. The only reason I don't think a clown goby is the best idea is because I heard that bicolor blennys become aggressive to similarly colored fish. Maybe I could get a green one?

Flameback Pair · Apr 19, 2016

You should invest in an ATO, they keep salinity stable and cut down on maintenance. I have a Tunze Osmolator Nano 3152 I could sell you reasonably. They are a good top-off, one of the most popular and they come with a pump.

Bob Escher · Apr 19, 2016

Welcome to ReeftoReef
But just to let you know that is not a HOB refugium but being your tank is small I guess you could use it for one. Normal HOB refugiums have a water pump going into it to pass water through it. Look at CPR aquatics they may have a small enough one that will work for you ( I had a large one on my 37 gallon freshwater)

Tateopotatoe · Apr 19, 2016

Bob Escher said:
Welcome to ReeftoReef
But just to let you know that is not a HOB refugium but being your tank is small I guess you could use it for one. Normal HOB refugiums have a water pump going into it to pass water through it. Look at CPR aquatics they may have a small enough one that will work for you ( I had a large one on my 37 gallon freshwater)

I understand that it's intended to be used as a breeder box, but it works just fine for me. Thanks!

Bunnee911 · Apr 19, 2016

I also recommend an ATO. Keeps the sg stable and is an opportunity to dose kalkwasser later when you need it for corals. I have the Tunze Nano on my BC29. Just watch for small snails getting in the float housing. I may put screen on the bottom.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 19, 2016

Bunnee911 said:
I also recommend an ATO. Keeps the sg stable and is an opportunity to dose kalkwasser later when you need it for corals. I have the Tunze Nano on my BC29. Just watch for small snails getting in the float housing. I may put screen on the bottom.

Thanks for the suggestion. I might get one, might not. I'm moving in a little over a year, so I'll have to sell all of the livestock.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 19, 2016

Does anyone have any comments about a teammate for my bicolor blenny?

Bob Escher · Apr 19, 2016

Oh I totally understand that hey if it works go for it

Naiad · Apr 19, 2016

I like gobies. Also perhaps cardinals

Tateopotatoe · Apr 20, 2016

Is it weird that I like cleaning the glass? [emoji12] [emoji12]

Flameback Pair · Apr 20, 2016

Tateopotatoe said:
Is it weird that I like cleaning the glass? [emoji12] [emoji12]

That's not weird. I think it's kind of therapeutic. You should only have to do it every two or three days at the most after the initial cycle. Should only have to do it weekly.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 21, 2016

Hey! I'm thinking about getting another fish this weekend. Is it too early? If so, can I just get a shrimp or something? I'll post parameters soon, and I plan to do a water change soon.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 21, 2016

pH: 8
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0.5
Nitrate: 5-10
I'm about to do a water change, I'll post the parameters after the change, too.

Naiad · Apr 21, 2016

That nitrite is worrisome. What test kit are these reading from?

Tateopotatoe · Apr 21, 2016

Naiad said:
That nitrite is worrisome. What test kit are these reading from?

Api. Most of the testing is pretty accurate, but i have a feeling it mistakes 0 for 0.5 with nitrite- even after the water change the nitrite was 0.5. I'll ask my LFS to test the water if/when I get a new fish. The only thing that died was a hermit crab five minutes ago, he lost his shell or something. I saw him climbing shelless on top of the rocks. I then put him with his shell, but his movements were feeble and he wouldn't get back in. He stopped moving and the narrisus (however that's spelled) started racing over, so I took him out of the tank and threw his body away. If i do have high nitrite I didn't need something else adding too it. Additionally, when I added the blenny the nitrite was at 0.5 (I thought there could be some nitrite in the water [emoji27] [emoji27] ). Still alive and healthy though. The only other thing I want to mention is that my blenny gets stripes while sleeping. It first i thought it was the flashlight I was using at night, but one morning I turned on the light and he was still sleeping on top of the rocks, with those stripes! I turned away for a second, and when I looked again he was awake without stripe. What is that? Also, am I ready for more fish? Sorry for the long entry!

Tateopotatoe · Apr 21, 2016

Naiad said:
That nitrite is worrisome. What test kit are these reading from?

Api. Most of the testing is pretty accurate, but i have a feeling it mistakes 0 for 0.5 with nitrite- even after the water change the nitrite was 0.5. I'll ask my LFS to test the water if/when I get a new fish. The only thing that died was a hermit crab five minutes ago, he lost his shell or something. I saw him climbing shelless on top of the rocks. I then put him with his shell, but his movements were feeble and he wouldn't get back in. He stopped moving and the narrisus (however that's spelled) started racing over, so I took him out of the tank and threw his body away. If i do have high nitrite I didn't need something else adding too it. Additionally, when I added the blenny the nitrite was at 0.5 (I thought there could be some nitrite in the water [emoji27] [emoji27] ). Still alive and healthy though. The only other thing I want to mention is that my blenny gets stripes while sleeping. It first i thought it was the flashlight I was using at night, but one morning I turned on the light and he was still sleeping on top of the rocks, with those stripes! I turned away for a second, and when I looked again he was awake without stripe. What is that? Also, am I ready for more fish? Sorry for the long entry!

Naiad · Apr 21, 2016

The stripes are normal I call it their PJs. It can also happen if they get really mad or stressed at something. If the nitrite is false then you are fine to add a little more but if there is actually nitrite then yourun bacteria growth is falling apart bit behind the bio load. If you have a bottled bacteria product that wouldnt hurt to add it.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 22, 2016

Nitrite still at 0.5 [emoji26] [emoji26] . If it doesn't get lower by tomorrow I'll take a sample to my LFS and get it tested there. If it really is 0.5 I'll get bacteria in a bottle.