Here we go!

[JayDiver]

Hi all,

Apologies in advance, I'm a little wordy. I've been in and out (took a break while raising the kids) of FW for 30 years and always wanted to do SW but had some doubts. Found out about a new LFS and went to check out the FW offerings. Sitting in the shop was a JBJ 30 AIO set up with a For Sale sign on it. Tank, Hagen glo light, rock, fish, snails, crabs. The wife's only comment was 'as long as i get a Nemo'. No problem there, Clowns are cool! SOLD! Equivalent live stock to be picked up when I'm ready for it...

So they delivered the tank with the sand and a couple of inches of water in it and we set it in place in the living room. After things settled down a snail crawled out of the sand which was cool but had me a little worried for it. Anyway, it has been 6+ weeks, with just the addition of some more Live rock a week or so in. The snail comes out and wanders around every once in a while so I guess he'll be OK. I've rearranged the rock a few times but other than that I've just imagined how cool it will look, someday...

My only issue so far has been that I didn't start with RO/DI water and when I started turning the light on for 6 hours a day I started to get some nasty green algae. I took the ceramic rings & charcoal out of the filter and added phosphate reducer. I ordered a BRS 5 stage and now have 20 gallons of water in a brute.

For the last few days the Am & Nit numbers have been zeroes, did a 5 gal change with the RO today, so I think I'm ready to take the next step and add the rest of the cleanup crew. The phosphates are not 0 but I'm getting closer, I think with the RO water that'll take care of itself with time?

So beyond the mandated Clowns I'd love an Anenome for them to host in a reef type setup. Hopefully the AIO setup will work for that. One issue I've had is that I can't do a water change without making a mess of the water, is that normal or is there a trick I'm missing? Is that going to be an issue if I add corals? Should I add an extra pump to move the water more than the built ins do?

Anyway, thanks to all who have shared their knowledge in all the posts I've read over the past 6 weeks, can't wait to get some fins in the tank.

One observation, salt creep with the rimless is a pain...

Will post a pic soon, looks like I can't from here...

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Welcome to r2r!!!! I look forward to the progress of your tank!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to R2R!

We appreciate your membership!

Thanks for joining and please make sure and post often!

 

[ChoxRox]

With regards to water changes, how are you doing it?
I'm sumpless, so I usually syphon out a bucket of water (with my SW mix in another bucket), and just dump the new Salinity/Temp matched water in.

 

[JayDiver]

With regards to water changes, how are you doing it?
I'm sumpless, so I usually syphon out a bucket of water (with my SW mix in another bucket), and just dump the new Salinity/Temp matched water in.

Thanks for the info! Pretty much i change it like i do my FW, I siphon into a bucket and then try the to pour the new mix in as carefully as I can but it still stirs up a lot of fine stuff in the water. How to get the water in without getting all the junk floating around? I don't have a lot of room to get to the sump in the back, guess I could pour it in a pitcher at a time.

I'm planning to get a smaller container so I can hold some per-mix, should I get a heater to keep that at temp?

 

[Clearwater]

Welcome

 

[Cl0ne1]

First, I would like to talk about clowns and nems. You may have done research, and I hope that you have, but if you haven't I would request that you ask a bunch of questions on types of clowns and types of nems that work together in the "clowns and anemones" forums before going nuts with clown fish. Also consider that different types of clowns have different aggression levels and that different nems survive in different places in your tank. When all that is considered and planned, keep in mind that just because you have a compatible clown and nem...it doesn't mean the clown will host the nem. All that in consideration, I really do hope that you get to experience the joy of watching your clowns hosting an anemone because your tank is definitely capable of housing them both VERY successfully. With the confined space, it is easier to watch over the nem and that makes the whole situation easier.

Second, I would like to address the water changes and temperature. I wouldn't worry about temperature with the new water that you are adding as long as it is approximately room temperature. The reason for this is that, you shouldn't be changing more than 10% anyways which honestly shouldn't even be 3 gallons. So if room temperature is within 6 degrees of your tank, the water in the tank might drop .5-2 degrees which is still within ok limits of your fish and corals. Don't forget, you have a heater in your tank to help correct the temp within a few minutes.

Third, I would like to address water changes and parameters. The way that you worded how you change your water confused me a little. The best way to change your water is to add RO water to your tank until the salinity is correct. Then, make sure the salinity of the water you are adding is equal to the salinity in your tank. Next, remove the amount of water you are going to change. Then, add the new water to the tank. Wait for 5-10 minutes and then check your salinity to make sure it is where you want it. You worded it like you are taking water out of your tank and replacing it with RO water. This would greatly reduce your salinity and be detrimental to your tank. If you are doing this, I would consider restarting your cycle.

As far as the mess goes...HAHAHA. I make the biggest mess of all people on this forum I am sure. I do exactly what you do EXCEPT, when I change my water I put down towels on the stand and floor so that water doesn't soak in. When you get corals and get your tank half stocked you will understand but, when I stick my hand in the tank I have a towel in my other hand ready to dry it off when it comes out. Do yourself a favor. Acquire a collection of towels, colored differently from all the others in your house, that are absorbant and useful not decorative and useless. When laundry is done, wash them by themselves and use less detergent and no dryer sheets. Whenever you are going to play with water, whether it be changing water or moving corals or rocks or cleaning glass, have a couple of these towels on hand and you will eventually learn what to do with them. Stick one in your back pocket and hold another in your off hand, because most likely you won't be sticking it into the tank.

Good luck with your tank, tank you for your time,

Kevin

 

[KillerCoral]

Welcome

 

[JayDiver]

First, I would like to talk about clowns and nems. You may have done research, and I hope that you have, but if you haven't I would request that you ask a bunch of questions on types of clowns and types of nems that work together in the "clowns and anemones" forums before going nuts with clown fish. Also consider that different types of clowns have different aggression levels and that different nems survive in different places in your tank. When all that is considered and planned, keep in mind that just because you have a compatible clown and nem...it doesn't mean the clown will host the nem. All that in consideration, I really do hope that you get to experience the joy of watching your clowns hosting an anemone because your tank is definitely capable of housing them both VERY successfully. With the confined space, it is easier to watch over the nem and that makes the whole situation easier.

Second, I would like to address the water changes and temperature. I wouldn't worry about temperature with the new water that you are adding as long as it is approximately room temperature. The reason for this is that, you shouldn't be changing more than 10% anyways which honestly shouldn't even be 3 gallons. So if room temperature is within 6 degrees of your tank, the water in the tank might drop .5-2 degrees which is still within ok limits of your fish and corals. Don't forget, you have a heater in your tank to help correct the temp within a few minutes.

Third, I would like to address water changes and parameters. The way that you worded how you change your water confused me a little. The best way to change your water is to add RO water to your tank until the salinity is correct. Then, make sure the salinity of the water you are adding is equal to the salinity in your tank. Next, remove the amount of water you are going to change. Then, add the new water to the tank. Wait for 5-10 minutes and then check your salinity to make sure it is where you want it. You worded it like you are taking water out of your tank and replacing it with RO water. This would greatly reduce your salinity and be detrimental to your tank. If you are doing this, I would consider restarting your cycle.

As far as the mess goes...HAHAHA. I make the biggest mess of all people on this forum I am sure. I do exactly what you do EXCEPT, when I change my water I put down towels on the stand and floor so that water doesn't soak in. When you get corals and get your tank half stocked you will understand but, when I stick my hand in the tank I have a towel in my other hand ready to dry it off when it comes out. Do yourself a favor. Acquire a collection of towels, colored differently from all the others in your house, that are absorbant and useful not decorative and useless. When laundry is done, wash them by themselves and use less detergent and no dryer sheets. Whenever you are going to play with water, whether it be changing water or moving corals or rocks or cleaning glass, have a couple of these towels on hand and you will eventually learn what to do with them. Stick one in your back pocket and hold another in your off hand, because most likely you won't be sticking it into the tank.

Good luck with your tank, tank you for your time,

Kevin

Tanks a lot, Kevin, great info. Yeah, I've done enough freshwater to know nothing is certain, at least for me. So I'll do whatever I can to make it work and cross my fingers.

Botched the water description, I do the salt mix before adding it to the tank. Glad there is no need to keep the water-in-waiting at temp. I never worried about the temp of the new water with my FW but I see a lot of references to how finicky reef tanks can be and was a little concerned.

Think I'm going to do a top-off system, this thing evaporates a lot of water. What percentage of evaporation does it take to really affect the salinity? In my 30 will being down a 1/2 gallon be enough to cause issues? Guess I should check it and keep track for a while...

I think if I cut the pumps off and add the new water to the sump area in the back it will keep the fine sand floating around to a minimum.

Awesome info, thanks all!

 

[revsgirl]

Hi there!! Welcome to R2R!!

 

[TexasYeti]

Hi, as a relative newbie to this. I found that Sam's Club has these towels that are thin but big, like sacking towels, bought a bunch, and they are my fish towels. Other thing is water changes, during winter I realised my buckets of "prep'ed" water were to danged cold, from sitting in the back room. So I took the buckets, ran a bath of hot water, with the buckets sat in there, stirred, ran my digital thermometer until they became close, and then replaced my water.
And yes... towels, towels and more towels.