New Tank Help!

[Nano_Blu]

Hi everyone,

Im a newbie to the whole saltwater aquarium hobby and so far i am really enjoying it! however i have a few possibly "noob" questions, i am currently running an 8 gallon setup the tank was thoroughly cycled and my parameters areH 7.8 Ammonia 0 ppm Nitrite 0 ppm Nitrate 10ppm Salinity 1.025. The tank was cycled with hermit crabs btw. My LFS told me that the hermit crabs would help cycle the tank and within a week i should be able to add some fish, i went ahead and followed his advice and picked up 2 Ocellaris clownfish, i properly acclimated them ( done extensive research and lots of reading.) the clownfish have been in the tank since Saturday and they appear to be happy i have noticed that they do swim vertically time to time and also swim sideways as well, they really haven't eaten since i introduced them to the tank and am a little concerned about this, my LFS told me to try and switch up the food, they are currently eating Formula 2 flakes.

Any help would be great!

Thanks

 

[Lockridge49]

when are you testing the PH its seems a little low, it should be around 8.1 to 8.3 ish also the nitrates are a smige high are you thinking about adding coral ?

 

[Nano_Blu]

maybe im considering getting an anemone once i feel comfortable but right now just FOWLR

 

[Lockridge49]

I would try to bring up the PH and lower those nitrates as much as you can but clowns are tuff.. also does your LFS have live food like mysid or brine shrimp..my clowns go nuts for some good mysid shrimp. that my help me become interested in food.

 

[Nano_Blu]

i look into changing the food ill take another water test tomorrow and see what the parameters are if the levels are similar any ideas on how to raise pH and drop my nitrate levels?

 

[Lockridge49]

how is your tank set up, do you have a sump, what kind of tank is it I know you said its an 8g, I to have a 8 g mine is a CAD lights..
and what type of lights are on It
make sure when you test pH the lights have bee on for a while because the pH drops when the lights are off
If is still low you can add buffer it works well
oh and also are you mixing water or buying water ?

 

[Nano_Blu]

i have LED lights white/blue i leave them on for roughly 6-8 hours a day as for my tank setup its basically an aqueon evolve 8 tank so the filter system is built in, no powerhead no sump,no skimmer. as for water i buy the pre-mixed from a local place that specializes in pre-mixed saltwater ( very good quaity)

 

[Lockridge49]

Cool its good to have really good water, what are you using for filtration like carbon or just sponges and such... nanos are more difficult then larger tanks because the parameters can bomb so quick and easy. Make sure that you test often so you can keep on top of anything thats out of wack

 

[Nano_Blu]

i do test on a daily basis , as for my filtration its carbon filters, which by the way how often should those be changed?

 

[Lockridge49]

It depends on what kind they are I use something called chemi-pure its a GFO carbon mix it helps keep phosphates and nitrates low to none. I change it every 4 months, also i use puregen it helps with keeping ammonia and nitrites 0 you never what to have ammonia or nitrites.

I cant remember what an evolve looks like, can you take a picture.

 

[Nano_Blu]

 

[Lockridge49]

Sweet I love my nano, I would really suggest getting a powerhead. Your going to need some flow so detritus does not build up and clowns need flow. I have an mp10 kinda expencive but sooo worth it, it has really cool settings!!

 

[Nano_Blu]

Ill look into getting a powerhead as for location where is an ideal spot to attach it to? i hear different things?

 

[Lockridge49]

You want it somewhere near the top so it will break the water a little bit and tward the center of the tank so there are no dead spots behind your Live rock. Ill post a pick of mine

 

[WhoKnew]

I have that exact same tank. I use mine as a QT. it seems to be working well. I do have a few pieces of rock in there and an emerald crab for clean up. 3 cardinal fish and a dark blue velvet damsel. Good luck.

 

[Lockridge49]

I have that exact same tank. I use mine as a QT. it seems to be working well. I do have a few pieces of rock in there and an emerald crab for clean up. 3 cardinal fish and a dark blue velvet damsel. Good luck.

I think thats what I will be using it for as soon as I am able to set up my 60g or a tank for the bathroom haha that would be awesome

 

[Nano_Blu]

Just did my water test and here is what came up

pH: 8.0

Ammonia: 0.50ppm

Nitrite: 0.25

Nitrate: 20ppm

I know these levels are not good any suggestions on lowering them? Water Change perhaps?

 

[Lockridge49]

Yes do a water change like 2 gallons to clean it up a bit. How long did you let it cycle for.

 

[Lockridge49]

here is my tank. No fisb yet they are comming in on wed. But I have a few zoas and a gonipora

 

[Nano_Blu]

Nice Tank! My tank has been up since Jan 21st i had let it cycled for a good 2-3 weeks maybe more