My husband and I just purchased our first aquarium and decided to go big or go home. While it might seem small by some of your standards, we went with a 60 gallon and are setting it up saltwater. We went into this knowing it wasn't an inexpensive hobby to have, and are apparently learning by trial and error because it seems like every place you ask a question you get a different answer.
For example, one place told us at least a month to prepare the tank, another place told us that as soon as we had the salinity and other elements in line, we could start adding fish. So being the new and excited hobbyists that we are, we promptly ordered fish from an online dealer. We're in Florida, the fish shipped from California. One DOA, and since, we've lost two more from that group. Heartbreaking.... We've replaced the yellow tang that we lost from the first group. One was a fire fish and the third was a blue damsel. We currently have a three striped damsel that seems to have lost its tail fin - I'd guess probably someone is nipping it off, but I haven't actually witnessed the bullying.
We test the water daily and the only element off is the ammonia - which is hovering about 1.5. We've treated it with something to remove the ammonia but have not done a water change yet as we're only about a week in with the fish.
Our water is staying rather cloudy and we're not sure what that is all about.
We have a "cleaning crew" arriving tomorrow. We wanted to get some action going with fish so as not to starve them to death.
Hopefully we're not too far off the grid and just need to tweak a few things.
Thanks for letting us be a part of the group!
Deb and Ron
For example, one place told us at least a month to prepare the tank, another place told us that as soon as we had the salinity and other elements in line, we could start adding fish. So being the new and excited hobbyists that we are, we promptly ordered fish from an online dealer. We're in Florida, the fish shipped from California. One DOA, and since, we've lost two more from that group. Heartbreaking.... We've replaced the yellow tang that we lost from the first group. One was a fire fish and the third was a blue damsel. We currently have a three striped damsel that seems to have lost its tail fin - I'd guess probably someone is nipping it off, but I haven't actually witnessed the bullying.
We test the water daily and the only element off is the ammonia - which is hovering about 1.5. We've treated it with something to remove the ammonia but have not done a water change yet as we're only about a week in with the fish.
Our water is staying rather cloudy and we're not sure what that is all about.
We have a "cleaning crew" arriving tomorrow. We wanted to get some action going with fish so as not to starve them to death.
Hopefully we're not too far off the grid and just need to tweak a few things.
Thanks for letting us be a part of the group!
Deb and Ron
So I ask lots of questions here, read, read and watch you tube videos. (Taught myself a lot from those 
) I'm always learning something new. No question is ever wrong or stupid here so ask away. Oh and we do love pictures
