Newbie Questions

[Joseph93]

Hello, I got bitten by the saltwater bug recently.

I am moving in several months so I decided to start off with a small coral and invert (sexy shrimp) only tank. I

I started my 5 gallon pico (Fluval Spec) three weeks ago today (Oct. 5) with a dead raw shrimp. I added 6.5lbs of live rock (covered in coraline, from an established aquarium) a few days later (Oct. 8). I made the mistake of adding a pipe organ coral under the highest setting on Oct 13. I added a few snails a few days ago.

I'm using the Sanrise AquaKnight A029 on the lowest setting mounted 6-7 inches above the water. I think I bleached the coral but there is some green left (or returning) in the petal portion of the coral.

My water parameters since yesterday:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: >.2
Nitrate: between 10-25 (on the lower end of the spectrum, I'm using the Salifert test).

Sooo I have a few questions:

1. Is my light too powerful? It is 27W and uses 3W Cree LED bulbs (Cree Royal blue x 3, Cree blue x 1, Cree White x 4, some sort of violet x 1). It is dimmable.
2. Will my pipe organ recover?
3. When will I have an algae bloom?
4. When can I add coral?
5. When can I add sexy shrimp?

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Maybe
Maybe
Soon
Best wait for later
Best wait for later.

Not familiar with that particular light, but there are tricks and tips to acclimating corals to even the strongest of lights.
-Start on lower power and ramp up
-place corals on the sandbed and slowly raise them in he tank over several weeks.
Usually the best way to tell if a coral is getting too much light, is by paying attention to its behavior. Is it stretching for light? Is it closed up when your lights are at their strongest? Etc.

I wouldn't count on it recovering. It's a very young tank and it's probably really stressed.
Also if you expect it to die and it lives, it'll be like a little surprise for ya.

Algae blooms will happen. Don't fret when they come. Just stick to a solid maintenance plan.

I would wait at least a month before I put anymore coral in it, and same for the shrimp!

Sounds like a super awesome tank. Got any pictures?

Welcome to the community, we're happy to have you.

 

[Joseph93]

Maybe
Maybe
Soon
Best wait for later
Best wait for later.

Not familiar with that particular light, but there are tricks and tips to acclimating corals to even the strongest of lights.
-Start on lower power and ramp up
-place corals on the sandbed and slowly raise them in he tank over several weeks.
Usually the best way to tell if a coral is getting too much light, is by paying attention to its behavior. Is it stretching for light? Is it closed up when your lights are at their strongest? Etc.

I wouldn't count on it recovering. It's a very young tank and it's probably really stressed.
Also if you expect it to die and it lives, it'll be like a little surprise for ya.

Algae blooms will happen. Don't fret when they come. Just stick to a solid maintenance plan.

I would wait at least a month before I put anymore coral in it, and same for the shrimp!

Sounds like a super awesome tank. Got any pictures?

Welcome to the community, we're happy to have you.

Thanks! Do you mean a month from starting or wait another month from now?

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Thanks! Do you mean a month from starting or wait another month from now?

Longer the better. With a smaller tank you to take it real slow. Small bodies of water are more sensitive.
You could do them sooner, especially since you got a bunch of good live rock, but if it were me, I'd wait 4 or 5 weeks then add in 1 or 2 shrimp, maybe another 1 or 2 a month after that. After some of the algae blooms and I got my shrimp in, I'd try some coral.

There are many ways to go about it however, but most people will recommend you stock it slowly. Ultimately it's up to you.

I hope this helps.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Thanks! Do you mean a month from starting or wait another month from now?

Another month from now still too soon for inexperience reef keeper, I remembered experience reef keepers usually suggest to wait for at least a year from a complete tank cycle to start on corals.
I'm not an expert but I did setup my tank as a FOWLR for over a year before I switch/start stocking up corals and clams, I'm glad I waited for that long because patience is paid up for me, I didn't run into any troubles like other members getting with their un-mature tank.

 

[cracker]

All good advice Joseph, gotta take it slow. How far is your upcoming move? that will change thing as well.

 

[Dsnakes]

I would recommend an ATO if you don't have one yet. Tanks that small need to be as stable as they can. Evaporation happens fast in the picos.

 

[Joseph93]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

My upcoming move is about three hours away. I'm looking into getting an ATO (either the Tunze or Smart Micro). I guess I'll wait a bit longer for coral. In the interim, would it be okay for me to put in a single sexy shrimp? I don't have a problem with it being that empty. As I understand it, there are not many options for fish, there's really a single goby.

In terms of my light though, is there a way for me to find out if its too bright, even on the lowest setting?

 

[jeffmr4]

Wait until your ammonia and nitrite are zero. Then add the shrimp. Try the light at half intensity. Once you add a coral, see how it responds. Increase or decrease the light accordingly. Soft corals require less light, lps and sps more.

 

[Katrina71]

Smart micro is very good!

 

[Joseph93]

Here are some photos!

The pipe organ coral has a bit of green, the photos do not show that. It was a cream colour a few days ago but seems to be recovering some of its colour.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Here are some photos!

The pipe organ coral has a bit of green, the photos do not show that. It was a cream colour a few days ago but seems to be recovering some of its colour.

Pretty snazzy looking little tank!

 

[Robink]

That's gonna look great!!

 

[Chrisfish]

Very nice looking pico tank, my first saltwater was 3gal. The bug bit me and ended up with a 30 gal. AIO.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

New tanks always a get bout of the uglies for a few weeks. Usually in tye form of diatoms. I would wait a few weeks to add coral just to be sure, however the pipe organ will be fine.