SO. MANY. QUESTIONS.....

[PastaLaLa1212]

Hey guys! I’m still a newb so explications/advice would be amazing to hear from y’all. I had a fully cycled perfect tank for 8 months, until I added my latest 2 fishes.....then everything up and decided to happen..... I think some fish had ich and I think some had velvet and some had flukes.... all in all, all fish has passed within a week I decided to “go fallow” I guess you would call it. And now it’s been that way for two months, all I have in there is some snails, hermits, 2 cleaner shrimp, my condy and my chocolate chip starfish. When I lost my last fish I decided to set up a quarantine tank- as a “just Incase now”. I used my current tank water to set up my quarantine. So a couple questions.

1-since I used my old tank water, should I treat the quarantine like it has those diseases as well?
2-does my condy look like it’s doing okay? I’ll post before and after pics of it further down.
3-I tested my QT and will water changes hopefully lower the nitrates/nitrites?
4-any further advice for either of my tanks would be MUCH appreciated.....

The first 2 pictures are of my DT
The second 2 are of my QT
And the last 2 are before and after of my condy

 

[DancingShark]

Simple answers.
1. Yes

2 he looks fine.

3 it looks like the qt is still cycling. Nitrite will be lowered by bacteria which will turn it to nitrate. Dont worry about nitrite. Worry about ammonia. You can lower by nitrate by doing water changes.

4. I would QT everything. I myself treat proactively. Some dont. But the worst thing you can do is “just Incase now” QT. By that time it is to late. It will be a bigger pain.

an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

1-I would certainly treat the water in your QT if not replace it entirely with fresh sea water.

2-Nem looks pretty good!How is your lighting and flow?

3-Water changes do lower nutrient levels and I have relied on them heavily since I started.

4-Lose the API test kit and INVEST in something of better quality and accuracy.

 

[PastaLaLa1212]

Do you have any suggestions on a kit I should get?

I don’t really know much about my lights, it came with the tank.... the brand is “coralife” and all it says is “LED strip light”

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Do you have any suggestions on a kit I should get?

I don’t really know much about my lights, it came with the tank.... the brand is “coralife” and all it says is “LED strip light”

I'd be concerned about that light in he long run.Does it have a Kelvin rating on it?

 

[PastaLaLa1212]

I'd be concerned about that light in he long run.Does it have a Kelvin rating on it?

It doesn’t say

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

That would be my first upgrade considering it says use for fresh and saltwater,but has no rating on it.

What is the flow rate on your wavemaker?

 

[PastaLaLa1212]

That would be my first upgrade considering it says use for fresh and saltwater,but has no rating on it.

What is the flow rate on your wavemaker?

Where would I find that info?
Man I feel so clueless...... I’m sorry

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Where would I find that info?
Man I feel so clueless...... I’m sorry

No need to be sorry!Everyone was new at one point!

That info should being in the manualor on the box.

 

[tautog83]

Yea the light is crappy you're going to want to replace that so in the long run you can have more corals and different types . There are a lot of "cheap" options available on Amazon and Ebay that will do the job . Do a little research on here best budget black box light for your size tank . A lot of times the more research you do you wind up going hrrm maybe I'll just plan a whole new setup lol .

 

[PastaLaLa1212]

It says the “output” is 4000L/h

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

It says the “output” is 4000L/h

Your wave maker is fine if it does that much. What you're shooting for is at least 10x the total volume of water being moved per hour.

 

[tautog83]

Basically that's just telling you how much water that that moves in an hr . Right now that can be put on back burner , although flow is very important in a tank . This place is great for information a nd theres always more than one way to be successful.. however , read , read , ask questions, read and read. If you arent using rodi water that's one of the most important first steps

 

[PastaLaLa1212]

Do you have any suggestions about lights for a 29 gallon tank? Now I’m worried lol

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

read , read , ask questions, read and read. If you arent using rodi water that's one of the most important first steps

So true!Research is the most important aspect ,and the most fun, for mot people!And your source water is the key to success!

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

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[ProfessorAronnax]

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[ProfessorAronnax]

Do you have any suggestions about lights for a 29 gallon tank? Now I’m worried lol

No need to worry. If your on a budget you might be able to find something in the sale section here or even go with an AI prime new for cheap.

 

[PastaLaLa1212]

Putting this in my cart lol thank you guys so much for all your help!!!

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Black box lights get the job done!