Exciting day for the marine tank!

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

grimlock3000

Aquarium Advice Addict
Joined
Jun 29, 2003
Messages
1,975
Location
maine
No fish for me yet, but after three months of learning, I am really starting to make some progess with my marine tank. Today, I realized everything is finally coming together and I can see the fish at the end of the tunnel swimming towards me.

First up, an Excalibur HV1 protein skimmer was delivered to my house earlier today. I was not originally planning on a skimmer for the 15g tank, but I finally decided to order one after the Anemone incident:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=37690

...and reading this article:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=13

...and reading The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner.

All signs pointed to a protein skimmer being a very good idea to help the tank stay clean and healthy (especially once I start feeding fish).

Also today, I am going to sit down with my wife and pick out two fish for the tank. It will be nice to finally pick out some fish after a few months of rocks and a clean up crew. Speaking of the clean up crew, that has been great. I have only lost one snail to a hermit crab (the crab is now walking around with a new shell).

Next to the tank, I have nine pounds of new LR curing in a bucket. Once the new rock cures and goes in the tank and remains stable, I can get the fish from a LFS.
 
Cool. I waited 3-4 months before I got my first fish. Unlike bigger tanks, nano-ers really have to consider what we want in live stock choices because we don't have the room to add a bunch.
 
My choice of a fish would be Pseudochromis fridmani. I've read that they may eat shrimp but I don't have any experience with that. If you don't have any shrimp yet, then consider the P. fridmani.

I've been following your nano posts, grimlock...I've read Bob Fenner's book too and I may (may!) want a 10 or 15 gallon nano. I know bigger ones are better for stability but I don't have the room, and smaller equipment isn't as expensive. We'll see.....! Was it you who lost Harry, the crab, while moving? Did you find him?
 
it was my understanding that p. fridmani needs ample swimming space? am i incorrect? they are wonderful fish aside, very colorful. ive never seen one eat a shrimp either, they are considered "reef safe".

i have no fish in my nano as of yet, and am in the same boat, but i chose to add corals first. i would suggest adding a shrimp, i have a skunk cleaner and he is more amusing than any fish i own.

for mine, i plan on adding the ubiquitous pair of ocellaris clowns.
 
Nice memory! I did lose Harry (the crab) while moving the tank. I found him shortly after I setup the tank again, then he died right away. His shell was soft when I removed it from the tank, so the tank got moved when the crab was molting, or just finished molting :( I replaced the crab with an Emerald Crab that is out in the open most of the time, but not it is not as cool as Harry ;)

My tank has been going very well overall. I am really taking my time with it, and it has paid off. I top off with distilled water once every couple days, and do a water change every weekend. Sometimes I use a Kalk drip for top offs, however I am looking for something better than the gallon jug on a shelf I am using now.

I opened up the skimmer when I got home from work and it is really beefy. Looks must larger in person than it did online, and it seems very durable. I should have a chance to set it up tomorrow.
 
Sorry to hear about Harry :(

At the FW hatchery I go to, one time there was a skimmer in the corner (not set up) and it was about 3 feet tall!
 
you drip kalk already? what is your Ca reading?

Not measuring the Ca yet honestly. Getting the reef test kit for Ca, PO4, and low range NO3 is on my list of things to buy as I move forward with the tank. I have done an overnight drip three or four times as more of a functionality test than anything else.
 
oh i see, because i was going to say i havent had the need to dose in mine yet, and ive had a lot of corraline growth and ive added corals.

just wondering :)
 
Back
Top Bottom