Just Started. - Aquarium Advice

MrMalta · 07-12-2008, 03:51 PM

I just started a saltwater tank today because the fish in my 5 gallon died.

So right now I have sand, saltwater measured with a hydrometer to the right salinity and about 5lbs of live rock.

For equipment I just have a heater and a aquaclear 20 powerfilter along with an "elite" hood which has a 9 watt light.

Am I doing ok so far and what else do I need or should I upgrade?

Thanks in advance.

ejay1 · 07-12-2008, 05:09 PM

ur tank is pretty cloudy

MrMalta · 07-12-2008, 05:45 PM

Thats probably because I just started.

Here are some more pictures with a little less cloudiness, the one coral looks like it has green plants growing on it!

**melosu58** · 07-12-2008, 07:31 PM

The green stuff is a macro algea. Good stuff as far as eating up excessive nutrients but it will over run your tank if you dont keep it prunned.

MrMalta · 07-12-2008, 11:23 PM

Thanks.

Any suggestions or tips? Do I need better lighting? I'd like to have a coral or two.

**melosu58** · 07-13-2008, 08:06 AM

You`ll need some more lighting for corals. The main thing with a small tank is that things can get out of wack so fast if you dont practice diligence. Hopefully all will work out but as I said you will need more lighting.

MrMalta · 07-13-2008, 11:28 AM

Would something like this work?

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/...ghtwlunarlight
OR
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/...ripwlunarlight

I'd rather have T5's, but I dont think they make them under 15 inches at bigals.

**melosu58** · 07-13-2008, 02:37 PM

They should be OK for some LPS and soft corals.

haykay · 07-13-2008, 03:08 PM

looking good,adn yes as you stated your tank will be cloudy for a bit!

MrMalta · 07-13-2008, 07:16 PM

Well I went over to bigals today and did some buying.

The first thing I purchased was a glass canopy (which didn't fit so I had to do a little wood one to help it, as per picture) and then I bought a light. Which is a Current USA PowerBrite LED 50/50 (2 Actinic/2 10K) which I think is an amazing light for an aquarium my size.

So after picking up those two things, mainly the light the guy said I would only be able to get soft corals. So I picked up one zooanthid - which I know nothing about, didn't see much online either. But it is already beginning to reopen which is great. So here's two more pictures.

I then bought a Hydor Koralia Nano because I see it in everyones tank. But maybe the current coming from the Aquaclear 20 filter set to high is enough? Because the Koralia really seems to stir things around. I put it in the back right and left corners and still had the same affect. Any suggestions? Or do I even need it?

New full tank shot!

07-12-2008, 03:51 PM	#1
MrMalta Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada. Posts: 179	Just Started. I just started a saltwater tank today because the fish in my 5 gallon died. So right now I have sand, saltwater measured with a hydrometer to the right salinity and about 5lbs of live rock. For equipment I just have a heater and a aquaclear 20 powerfilter along with an "elite" hood which has a 9 watt light. Am I doing ok so far and what else do I need or should I upgrade? Thanks in advance. __________________ My 38 Gallon: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ry-101134.html My 5 Gallon Saltwater, Now a 20 High: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ed-104287.html

07-12-2008, 05:45 PM	#3
MrMalta Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada. Posts: 179	Thats probably because I just started. Here are some more pictures with a little less cloudiness, the one coral looks like it has green plants growing on it! __________________ My 38 Gallon: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ry-101134.html My 5 Gallon Saltwater, Now a 20 High: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ed-104287.html

07-12-2008, 07:31 PM	#4
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,692 Images: 80	The green stuff is a macro algea. Good stuff as far as eating up excessive nutrients but it will over run your tank if you dont keep it prunned. __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

07-12-2008, 11:23 PM	#5
MrMalta Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada. Posts: 179	Thanks. Any suggestions or tips? Do I need better lighting? I'd like to have a coral or two. __________________ My 38 Gallon: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ry-101134.html My 5 Gallon Saltwater, Now a 20 High: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ed-104287.html

07-13-2008, 08:06 AM	#6
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,692 Images: 80	You`ll need some more lighting for corals. The main thing with a small tank is that things can get out of wack so fast if you dont practice diligence. Hopefully all will work out but as I said you will need more lighting. __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

07-12-2008, 05:09 PM	#2
ejay1 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 15	ur tank is pretty cloudy

07-13-2008, 11:28 AM	#7
MrMalta Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada. Posts: 179	Would something like this work? http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/...ghtwlunarlight OR http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/...ripwlunarlight I'd rather have T5's, but I dont think they make them under 15 inches at bigals. __________________ My 38 Gallon: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ry-101134.html My 5 Gallon Saltwater, Now a 20 High: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ed-104287.html

07-13-2008, 02:37 PM	#8
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,692 Images: 80	They should be OK for some LPS and soft corals. __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

07-13-2008, 03:08 PM	#9
haykay Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Washington State Posts: 180	looking good,adn yes as you stated your tank will be cloudy for a bit! __________________ Proud sister to a USMC Devil Dog! 7 freshwater tanks and counting!!

07-13-2008, 07:16 PM	#10
MrMalta Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada. Posts: 179	Well I went over to bigals today and did some buying. The first thing I purchased was a glass canopy (which didn't fit so I had to do a little wood one to help it, as per picture) and then I bought a light. Which is a Current USA PowerBrite LED 50/50 (2 Actinic/2 10K) which I think is an amazing light for an aquarium my size. So after picking up those two things, mainly the light the guy said I would only be able to get soft corals. So I picked up one zooanthid - which I know nothing about, didn't see much online either. But it is already beginning to reopen which is great. So here's two more pictures. I then bought a Hydor Koralia Nano because I see it in everyones tank. But maybe the current coming from the Aquaclear 20 filter set to high is enough? Because the Koralia really seems to stir things around. I put it in the back right and left corners and still had the same affect. Any suggestions? Or do I even need it? New full tank shot! __________________ My 38 Gallon: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ry-101134.html My 5 Gallon Saltwater, Now a 20 High: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...ed-104287.html

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