Just Started.

[MrMalta]

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]

ur tank is pretty cloudy

 

[MrMalta]

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]

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]

Thanks.

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

 

[melosu58]

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]

Would something like this work?

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA...al2x18watt12powercompactstriplightwlunarlight
OR
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA...wattpowercompactfixturesinglestripwlunarlight

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

 

[melosu58]

They should be OK for some LPS and soft corals.

 

[haykay]

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

 

[MrMalta]

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!

 

[MrMalta]

Lights went out about an hour ago. Just noticed the mushrooms all closed like in the second mushroom pic. This must be normal when it gets dark.

 

[MrMalta]

So any opinions on a fish I can put in there?

Or where to put the Koralia 1?

 

[roka64]

Firefish are colorful. You may want to add a little moe LR and give your critters a few places to hide/claim as their own.

 

[MrMalta]

Not really a big fan of that fish. Would the "nemo" fish work? Or a watchman goby?

More liverock is on the way. I kinda wanted to leave it "open" but it seems that is not a good idea since everyone piles liverock into their tanks.

 

[ejay1]

Not really a big fan of that fish. Would the "nemo" fish work? Or a watchman goby?

More liverock is on the way. I kinda wanted to leave it "open" but it seems that is not a good idea since everyone piles liverock into their tanks.

5 gallons is too small for a nemo fish

 

[MrMalta]

Alright so the clownfish is out, the watchman goby is ok?

 

[MrMalta]

I've also noticed about 3 or 4 bristleworms coming out of the rock on the left at night time. I've read they are harmless and I've read that they are bad. What should I do?

 

[roka64]

I consider them a beneficial part of my clean up crew.

 

[cmor1701d]

They are good. Keep them.

 

[MrMalta]

Thanks. I will. They seem like they would be really hard to get out anyways 'cause as soon as I walked up to it they like to slide back into their hole!