Help

MIamiMarines80 · #1 05/01/2006, 01:41 AM

i JUST GOT this 22g saltwater tank cycled,everythings perfect exept the nitr but its not on a stress level, put a couple of damsels in there 2 died out of 5 so i just put a clown fish in it with an anemone, but they dont look to happy i think the clown fish is showing signs of floating up, this is my first tank and ive asked and looked up alot of info b4 i stated is there anything you guys can tell me wut im doing wrong? any help would be awsome

thanks joel

rudeanduncouth · #2 05/01/2006, 01:48 AM

where do we start? First, run out and buy "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist". You should not have an anenome in a 22g tank period unless you are very experienced, let alone in a tank that has just cycled. 5 damsels so soon is pushing it. What else can you tell us about the tank? How much live rock do you have? What type of protein skimmer do you have? Are you running a filter? What is your source water? What all did you test for?

affan · #3 05/01/2006, 01:52 AM

Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies

rudeanduncouth · #4 05/01/2006, 02:00 AM

Never read that one, but I highly recommend "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" as far as I am concerned it is the best marine beginner book out there. It is by Bob Fenner.

jer77 · #5 05/01/2006, 02:46 AM

An anemone with a clownfish in a 20 gallon can be done because I did it with my first tank. I would recommend a bigger tank, which I got soon after though. I recommend using lots of carbon filtration in your filter and getting a skimmer that hangs on the tank. If you can add a sump of a refugium that would do wonders too. What are your water parmameters?

rudeanduncouth · #6 05/01/2006, 02:59 AM

It can but not by a beginner and especially not just after a tank has cycled.

Sk8r · #7 05/01/2006, 08:28 AM

Running something that small with a load, you need your own test kits. Test salinity, temperature, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia and ph daily and write down the results, so if a pattern is happening you can see it. I do that with my 52, and have been glad of it. Carbon, polyfilter and extra salt should be in your closet for emergencies; use ro/di water only. Do not expect to lose fish: it is not normal, it's a major alarm going off, and it can set you way back, if the whole thing goes down. Be very careful with your chemistry when running a 20. It can be done, but you need to go very slowly. Each fish added produces his own minispike---the system is flexing its muscle as that one fish starts pooping, and shedding slime into the water, and the system will be adjusting to the load, but you are maxed out in terms of what that 20 can handle. My 5 fish in my 52 are about 2 ounces in total weight of all fish. They need about a gallon each, per ounce of fish, to be comfortable. Feed very sparingly with the load you're carrying. If each fish gets one mouthful, per day, that's enough.