15G Setup :)

[ElitePirate]

Hi Friends,

Just wanted to showcase my 1st ever 15G nano setup. A very simple setup -

Fishes :

- 02 Amphiprion ocellaris
- 01 Yellow Gobi
- 01 Blue Damselfish


Cleaning crew :

- 03 Cerith snails
- 03 Nassarius snails
- 02 Astrea snails
- 01 blue legged hermit crab
- 01 peppermint shrimp
- 01 fire red shrimp

Corals :

- 01 Hammer
- 03 Zoanthids
- 01 Leather
- 01 Green Star Polyps

Invertebrates :

- 01 Feather Duster

Right now getting my water param straight. All good except for Phosphate and Nitrate. Already using NOPOX so lets see :)

Edit : 23/10/2018 - Live stock details updated.

 

[Dom]

Looks good. What are you doing for filtration? Be faithful to your water changes!!!

 

[Coastie Reefer]

+1 on water changes... that's a lot of fish in a 15g. A lot of fish with attitudes too.

 

[ElitePirate]

Looks good. What are you doing for filtration? Be faithful to your water changes!!!

I have a Red star needle wheel protein skimmer, Marine pump with ceramic shaft and rotary wave outlet. Filter media - Carbon media and Ammonia+Phosphate filter media in nylon bags, Natural Coral Bone Stones and some other stone materials :)

I've been doing small water changes twice a month like that and it's giving me good outcome so far.

+1 on water changes... that's a lot of fish in a 15g. A lot of fish with attitudes too.

Ya I know, but you'd be surprised. My LFS they have this same setup but 4-5 different tanks and they have like 7-8 fishes.

So far they are doing fine, just playing around and stuff so I'm ok for now LOL

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I have a Red star needle wheel protein skimmer, Marine pump with ceramic shaft and rotary wave outlet. Filter media - Carbon media and Ammonia+Phosphate filter media in nylon bags, Natural Coral Bone Stones and some other stone materials :)

I've been doing small water changes twice a month like that and it's giving me good outcome so far.



Ya I know, but you'd be surprised. My LFS they have this same setup but 4-5 different tanks and they have like 7-8 fishes.

So far they are doing fine, just playing around and stuff so I'm ok for now LOL

Just because you see it in your LFS doesn't mean it's viable long term. It's your tank, but personally I'd get the 6 line and dottyback out asap.

 

[ElitePirate]

Just because you see it in your LFS doesn't mean it's viable long term. It's your tank, but personally I'd get the 6 line and dottyback out asap.

hm I'm not sure what to do with them. They won't take them back. What could happen? any idea? they are together for more than 3 months and so far no issues.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Your LFS won't take them back? Most stores let you return fish for store credit... Worse that could happen is they start beating the crap out of each other, and could even kill a couple fish.

 

[ElitePirate]

Your LFS won't take them back? Most stores let you return fish for store credit... Worse that could happen is they start beating the crap out of each other, and could even kill a couple fish.

here they won't take it back my friend. Mean people :P I see them chasing around at times, but not really fighting and stuff. Even my clown used to play like that coz of territorial issues i guess.

 

[Dom]

Ya I know, but you'd be surprised. My LFS they have this same setup but 4-5 different tanks and they have like 7-8 fishes.
So far they are doing fine, just playing around and stuff so I'm ok for now LOL

I was thinking the same... you have a lot of fish in that 15 gallon tank. I'd bet your LFS is doing water changes more than once per week. If not, then perhaps they have all of these tanks plumbed together.

You mentioned in the original post that you need to "get your water parameters straight". That you have a nitrate issue tells me that your nitrifying bacteria colony can't handle the bio load produced by the fish. IMO, some nitrates in the tank are good as it is a nutrient on which corals depend.

I'm guessing this is a new tank? Maybe a few months old? If true, you haven't given the tank an opportunity to mature. You may run into some problems down the road.

 

[saintsreturn]

Beautiful tank thus far!

 

[ElitePirate]

I was thinking the same... you have a lot of fish in that 15 gallon tank. I'd bet your LFS is doing water changes more than once per week. If not, then perhaps they have all of these tanks plumbed together.

You mentioned in the original post that you need to "get your water parameters straight". That you have a nitrate issue tells me that your nitrifying bacteria colony can't handle the bio load produced by the fish. IMO, some nitrates in the tank are good as it is a nutrient on which corals depend.

I'm guessing this is a new tank? Maybe a few months old? If true, you haven't given the tank an opportunity to mature. You may run into some problems down the road.

Yup it's just around 4 mo old. You're correct my nitrate and phosphate level is high however NOPOX will not immediately remove these right?

I was told it will only reduce these params gradually?

 

[Dom]

Yup it's just around 4 mo old. You're correct my nitrate and phosphate level is high however NOPOX will not immediately remove these right?
I was told it will only reduce these params gradually?

IMO, people are too quick to spend money on a product that is the "magic bullet" to their problem. You need to identify and correct the cause.

The cause of your elevated nitrates is a young tank that had all of it's inhabitants added in a short period of time. By adding all of these fish at one time, the ammonia levels are going to skyrocket because there isn't enough bacteria to handle the waste load produced by the fish. High ammonia can cause gill burn to your fish and be fatal.

This is why I have a firm rule of not more than 1 fish every three months. Yes, the addition of one fish will cause ammonia to elevate, but it will be a small elevation and one that the inhabitants can tolerate until the bacteria colony grows enough to handle the additional bio load. I'd bet that you have elevated ammonia in your tank when it should be zero.

Live rock and sand is home to your nitrifying bacteria colony. You need about 1 pound of live rock per gallon of water. If you can't fit that much live rock in your system, then I would suggest a FAITHFUL 25% weekly water change.

Where your elevated phosphates are concerned, there are many causes. Dry fish food, such as flakes, are a source of phosphates. Also, are you using RODI water? Are you making it yourself or are you relying on the LFS for your water? If you are buying your RODI from the LFS, check your TDS in the water. Elevated dissolved solids can cause phosphate issues.

Most importantly, do NOT rely on your LFS. Brick and mortar stores can't compete with on-line businesses because they are so expensive to run. For them, it is about the sale first, not your success. Your failures mean that you will keep going back to spend money on solutions.

 

[ElitePirate]

IMO, people are too quick to spend money on a product that is the "magic bullet" to their problem. You need to identify and correct the cause.

The cause of your elevated nitrates is a young tank that had all of it's inhabitants added in a short period of time. By adding all of these fish at one time, the ammonia levels are going to skyrocket because there isn't enough bacteria to handle the waste load produced by the fish. High ammonia can cause gill burn to your fish and be fatal.

This is why I have a firm rule of not more than 1 fish every three months. Yes, the addition of one fish will cause ammonia to elevate, but it will be a small elevation and one that the inhabitants can tolerate until the bacteria colony grows enough to handle the additional bio load. I'd bet that you have elevated ammonia in your tank when it should be zero.

Live rock and sand is home to your nitrifying bacteria colony. You need about 1 pound of live rock per gallon of water. If you can't fit that much live rock in your system, then I would suggest a FAITHFUL 25% weekly water change.

Where your elevated phosphates are concerned, there are many causes. Dry fish food, such as flakes, are a source of phosphates. Also, are you using RODI water? Are you making it yourself or are you relying on the LFS for your water? If you are buying your RODI from the LFS, check your TDS in the water. Elevated dissolved solids can cause phosphate issues.

Most importantly, do NOT rely on your LFS. Brick and mortar stores can't compete with on-line businesses because they are so expensive to run. For them, it is about the sale first, not your success. Your failures mean that you will keep going back to spend money on solutions.

I know very well there isnt a magic cure. I though the cause of my elevated levels coz of over feeding which I've already cut down a lot.

And I have to tell you my ammonia level is 0. I have ammonia alert badge and also I do regular ammonia test using test kit. The rock which I have isn't live but they said it's somewhat similar. I need to research more.

I'm not using RODI water, but the topup water I'm using right now contains 3 ppm TDS. LDF they mixed red sea in front of me and also they checked salinity level etc before handing it over. So I trust that water.