Help

[Jeremy420]

I need some thoughts I setup a little fluval 13.5 and decided I wanted to play with corals a bit the aquarium had 2 oscellaris clowns 1 scooter blenny and today I added 1 coral banded shrimp and 1 emerald crab but I need advise on different corals and the kids want a starfish so what’s my best options I put some xiena and a Duncan in yesterday I have 2 soft corals no clue what they are and 1 bubble tip anemone

 

[Llyod276]

Wow that A LOT for a little tank!!! Good luck with that. Unless its astrina starfish, don't get any starfish, they will starve. Also get huge like laying flat will touch all four sides at once, except for sand sifter, but again food issues...
My little 14g cube looks like dog****, so if your tank is thriving, bruh hook it up with the Intel.

 

[Jekyl]

Welcome to R2R! Can you give some details and a pic of your tank? Parameters, lighting and age will dictate the coral that will do well.

 

[jabberwock]

Following

 

[Lavey29]

Starfish need to be in a larger well established system same with bubble tip nems. You have over loaded your nano tank and will have struggles.

 

[Jeremy420]

Welcome to R2R! Can you give some details and a pic of your tank? Parameters, lighting and age will dictate the coral that will do well.

So I don’t have a tester to test everything I see people testing the tank is a fluval se evo purchased at petco some people say I have already over crowded it but it still seems very empty to me I haven’t been checking water with imagitarium master test kit nitrate has remained 0 ppm nitrite 0-0.25ppm ph 8.4 and ammonia 0ppm salinity between 1.026-1.028 temp 78-80 degrees

 

[Jekyl]

Anemone are hardy creatures but still have some base needs. Those being a mature tank, (minimum 6 months old, year is better) strong lighting, use of an RODI system for water, and stable parameters.

Getting some solid testing equipment should be your next purchase. I recommend salifert. Nitrate, alk and phosphate at minimum.

Your tank looks very new and you're going to be climbing a steep cliff to keep anemone alive in that environment.

 

[Jeremy420]

It’s new but also I’ve been told small tanks are harder to keep stable so I’m shopping for much larger 200-300 gal range

 

[Asm481]

Slow down! Nothing good happens fast. Research each occupant before you purchase. Good test kits, not API. Salifert or Hanna test for at least nitrate, phosphate, alk and calcium.
It does sound to me your tank is overstocked already. Remember everything will grow and soon there is no room.

 

[Jekyl]

It’s new but also I’ve been told small tanks are harder to keep stable so I’m shopping for much larger 200-300 gal range

Glasscages is highly recommended by people on the site. Worth a look for a tank in that range. One thing I'll do differently if ever restarting is going with ocean direct live rock. The whole dry rock vs being terrified of hitchhikers isn't even a debate for me anymore. I don't want to go through the maturing part ever again.

 

[Jeremy420]

Glasscages is highly recommended by people on the site. Worth a look for a tank in that range. One thing I'll do differently if ever restarting is going with ocean direct live rock. The whole dry rock vs being terrified of hitchhikers isn't even a debate for me anymore. I don't want to go through the maturing part ever again.

The rock in my tank I actually bought to put in my African cichlid tank but chose to go a different route and just tossed that rock in my saltwater tank it looked good till the brown crap started taking over

 

[Jeremy420]

Not sure if it’s algae or what it started happening after not having power for 2 days

 

[Jekyl]

Not sure if it’s algae or what it started happening after not having power for 2 days

Beginning of diatoms and a normal progression for starting with dry rock. It's going to get much worse, even then, all part of the process. Manage parameters and ensure you have the proper clean up crew.