New Reefer Here

[Chillvein]

Hello, I'm Chillvein and I am a new reefer. I'm actually pretty new to both freshwater and saltwater. I have 2 freshwater tanks, 90G and 20G, and then I have a 55G saltwater tank. I have my saltwater tank setup in my room. I'm using a single canister rated for 55g with a hob filter thing, I know I know, I should have probably went a little bigger on the filtration side. I actually thought I bought a bigger canister then realized it was rated for what I have when i got home. I also just recently added a Coralife DC Controlled HOB Protein Skimmer, and for lighting I have a NICREW 36 Watt Reef Light. My tank has only been up for about 2 months and I have already made mistakes. My first week I added a Tomato Clown Fish and a small Anemone which all seem to be doing really great. I also have some other fish in there butterfly angelfish, diamond goby, coral beauty, and like 6 banggai cardinalfish and then I have banded shrimp, a chocolate chip starfish, and hermit crabs. Last night I went and picked up a Royal gramma and he seems to not be doing good. I got him home and floated him and he was kinda laying on his side so instead of waiting the full time I hurried and rushed putting him into the tank. So far he's just hiding under one of my live rock and hasn't came out. Is there anything i can do to help? Also what other kinds of things can i add to my setup to help improve it?

 

[revhtree]

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D

 

[Gman83]

Welcome!

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!

Canister filters are great for freshwater, but unless it's constantly cleaned you may find it's not best for saltwater. They tend to become nitrate factories. If youre able to add a sump would be ideal, otherwise lots of live rock for filtration and a hang on back filter will suffice as long as you don't overload the bioload.
Fish being bashfull is pretty common. Just make sure he's comfortable and he'll start swimming around.

 

[Chillvein]

Welcome to R2R!

Canister filters are great for freshwater, but unless it's constantly cleaned you may find it's not best for saltwater. They tend to become nitrate factories. If youre able to add a sump would be ideal, otherwise lots of live rock for filtration and a hang on back filter will suffice as long as you don't overload the bioload.
Fish being bashfull is pretty common. Just make sure he's comfortable and he'll start swimming around.

How could i do a sump without drilling my tank and putting it on a stand? and are there any kits?

 

[Crabs McJones]

How could i do a sump without drilling my tank and putting it on a stand?

What does the tank sit on now?
And they do make hang on back overflows so no drilling needed.

 

[Chillvein]

What does the tank sit on now?
And they do make hang on back overflows so no drilling needed.

I have it on my dresser

 

[Crabs McJones]

Idk if id trust a 55 gallon on a dresser :grimacing-face: They're definitely not designed for that kind of weight.

 

[Brisk]

Welcome!

 

[Chillvein]

Idk if id trust a 55 gallon on a dresser :grimacing-face: They're definitely not designed for that kind of weight.

It's a very strong dresser. I'll post some pics here in a min.

 

[1112-425XL]

 

[Just John]

Good luck with the gramma. I will leave the advice about it to the fish people.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Greetings and Welcome! A few things I noticed. You're moving very quickly. You need to slow down. Nothing is done quickly in saltwater. It's a slow, methodical aquarist who is the most successful. The anemone should not have gone in the first week. I wouldn't put one of those in until at least the six month mark. They like stable environments and new tanks are anything but. How old is the tank? I didn't see that mentioned.

I don't know much about lighting, but I'm not sure the 36W will be enough for corals. Some anemones DO need good lighting (as they enjoy a mutualistic relationship with the algae within), but again, I'm not sure about your set up or even what kind of anemone you have. That CC star you have WILL outgrow the tank. They can get upto 12" in diameter and they are not reef safe. So if you're gonna have corals, I'd rehome that one.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, I'm Chillvein and I am a new reefer. I'm actually pretty new to both freshwater and saltwater. I have 2 freshwater tanks, 90G and 20G, and then I have a 55G saltwater tank. I have my saltwater tank setup in my room. I'm using a single canister rated for 55g with a hob filter thing, I know I know, I should have probably went a little bigger on the filtration side. I actually thought I bought a bigger canister then realized it was rated for what I have when i got home. I also just recently added a Coralife DC Controlled HOB Protein Skimmer, and for lighting I have a NICREW 36 Watt Reef Light. My tank has only been up for about 2 months and I have already made mistakes. My first week I added a Tomato Clown Fish and a small Anemone which all seem to be doing really great. I also have some other fish in there butterfly angelfish, diamond goby, coral beauty, and like 6 banggai cardinalfish and then I have banded shrimp, a chocolate chip starfish, and hermit crabs. Last night I went and picked up a Royal gramma and he seems to not be doing good. I got him home and floated him and he was kinda laying on his side so instead of waiting the full time I hurried and rushed putting him into the tank. So far he's just hiding under one of my live rock and hasn't came out. Is there anything i can do to help? Also what other kinds of things can i add to my setup to help improve it?

A 36wt light wont do much for coral and filter is one of the more important component. A canister is not the best choice for a saltwater tank as it requires more frequent maintenance and also the canister is a mechanical filter and you want to have mechanical , biological and chemical to manage proper water quality. The canister will polish water and trap particles via the cartridge.
Chemical is what traps and breaks down chemical compounds such as feces and uneaten food often accomplished with use of carbon and GFO as examples
Biological is what utilizes the natural process of biological filtration such as use of ceramic nuggets, bio blocks, and microscopic bacteria surfaces as examples. Best it to add or use a hang on refugium such as Reef octopus or AquaMaxx unit and even add a hang on skimmer such as ice cap K1- or K2 100

 

[Chillvein]

A 36wt light wont do much for coral and filter is one of the more important component. A canister is not the best choice for a saltwater tank as it requires more frequent maintenance and also the canister is a mechanical filter and you want to have mechanical , biological and chemical to manage proper water quality. The canister will polish water and trap particles via the cartridge.
Chemical is what traps and breaks down chemical compounds such as feces and uneaten food often accomplished with use of carbon and GFO as examples
Biological is what utilizes the natural process of biological filtration such as use of ceramic nuggets, bio blocks, and microscopic bacteria surfaces as examples. Best it to add or use a hang on refugium such as Reef octopus or AquaMaxx unit and even add a hang on skimmer such as ice cap K1- or K2 100

Here is my setup. Should I run my blue lights at 100% then right now i have it at 70% Blue and 10% White not in the photos tho.

 

[Chillvein]

A 36wt light wont do much for coral and filter is one of the more important component. A canister is not the best choice for a saltwater tank as it requires more frequent maintenance and also the canister is a mechanical filter and you want to have mechanical , biological and chemical to manage proper water quality. The canister will polish water and trap particles via the cartridge.
Chemical is what traps and breaks down chemical compounds such as feces and uneaten food often accomplished with use of carbon and GFO as examples
Biological is what utilizes the natural process of biological filtration such as use of ceramic nuggets, bio blocks, and microscopic bacteria surfaces as examples. Best it to add or use a hang on refugium such as Reef octopus or AquaMaxx unit and even add a hang on skimmer such as ice cap K1- or K2 100

I also have a Coralife Protein Skimmer i just setup could you link the filtration system you are talking about.

 

[B&CinB.C.]

Hello and welcome to R2R

 

[vetteguy53081]

I also have a Coralife Protein Skimmer i just setup could you link the filtration system you are talking about.

Unfortunately its one of the worse skimmers out there But see if it pulls gunks or just bubbles all day like most of them do. Best is Icecap, aquaMaxx or Bubble Magnus

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here is my setup. Should I run my blue lights at 100% then right now i have it at 70% Blue and 10% White not in the photos tho.

be sure to monitor mainly ammonia and nitrate with a Reliable test kit over next 6-8 weeks