AtlasReef
Community Member
Hi All!
Crossposted this on the thread for questions about fish to add but it makes a good introduction as well!
We (Mom, Dad, & 6 kiddos) are definitely new to this & have been soaking up all the info here that we can. We’ve had freshwater tanks before but this is a whole other ballgame. The whole family is staring down the all-but-empty tank daily.
We are currently cycling our first saltwater tank (20g 12”x12”x30”). We have live sand, live rock, & a few shells in the tank. We had a few beach hermits who came home from vacay as stowaways who we tried to save by a quick setup but we have learned what a mistake and unlikely save that was from the start. I almost gave-up completely when I realized just how unlikely it was for us to make that work but I didn’t know then what I know now. We have one single tiny strong guy left hanging. We’ve named him Atlas.
We’ve been reading, learning, cleaning, & cycling since. We are a week and a half in and I’ve spent more hours on the tank (research and working on it) than sleeping.
The plan is FOWLR & with our current setup, I’m pretty sure that’s all we can accommodate. Of course I already see the addict wheels turning in my son’s & my eyes.
Right now we have a standard filter, adjustable heater, hydrometer (not super accurate), & an ammonia level detector. Our light is an adjustable FLUVAL AQUASKY 600mm LED.
Our amazing LFS has tested our water and assisted with an unplanned water change when my daughter dumped pellet food in the tank & we couldn’t get it all out, causing a dramatic ammonia spike. I thoroughly cleaned the sand for a few days in a row. NO MORE PELLETS, lots of education with the kids, & a really high shelf have given me the reassurance not to give up before we really get started, and that we CAN do this the right way. Plus, we are totally addicted to learning about this world now.
We are back down to just above a non-existent/safe ammonia level.
We have absolutely no plans to introduce ANYTHING until the tank has stabilized. We want healthy animals. Our failed rescue has made me super cautious moving forward.
So, that’s where we are! Patiently {read:excited-and-ever-so-impatiently} waiting for that perfect moment & not a moment too early.
Here is our dream team cheat sheet- our list of maybe more than what will comfortably fit in our setup but options we all agree we love. We also haven’t yet asked our LFS how accessible these creatures are.
We would love to know your thoughts, deletions based on our limitations, or ideas about best to add first, etc...
We have time to make a good solid plan and we will of course adjust as we go forward as well, adding slowly.
We’ve tried to research each creature but there are certainly many different opinions out there.
Thank you for your guidance!
Crossposted this on the thread for questions about fish to add but it makes a good introduction as well!
We (Mom, Dad, & 6 kiddos) are definitely new to this & have been soaking up all the info here that we can. We’ve had freshwater tanks before but this is a whole other ballgame. The whole family is staring down the all-but-empty tank daily.
We are currently cycling our first saltwater tank (20g 12”x12”x30”). We have live sand, live rock, & a few shells in the tank. We had a few beach hermits who came home from vacay as stowaways who we tried to save by a quick setup but we have learned what a mistake and unlikely save that was from the start. I almost gave-up completely when I realized just how unlikely it was for us to make that work but I didn’t know then what I know now. We have one single tiny strong guy left hanging. We’ve named him Atlas.
We’ve been reading, learning, cleaning, & cycling since. We are a week and a half in and I’ve spent more hours on the tank (research and working on it) than sleeping.
The plan is FOWLR & with our current setup, I’m pretty sure that’s all we can accommodate. Of course I already see the addict wheels turning in my son’s & my eyes.
Right now we have a standard filter, adjustable heater, hydrometer (not super accurate), & an ammonia level detector. Our light is an adjustable FLUVAL AQUASKY 600mm LED.
Our amazing LFS has tested our water and assisted with an unplanned water change when my daughter dumped pellet food in the tank & we couldn’t get it all out, causing a dramatic ammonia spike. I thoroughly cleaned the sand for a few days in a row. NO MORE PELLETS, lots of education with the kids, & a really high shelf have given me the reassurance not to give up before we really get started, and that we CAN do this the right way. Plus, we are totally addicted to learning about this world now.
We are back down to just above a non-existent/safe ammonia level.
We have absolutely no plans to introduce ANYTHING until the tank has stabilized. We want healthy animals. Our failed rescue has made me super cautious moving forward.
So, that’s where we are! Patiently {read:excited-and-ever-so-impatiently} waiting for that perfect moment & not a moment too early.
Here is our dream team cheat sheet- our list of maybe more than what will comfortably fit in our setup but options we all agree we love. We also haven’t yet asked our LFS how accessible these creatures are.
We would love to know your thoughts, deletions based on our limitations, or ideas about best to add first, etc...
We have time to make a good solid plan and we will of course adjust as we go forward as well, adding slowly.
We’ve tried to research each creature but there are certainly many different opinions out there.
Thank you for your guidance!
