30G Marine Fowlr Tank........help!.....quick!

[woody88]

Hi all, My mate has just transported and re-setup the tank in my living room. The fish seem ok and the water has now completely cleared. As the tank has been running 3 years I think it safe to say its established. All the LR is purple/green.

I do have a problem/s though. How on earth do I maintain it. I know freshwater maintenance as I have 2 tropical tanks but with marine its a whole different kettle of fish........literally!.
My mate has just dropped a bombshell on me by telling me that he HAS NOT done a water change and checked the filter for.........you ready for this.................18 MONTHS! Now I'm no expert [pretty obvious] but aren't you meant to do a 10% change weekly. He said his fish are thriving, which to be honest they are as far I can tell as they seem happy enough and he hasn't lost one yet, although I am sceptical about one of the fish as he appears to have what looks like white spot but can't be too sure as I've never had a sick fish before.

So here I am. Stuck with a marine tank with 3 fish and live rock and not a clue what to do.HELP!
Here are my questions, if anyone can help!

*what should the temp be?

*In the 4 compartments in the back, looking at the front of the tank, From left to right I have Filter, Media [noodles and balls], heater, skimmer

The skimmer compartment has water up to the top with the skimmer cup just above the water. The heater compartment is fully submerged. The filter media compartment isn't but has water trickling over from the heater compartment. The filter compartment has just enough water to keep it under water. Is this right?. It has been like this since day one.

*The Hydrometer is reading 1.010. Is this bad. The Hydrometer is brand new and was only put in today.

*what do I do with the protein skimmer. How often do I run it. and should it make like a repeated noise or a continous noise as mine is a repeated one.

How often do I vac the sand as it has what looks like green algae in small patches over it

The tank is a Boyu TL550 with stock Lighting,filter,skimmer etc [any idea how many gallon it is]

Will try and get a couple of pics on here.

Once again.......PLEASE HELP!

 

[woody88]

Hi. Just took the Hydrometer out and then put it back in and now the needle has jumped to the other end. What's goin on! Anyone!.................Please!

 

[seffieuk]

Hi Woody

Hi all, My mate has just transported and re-setup the tank in my living room. The fish seem ok and the water has now completely cleared. As the tank has been running 3 years I think it safe to say its established. All the LR is purple/green.

I do have a problem/s though. How on earth do I maintain it.

water change weekly, will work wonders - i always did about 20%

*what should the temp be?

I keep my tank quite warm, 79/80 degress

*In the 4 compartments in the back, looking at the front of the tank, From left to right I have Filter, Media [noodles and balls], heater, skimmer

Right, first thing to do is: take out noodles and balls and what do you mean by filter? When you take out the noodles etc, have a bucket ready over the tabk, so you can drop them straight in, you dont want all that yuck going in the display

The skimmer compartment has water up to the top with the skimmer cup just above the water. The heater compartment is fully submerged. The filter media compartment isn't but has water trickling over from the heater compartment. The filter compartment has just enough water to keep it under water. Is this right?. It has been like this since day one.

All the weirs should be full up, if you look at my old journel, I think there is a photo in there somewhere!

*The Hydrometer is reading 1.010. Is this bad. The Hydrometer is brand new and was only put in today.

Hydrometer (unless lad grade)are awful, buy yourself a refractometer. SG for corals etc needs to 1.026, no corals it can run around 1.024 ish if you wish

*what do I do with the protein skimmer. How often do I run it. and should it make like a repeated noise or a continous noise as mine is a repeated one.

Will make a nosie all the time, should be run 24/7

How often do I vac the sand as it has what looks like green algae in small patches over it

I don't, my cuc (clean up crew) take care of it - what crew do you have? What flow do you have in the tank? Powerheads?

The tank is a Boyu TL550 with stock Lighting,filter,skimmer etc [any idea how many gallon it is]

Yes, 126 litres - how old are the tubes?

Will try and get a couple of pics on here.

Cool


Seffie x

 

[woody88]

Hi seffieUK, thanks for the reply. By filter, I just mean the standard BOYU submersible pump, next to the filter media compartment [ are you saying all compartments should be full].
My temp is currently 74 degress
I've took the Hydrometer out. Its crap!
Regarding fish There is 1 percula clown, and 2 damsels......So I've been told, but not so sure!
There are no snails, crabs etc to keep the algae down.....at the moment.
Lighting-- there are 2 PL lamps 24watt each, but only 1 lamp working so gonna replace both i think
If I take the media out then what do i replace it with? Thanks.

Oh!, and as for the flow, just stock, what looks like a spray bar on the top left of the tank. See! ain't got a #138## clue

 

[seffieuk]

Hi seffieUK, thanks for the reply. By filter, I just mean the standard BOYU submersible pump, next
to the filter media compartment [ are you saying all compartments should be full].

Ah ok, that just a pump, not a filter, the standard one is a bit slow, but does the job - I used to help it along when I did my weekly water cahnges by ouring the water into the weirs in the back instead of the display tank, that way it gives them a bit of a wash out each week

My temp is currently 74 degress

I like it a bit warmer - think of the Red sea and what sort of temp that is

I've took the Hydrometer out. Its crap!

They are indeed

Regarding fish There is 1 percula clown, and 2 damsels......So I've been told, but not so sure!

Well show us a photo, I would get rid of the two damsels, will cut down on stocking and they get moody old whatsits, as they get older!

There are no snails, crabs etc to keep the algae down.....at the moment.

Well that certainly needs sorting - but not yet, you might get a mini cycle, so wait - you didnt put the old sand back in did you?

Lighting-- there are 2 PL lamps 24watt each, but only 1 lamp working so gonna replace both.

Yes, if they are older than eight months get new bulbs

i think
If I take the media out then what do i replace it with? Thanks.

Well, I ran some live rock rubble in a bag, along with a bag of phosphate remover

Powerheads in display part of tank?

And, please do go read my 550 journel, it will help, honest!!!

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/253399-our-journey-to-the-salty-side-part-one/

Woops, missed a bit - turn the spray bar up so that it is facing towards the ceiling and get a powerhead asap - koralia 2 would be good - the live rock needs it pronto
Seffie x

 

[woody88]

Hi Seffie, The sand was never removed. The tank was drained right down to 20%. The fish were removed and put in containers along with with the tank water. Once the tank was back at mine and on its stand, the water was put back in [carefully] followed by the fish. The tank went a bit cloudy for about half an hour then slowly started to clear. 2 hrs later it is now crystal clear.

Did You say all the compartments must be full of water. Sorry if I missed. How much are powerheads roughly.

Along with the tank he also gave me a lot of stuff like test kits, additives, rowaphos,buffer,ammlock etc
Thanks.

 

[seffieuk]

Hi Seffie, The sand was never removed. The tank was drained right down to 20%. The fish were removed and put in containers along with with the tank water. Once the tank was back at mine and on its stand, the water was put back in [carefully] followed by the fish. The tank went a bit cloudy for about half an hour then slowly started to clear. 2 hrs later it is now crystal clear.

Excellent

Did You say all the compartments must be full of water. Sorry if I missed.

Yes

How much are powerheads roughly.

Well, you can get a cheap one for about £15, better one about £35 and then big money £300

Along with the tank he also gave me a lot of stuff like test kits, additives, rowaphos,buffer,ammlock etc

Excellent, do not be tempted to use the buffer yet what are the test kits?


Thanks.

 

[woody88]

Hi Seffie, this is what I have :

waterlife 8.3 buffer
api ammo lock
seaquariums bio mature
the aquarium solution Rowaphos
nutrafin ph test
tropic marin expert testkit - does ph,kh,no2,no3,nh3-4
polyfilter

Gonna do a 10% water change the weekend. Can I just pour in the lfs ready salt mixed water into the compartment with hardly any water in. I know water evaporates but what about the salt content. Am I ok using tap water. I live in a hard water area. Thanks.

Sorry for the 8,000,000 million questions. Thanks for your patience

 

[seffieuk]

Hi Seffie, this is what I have :

waterlife 8.3 buffer
api ammo lock
seaquariums bio mature
the aquarium solution Rowaphos - start running this now, after you have taken that awful media out
nutrafin ph test
tropic marin expert testkit - does ph,kh,no2,no3,nh3-4 - not he best of test kits, but will do
polyfilter

Gonna do a 10% water change the weekend.

Just hang on a minute - lets start testing after 24 hours and see what we get, ok?

Can I just pour in the lfs ready salt mixed water into the compartment with hardly any water in.

Yes, you should be able to and probably a good idea

I know water evaporates but what about the salt content. Am I ok using tap water. I live in a hard water area. Thanks.

The salt doesnt evaporate only the water, so when you do top-offs you use pure ro water, when you do water changes you use salted ro water. If you use tap water you will get lots of nasties which will help algae etc grow
Sorry for the 8,000,000 million questions. Thanks for your patience

You are very welcome, we all have to start somewhere

 

[woody88]

The rowaphos is like a dry brownish powder. According to the instructions it says it must be kept damp/wet at all times and it must not be put in to the tank water directly and should go in a mesh bag or with the filter media.
What do I do?

I have now taken the filter media out and the tank has clouded up slightly. Starting to get stressed out

 

[seffieuk]

The rowaphos is like a dry brownish powder. According to the instructions it says it must be kept damp/wet at all times and it must not be put in to the tank water directly and should go in a mesh bag or with the filter media.
What do I do?

Is it in a pot? If so, the media bag is probably somwhere in the pot? But yes, it needs to go in a media bag

I have now taken the filter media out and the tank has clouded up slightly. Starting to get stressed out

its a stressful life this fish keeping lark its not a problem, just imagine that gunk was sitting in your weirs like a time bomb waiting to explode

The salty side of the hobby takes a lot of patience......... don't worry, we will get you there in the end

 

[woody88]

Nothing in the pot. All thats in the pot is a tiny plastic wallet. Can't be that as it's sealed.
Can I remove a tiny piece of LR from the display side of the tank and put it in the compartment and put some of the rowaphos underneath it, and if so how much? Sorry for the dumbass question, pls feel free to laugh at my expense.

 

[seffieuk]

Nothing in the pot. All thats in the pot is a tiny plastic wallet.

It might be that, it could be folded up?

.
Can I remove a tiny piece of LR from the display side of the tank and put it in the compartment

Yes you can, but how much live rock do you have in the main display, we dont want to cut down on that if you have got more than enough?

and put some of the rowaphos underneath it, and if so how much?

EEeeeekkkk NO! If there is no media bag you can buy them from a lfs really cheaply or use a pair od old tights

Sorry for the dumbass question,

The only dumb ar*s* question is the one not asked

pls feel free to laugh at my expense.

We will only laugh with you, not at you we are a good bunch, us salties

 

[woody88]

Thanks seffie I appreciate your help. Got quite a bit of LR in the tank and there is a small separate piece on it's own at the front. Looks like I'll be putting that in. Does it need to be broken up or can I plonk it in whole providing it fits.
As for the rowaphos the missus dosen't were tights so u will have to send me a pair of yours LOL.....................is that too much too soon!

Gonna see if I can grab a small media bag when I go to get a powerhead and 2 new lamps from my lfs

 

[seffieuk]

As for the rowaphos the missus dosen't were tights so u will have to send me a pair of yours LOL.....................is that too much too soon!

You might not be able to get the lamps from your lfs, you might need to either order them or buy online

Re the rock, buy a media bag for it, or you will never be able to get it out, the weirs are small and unless you or the Mrs has very small hands it is tricky to get things from the bottom - if you break it into smaller pieces there is more surface area

Be careful when touching the rock, you may get tagged by a bristle worm and boy does that hurt! Whilst we are talking pain there are many things in a marine tank that can cause illness and allergic reaction. Ensure you have antihistamin in the cupboard and that your family are aware that if you get very ill following having your hands in the tank, they must tell the hospital you have a marine tank. When you have had your hands in the tank, wash them straight away, never rub your eyes or the like! Dont want to scare you, but better safe than sorry

Your journey has begun..................... oh and where are the photos

Seffie x