My first nano!

Z

Zero Impact

New Member
I started my first nano two days ago.It's a two and a half gallon minibow with a 50/50 light. I have a few questions about what I need to do? First I don't have any expierience with salt water tanks..."This is my first!"I don't have any cemicals to check the nitrites or nitrates..."PH Balance".Will I be able to maintain the tank without these?Also how often should I check the salinity levels?Should I check them when I add my fresh water for evaporation?I also didn't take time to place my live rock as I wanted for looks.I want to ask how long should I wait till I restack it in the tank...the way I want it?
 
J

Jennie

New Member
:welcome to Nanotank!

The test kits are a big MUST have, in smaller tanks they are even more essential! As for the salinity level, again in a tank that small you'll need to check either every day or every other day.

Aquascaping is your personal preference, play with it til you get it how you like it!

Can't wait to see your tank, and pictures yet? How long has your tank been set up?
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Yeah fiddle with the rock for now, you have about a month of waiting for the cycle so move the rocks around to your hearts content to find the setup that looks the best to you. Just make sure to top off with clean water often to prevent PH swings.

Tim
 
B

brandon

New Member
since you have anywhere from 2 weeks to a month for the water to cycle
you have plenty of tmie to play with the live rock and buy a test kit

and when you top off the water, use Ro/Di water (instead of salt)

:mrgreen: :welcome :mrgreen:
pateience is key, also buying the better equipment helps now, so you dont have to buy them later :mrgreen:

Have fun :D
 
Z

Zero Impact

New Member
I'm working on pics...It's been three days now and I've seen small star fish,new life on the rock itself,and it looks like some sort of eggs are on the rocks.I do have about 15 or 20 pounds of live rock 4 snails and 5 crabs in it for a cleanup crew.I've added fresh water once a day for top off and I checked the salt yesterday.The salt was low. So I added a little...about a quarter of teaspoon to raise the level to 1.0225. I'm leaving the light on for 10 to 11 hours a day, is that enough?I also plan to do a water change in a day or two. Just about quarter of the tank with new salt water. Is it to soon? Or should I wait a week from start up?Like I said In my first post I don't have any test kit for the "PH".I have had fresh water fish for two plus years now with out a "PH" kit,and they are fine with a quarter change a week so I was thinking as long as I do the same it should keep the "PH" at a decent level..."Till I can get one?"
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
I think you would be better off not doing a water change until after the cycle is complete. Lights are really needed during cycle either. Just airate your water and you should be fine on the PH side of life.

Tim
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
change water regularly and you still won't need to worry about pH.....
in a tank that size water changes are a must and test kits although nice to keep tabs on things are not a big thing IMO - i only test for curiosity sake anymore really.......your most importent params are temp and salinity if those are good then you can monitor amm, NO2, NO3, at first and if you do water changes 2-4x a month consistently, after 6 months or so and you'll not have to worry about testing anything but salinity and temperature and maybe NO3......unless you try to put a too many fish in there or something.....JMO of course
 
R

riftlaker

New Member
hey zero, glad to see you got it set up and the light retro'd. did you put the fan in also? you shouldnt have much of a cycle to worry about you didnt mention here that your rock is fully cured from an established tank. with your water changes you dont really need the kits as said just keep up on them and watch the temp and salinity.
 
Z

Zero Impact

New Member
My First Nano!!!

To all of you out there I'm sorry for the lack of communication. A good friend sold me about 30 pound of live rock for 40$ That he had in a tank for awhile. "What a friend" I only have half of the live rock in the tank. He still has the rest for me to come get when I can find the time to drive there. "WHAT A FRIEND!" My girlfriend had the minibow with a gold fish in it. I myself have two powerhead type filters. So I bought a five gallon bucket of salt 43$, a 6$ hydrometer, a 11$ 50/50 light, and a 12$ 12 volt fan from Radio Shack. "Then it all began!" I had everything I need to start, "My First Nano!!!" The first night I was so thrilled to set it up that I stayed up all night fixing the lid to the minibow 2.5 gallon. I had to drill two holes in the oppisite side of the light fixture, so the light would fit. I removed a piece of plastic where the old fixture was monted to install the fan for over-heating problems. To do this I put the fan on the lip of the old monting position, "THE OUTSIDE OF THE LID ITSELF" and traced it with a knife. With it traced I then carved it out a little by little till I had reached the desired size. Drilled a hole for a screw. I reused the same deflector that came with the lid. I tried to cut a beer cen to make it larger but it was to thin. I then took a glass picture frame and robbed it for the glass. "I took a couple of days to etch the glass to the shape of the lid." So with all that I was ready to set it up!
I took the bucket of salt and mixed up enough to fill the tank. I forgot to heat the water but I did mix it for 2 hours. Now I know to use another heater to heat it when I do my weekly water changes...LOL... I'm only useing the smaller of the two power heads. It's been nine days now and I have learned alot more then I would have thought. There were a few things I didn't understand, but I'll learn as I go. I'll keep everyone up ta date...BETTER for now on!...LOL... I also have a 10 gallon bow front I'm thinking about useing instead of the 2.5 mini. Should I change them to have a little more play with the water. And if I do will the light I have work for now??? Till I can order two more. After all the work on the 2.5 I realy want to deck out the ten. I think for now I should focus on the 2.5 and get the hang of it. Work on the ten to get it set the way I want it and then transfer it over.
 
Z

Zero Impact

New Member
Well, it's been two weeks since set up. I had one of the snails die on me. He wasn't looking good from the start. He sat on the bottom of the tank for two days not moving. I took him out four days ago. There is another not looking so good 2day. Is it because of the size of the tank it's in? Or maybe the lack of food for it in the small tank? If that is it, then what could I do to help feed em? I also have seen three orange with purple headed worms crawling out of little holes in the snails shells. Could this be what is killing them? I've looked for days online to find out what they are without success. Sorry for no pics!. All the rest of the tank is doing good. I've seen a little change in the growth the past week. My lempet has been eaten by the hermits!!! "The two of them were useing it as a soup bowl!!!" LOL! I also have been designing the sump for the ten gallon bow-front I'm gonna move all of it into soon. Thanks for the help!
 
R

reefman23

New Member
Those worms that you described, are they bristleworms? The snails could have also starved, but i dont think that is likely for a new tank... there is usually plenty to eat.

Jesse
 
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