Hiya can anyone help me I'm thinking of starting a Maine tank. I know they are hard to look after but I really want to learn. I was looking at some tanks today and I found a marine tank that held 80 litres is that too small? Also is a fish only tank easier to look after?

Hi!
I'd recommend researching marine tank set ups and compatible fish to get a feel of what you'd like to do.
There are many different pros and cons to the different set ups and the fish species that can be kept in different environments and with each other.
80 liters isn't impossible to keep marine environments in, however, I feel the cons outweigh the pros with smaller tanks..
I feel that a fish only tank is a lot harder to keep in my opinion, but that's just my opinion.
With fish keeping there are so many different opinions, what works for me might not be what fits into your likes, dislikes, life style, etc.


You can read all about marine tanks by clicking here. (http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/beginnerscorner/a/aa011602.htm)
Scroll down to the suggested reading box (really the whole site is wonderful)
It's a great site to get a lot of information at.
After you've made a decision and would like to begin your set up,
I'll be happy to walk you though the steps and answer any questions that you may have.

PS My marine tank is a live rock set up, it works for me because I found it to be the easiest to keep... I like easy:D
It was more expensive to set up, but well worth it.

Hiya thank you for your help I've looked at that website and it does look very useful. I have been thinking of a live rock set up and thanks to you I have decided to do that. Thank you again!

You are very welcome.
I believe you will be very pleased with it.

If you have any questions or run into any situations that
You're just not sure about or if you just want to share what you're doing, or need any advice, just let me know... I'll be happy to help!

Hiya I've set up my marine tank I've got my temp right and the salt level but then I added sand and live rock and my salt changed is it because id not given it time to settle? I've been adding salt to half a jug of water and adding it to my tank and it has gone up is what I'm doing right or should I have left it and given it time to settle first? Thanks claire

OK a few questions for you.
What type of sand? Was is crushed coral, etc?
The salinity level could have risen/dropped due to the type of sand used.
What type (brand name) of salt?

What is the salinity level reading now?
What size tank did you decide to go with?
I'm guessing you have not added fish yet, correct?

Also, if you have added live rock to your tank already, don't forget it needs a food source (fish waste and old food provide it) and it needs for the salinity to be stable in order for it to survive.
All the bacteria etc living on the rocks (which makes it live) is very delicate.

You can crumble some fish food in the water for now so that it can start decaying to provide the food source. Run your filters as well if you're not already.

As you probably have noticed by reading up on starting a marine tank, everyone and every site has different methods.

I can share with you the way I keep mine, because it's easy for me, but usually 2 different methods collide with one another.

If you'd like to tell me or provide a link to the site you've been following to set up your tank, I can help you make sense of the setting up process.
I don't want to confuse you or mess up your system by incorporating my system into a system its not compatible with.

Also, different fish have different salinity level preferences.
You will want to match the salinity levels to type of fish you want.

I personally recommend starting with one Damsel to cycle the tank with.
They are hardy little marine fish and not to expensive.

I started my marine tank with them then traded them in for what I wanted after the tank was fully cycled and I learned the hang of keeping it stable.

Also what equipment are you using? Filter, protein skimmer, etc?

The substrate is a natural aragonite sphere an the sea salt is tropic marin and it's a 2kg packet I bought a 58 litre tank and when I went to the shop they said to put half of the packet in first and then add bits until it's the correct reading but looking at the packet I should be putting it all in its reading between 0.019 and 0.020. They also advised me to put damsels in first and I was hoping to do so tomorrow that's why I got the live rock. My tank has a pump, protein skimmer, built in biochemical filter system and a uv sterilization lamp thanks again for your help!

The salinity is perfect for new fish!! :D :D :D
Here, fish shops keep their salinity between 0.019 and 0.022.

You could call the fish shop to find out what their salinity levels and PH is so that you can adjust it to match - just makes it easier to acclimate new fish to the new environment.
They will probably tell you how to do it even if your levels are a little off from theirs, but don't let them forget;)

Great substrate and equipment too!

I know this must be exciting!
My marine tank is my favorite.
I know your going to love it.

Sounds like you're doing everything perfectly!

Great Job!

Aaww thanks kae! Yeah I can't wait to get fish in it, it is exciting! Thanks or your help I will let you know how it goes thanks again!:D :D

What are your water tests reading?
Algae most likely occurs in a cycle aquarium.
Algae also feeds off nitrate which indicates the level may be to high (even if the cycle is not complete).
You started with live rock which is a great way to boost the cycle.
So checking to see if it's complete is needed.
Yes light is a contributor too.
Mine stay on 4 hours a night and never on during the day because during the day there is already natural light coming through and the lights being on in the aquarium is sometimes too much.
A little algae isn't bad though, I like the look of just a little and it helps remove some of the nitrate levels naturally because it consumes it as food.
Check your water and let me know what it says.
Ammonia ppm
Nitrite ppm
Nitrate ppm

Ammonia 0.25 or 0 very close colours
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10 it has been 20 since sat when I first did it
I've been keeping a note from each time an no reading has bin high just a bit higher than what they are. I've been keeping my light on during the day I will start keeping it off and on for a bit at night thanks for your help!

Your water readings are indicating that your tank is cycled.
I'm a little confused though because the nitrate level doesn't go down by itself, it goes up.
You have to do partial water changes to remove them or add nitrate absorbers or chemicals to remove them.
Have you done any of that?
I was once trying to help someone who had nitrite and nitrate confused, just want to make sure that's not the case here.
You're doing a great job!
Did you go with the Damsels?

Yeah I got two damsels a domino and a cream and brown striped one. No I haven't done a water change I mite of read it wrong on the chart haha thanks for your help! Would it be save to do a water change? I were reading on that website you gave me I takes away elements thanks again your so knowledgeable!!

If you had mistaken nitrite for nitrate, then your water test is indicating that it is almost cycled.
Once ammonia and nitrite levels have both dropped to 0 ppm, it means the tank is cycled.
Then, the nitrate level will start to rise, water changes are what keep nitrate levels at bay.
When you have a cycled aquarium, the only toxin that will be in the water is nitrate.
You want the nitrate level to remain in the safe zone, so
Every time you notice it at the far end of the safe zone, it's safe and time for a water change.

Water changes do remove the elements, however, you are adding them back to the water when refiling the tank with the saltwater mixture.
Tropic Marin salt contains all 70 trace elements found in ocean waters - it's a very good brand.
So, you don't have to worry about removing elements because you'll be adding them back into the tank during the water change since your salt has them all in there.

Just remember these elements do not evaporate along with the water, so when topping off your water due to evaporation, you will not add salt along with the water.

Another thing, since I'm thinking about it, is you want to try to keep a constant water level since elements do not evaporate.
As water evaporates, the aquarium will have stronger concentrations of all elements, which can be harmful.

Talk to you later :)

Yeah that makes sense thanks! Nitrite is the one that should be blue int it? That's the one that's at 0

Yes, nitrite is blue.
It appears that your tank is cycled :D
Oh, and also, don't worry if the ammonia level appears to read .25, mine does that too.
The colors are very close, like you mentioned.
If it's hard to distinguish them apart, consider it a 0.
Fish are constantly producing ammonia and I believe this particular test kit is very sensitive.

That's more quick than I thought I thought it would be weeks! When you buy live rock can you put it straight into your tank?

thats quicker than i thought i thought it would be weeks! when you buy live rock can you put it straight into your tank?

You thought the cycle would take longer?
It would have, but you have live rock right? lots of good stuff live on those rocks that cycle the tank very quickly.
The filters will still need to establish good strong bacterial colonies (* probably around 30 days*), but the live rock is providing them with all the necessities that gave it a quick boost.
That's why I love live rock so much.
Are you wanting to add more live rock and asking if you can just put it in the tank?
If so, yes, but you only want to put enough live rock to sustain your aquarium.

yeah the guy in the shop said weeks, yeah I want to put sum more in it looks a bit empty! Thanks for your help!

I should probably mention that different aquarist have different opinions about adding live rock.
Personally, I have just put it in there with no ill effects on the rocks or tank.

yeh the guy in the shop said weeks, yeh i want to put sum more in it looks a bit empty! thanx for your help!!
He's right, I don't want to confuse you. I had edited the post, but I'm not sure if you saw it.
About 30 days for your filters to establish good strong bacterial colonies.
But as for right now, your rocks are doing the job.

Its OK your not confusing I'm very grateful for your advice! Thanks agen!

Hiya I don't know if you could help me but I noticed one of my damsels fins and tail look a bit scraggy an it has a few pale white spots I noticed the other damsel has been chasing it and when ifeed them won't let it near the food. I don't know if there's anything I can do to prevent it thanks

His fins are probably getting nipped to shreds.
Damsels do this unfortunately.
The dominate fish will pick on the weaker one.
Damsels are known for this behavior, and I only cycled my tank with them.
But even after that,
I did do a lot of exchanging of fish before I found compatible types
That actually get along.
I'd take the aggressive fish back and try a different one.
I always exchanged the aggressive ones out and never the passive ones.
Now everyone lives happily and have for years.

It could be nothing but shredded fins, however keep an eye on it for fungus.
If you believe it's fungus, ask someone at the shop which med they would suggest for you to use and make sure you tell them you have live rock and crabs.
I don't know of any med that is safe for crabs, but they probably will if one exists.

The aggressive damsel is always going to be aggressive.
It will even pick on the weaker one until it kills it.

Sometimes people also add more fish to distract the aggressive one.
This way the picking is divided among several fish so that one fish does not have to endure all the picking, all the time.
I never took that route, I just exchanged until I found a passive fish...
Surprising, fish have personalities too :D

Thanks I will ask them when I go to the fish shop will they just take the fish back? Is it normal for every time I move the substrate its goes cloudy? I know it's a bit of a daft question but every time my crab goes under its clouds up not really bad it clears quick but maybe I need to clean it?

The shop I go to allows you to exchange fish or get an in store credit.

I would not clean the substrate.
If fact, I never clean mine.
I stir it up every now and then to let the filters catch any debris, but nothing more.

Thanks I know I ask daft questions thanks for your help!

No worries, There is no such thing as a daft question in my book :-)

Hiya I've just noticed a big orange think on the underneath of my crab what could it be an infection or summat? It hasn't seemed its normal active self, it's a swimming crab

My knowledge is limited when it comes to marine/saltwater crabs.
Give me just a few minutes while I look it up.

Does it look like part of it's body?
I have a book that has some crabs in it.
It's talking about how different species of crabs male/female turn different colors on the underneath as they reach adulthood or breeding age.

Or does it look like a growth of some sort?

I'm not sure it looked weird like it could have been part of its body it weren't there yesterday and it looks pretty big it hasn't really come out of the sand today its been under thanks for your help I will see if it comes out soon normally its out at this time

Watch to see if it could be carrying something orange around too.

Hiya it is carrying something orange it looks a bit fluffy looking I looked it up on the internet and I think it could be a lady crab it matches its description but I can't find anything on eggs I thought they may be eggs?:confused:

Well fattimoo... it is what I expected then.
Before you got your live rock, your female crab mated with a male.
The females will store the males sperm until her eggs are ready.
Then she will release the sperm over her eggs and make a spongy mass to carry them all in...

Yep your right it is I've been looking on the internet all night and I finally found a pic and it looks the exactly the same. The swimming crab I bought separate to the little ones that are in the rock. The ones in the rock are little and hairy looking an they never come out what could they be?

If they hatch would they live?

If I'm not mistaken they are more like larvae when they hatch.
Some may live, but they will more than likely get sucked up by the filter.

I'm a little worried since you mentioned "hairy" that you might have bristle worms.

A lot of little creatures live in live rock and most pose no harm, but the bristle work is a total nuisance that would need to be eliminated from the tank if that's what they are.

How can you tell is what they are? What would I have to do to get them out? They look like small crabs but hairy an come out at night

I've just been searching to see if what it looks like and I think I do have a bristle worm I caught it last weekend peeping out and I didn't know what it were but it does look like the pics! What should ido??

If they look like crabs, then perhaps that is what they are.
I really wish I knew more about them.
I just didn't think that they had hair.

If it doesn't resemble a worm or a centipede or something with that form (no matter how small), then I think you are in the clear.

OK, I just read your other post... hold on, I'll be right bac

So you think they (or it) are bristle worms?
Tonight when you turn off the lights, check the tank often to see if you see it out.

Yeah I will do thanks for your help! Would it eat muscle? I put a muscle in for my crab at night in the morning it looked wedged in the piece of rock I saw the thing come out of :eek:

They will eat anything and everything and they sting too, so watch out if you're putting your hands on the rocks or in the tank.

It needs to be caught because I think the treatments are deadly for other creatures as well, like the crab.

I know they have traps for them, but I don't know how well they work.

Try to watch often when the lights are out tonight to see if you can see it.

Hiya I had a look last night and I couldn't see anything I rang the fish shop and asked them and he said they will always be there there's nothing I can do is he fobbing me off? What would you suggest I do?

I have been doing some reading up on bristle worms.
Seems like some are bad, but some can be beneficial.
Bristle worms (http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/bristlewormprofiles/Bristleworms_Polychaetes_Photos_Profile_Informatio n.htm) There is really good info here. I'm still reading it myself.

Thank you I will read it

Hiya what is a reasonable reading for nitrate in my tank? Its slowly moved up to 40 and I've been doing 10 % water changes but it doesn't seem to move down my ammonia is 0/0.25 and nitrite is 0 is there anything I can put in to keep it down? Thank you

The ammonia and nitrite reading are perfect. The ammonia will always appear to be 0/0.25, but it's 0, so no worries there.

The nitrate level is in the upper mid section of being OK.
It's safer to stay in the 0 - 20 ppm range.

I use a water conditioner called Prime, it's made by SeaChem.
It will detoxify nitrate and nitrite as well as remove chlorine, chloramine, and ammonia.

How often are you doing water changes?

Am doig them once a week? Should it be more?

I had to look back in the posts to see what size tank you have, but just to make sure I'm correct, you have a 58 liter tank?

One of the cons to having a smaller tank is that there is less water to dilute
The toxins.
Nitrate is not toxic to fish unless it gets into the higher numbers.
I think you're doing good with one water change a week and keeping the nitrate level at 40 ppm, that shows tremendous effort and dedication.

With all your hard work, you'd probably like to see that number drop to a level where a weekly water change will keep the levels in the safe zone.

You could temporarily do a 10% water change every other day until the nitrate level is between 0 ppm - 10 ppm. The closer to zero, the better.

After the initial bulk of the nitrate is removed, it should be easier to keep the levels safe with a once a week water change.

You could also use the Prime I was telling you about and that will detoxify toxins during and between water changes.

Aw thanks for that it made me feel good about it!:D I thought I was doing too many water changes but you ve restored my confidence in what I'm doing!:D :D

Hiya can I add sea sponges to my tank or are they a type of coral and need extra light?

Sea sponges are living animals, I'm thinking they need coral to survive, not just rock.
That's something I have to double check, but I'm almost positive they need a reef setup.

I checked and they need a coral reef set up or a set up with a substantial amount of live rock.
You may want to check with the fish shop to see if they have any that may accommodate your tank.
This link provides a lot of the same info as my book.Aquarium Invertebrates (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/invert.htm)

Thank you! You are a big help! :D :D

Hiya I know this mite seem a bit strange to ask but I were doing a water change and checking my heater and filter and in the built in filter system at the end where the water comes back out to the tank there's a lot of dirt is that normal? It will just go back into the tank how would I get rid of it? I'm sorry if you can't really understand what I've wrote.

Do you happen to be using a water conditioner with added slime coat or
That says it promotes a healthy slime coat or anything to that effect?

No I don't put anything in my water but in my tank there is a slight film of that sandy looking stuff

I were looking in the filter system at the back and the dirt is in th bit with the ceramic rings. How would I get rid of it from there? I feel like I'm asking daft questions but I don't want the dirt to build up

What type filter and does it have a back flow?
Is their a sponge inside it that is suppose to trap dirt before the water flows over the ceramic rings?
Or does the water hit the ceramic rings first?

I'm trying to rack my brain at what this could be... or why it's happening.

What brand do you use to get the chlorine out of the tap water?
Is your crab still carrying it's eggs?

Does the dirt look like it's attached to slimy stuff?

I don't put anything in my water to get rid of chlorine should I be doing? They told me tap water would be fine, no there's no sponge before the ceramic rings and before that is my protein skimmer and that looks covered in it as well. What colour would the eggs be? This is white stuff a bit like sawdust

I was just curious about the crabs eggs...

If your tap water is treated city water, then yes, you should be adding a water conditioner. If you have a well, it's not necessary.

Since you mentioned that it's white and kind of looks like sawdust, I'm pretty sure you have some salt build up(salt creep) and/or calcium deposits.

This happens to my tank as well, mostly around water surface lines.

My filter has a debris sponge that water passes through before it reaches the
Rings, this way dirt/debris is kept out.
When I notice any white build up, I just wipe it off and let the filter clean it out of the water.
I take a paper towel and clean around the water line inside the filter as well.

Does your filter have anything that traps debris?

It goes through some vents to the filter and uv sterilizer, there's a sponge on that, it then goes to the protein skimmer then to the heater and ball things and then to the rings but there's no sponge there and then filters back to the tank

Hiya I went to the fish shop and saw a nice fish and when I asked about it they said it grows 13 inch is that in the wild or in a tank as well?

Hiya do you have any good websites that have fish diseases on?

hiya i went to the fish shop and saw a nice fish and when i asked about it they said it grows 13 inch is that in the wild or in a tank as well?
It will certainly grow to 13 inches in a tank that is the appropriate size for it.
Otherwise it's growth will be stunted and it will die.

Most often I refer to my fish book for all my needs unless I find a website that goes along the same line as the book because there is a lot of bad information on lots of websites.
I'll check a few websites for you tonight and give you links to the ones I feel are correct.

Is everything going OK?

Yeah thanks everything seems fine at the moment I've got two clown fish a well now and they are fine. My crabs got eggs again! Good job they don't get to become fully grown crab or id endup with too many!

I love clown fish, they are my favorite!
I'm glad everything is going good.

I've been reading a questions page on a different site about orca marine tanks and I've just realised my protein skimmer hasn't been on! How stupid am I. what does the protein skimmer do? I've done water tests and my nitrate has gone up its red now my nitrite is 0 and my ammonia 0. hen I went to the shop they said it doesn't really matter all their nitrates are all over is this true?

You know all the frothy white foam that the water gets? The protein skimmer helps the tank not to get it. Might be why you were having the white build up.
I like to keep my nitrates low because I feel it does matter.
It is a form of a toxin, not nearly as dangerous as ammonia and nitrites, but it is a byproduct (waste) of bacteria and therefore a toxin to fish - which can make them acceptable to disease.
So, in my opinion, it matters.
You're probably having a hard time keeping nitrate levels down due to the size of the tank. Are you still doing weekly water changes?

Yeah I feel it matters as well I've done a test on my tap water to see if that contains any nitrate and its come up zero 5 at the most so at least I know that's not the problem. I've been on a website I think its Fishkeeping.com - aquarium care fish keeping Resources and Information. This website is for sale! (http://www.fishkeeping.com) and on the questions page its full of people who have bought the same tank as I've got and a lot of people say the protein skimmers crap and doesn't work its good to see water I can do to improve mine but someone was saying the bioballs (I think that's what they are called) that are in the same compartment as my heater cause nitrate and they've taken them out. Do you know anything about them and do you think I should take mine out in case that's what's causing it? Also I was thinking(not good when I get thinking haha) maybe my tank hasn't cycled yet? I've had it running for just over 2 months and fish in 2months with the live rock but when I got my nitrate test and tested it it was 10 I think and didn't move and just recently its gone up. I do a water change every week sometimes twice depending on my water tests

You're tank is cycled. You can tell by your water readings, plus you have live rock.
Your water is testing 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite and you have a nitrate reading.
This is what it should be in a cycled aquarium, so no worries there, your tank is cycled.
The bio ball are important, they need to stay in the tank.
Nitrates come from the last stage in the cycling process (not anything from the tank or filters).
It is the waste from the good bacteria in the last stage of the cycling process.
In nature, plants, algae, etc feed on them and remove them from the water, but in an aquarium they are removed by water changes.

Yeah thank you I've been reading stuff off the internet and you read different things and I never know what to think. I read someone say something about a nitrate sponge that takes the nitrate out of the water in your opinion does it work? Thanks for your help!

Yes they help.
The Prime water conditioner that I mentioned before is what I prefer to use. Using both the prime and the sponge could help detoxify and remove the nitrate and that would probably benefit your tank a lot.

Thanks for your help would it be safe to put the sponge with my ceramic rings?

Depending on which one you buy, it will tell you on the instructions where to put it. The only ones I've seen personally are in their own individual bags (kind of looks like a net type bag) and the whole bag was placed inside the filter. Most filters has designated chambers (I call them baskets) for stuff that you'd like to add, if your filter has one of these, that's where you'd put it.

Yeah maybe that's the one with the ceramic rings they are in nets. What fish do you have? I'm always asking you advice and I've never asked you, how bigs your tank? I like them porky puffers they have cute faces are there any type o puffer I could have?

I have a 55 gallon (208 liters) saltwater with 4 spotted cardinals, a royal gramma basslet, and an ocellaris clown.

A 55 gallon (208 liters) rift lake set up with assorted africian cichlids.

A 55 gallon freshwater with 2 angels, 2 gorimies, a dojo loach, and a scool of glass tetras.

And a 20 gallon (75 liters) with 4 fantail goldfish.

I don't know of any puffers that would do. They are cute though aren't they.

Bloody hell I bet you've got your hands full with all of them!

bloody hell i bet youve got ur hands full with all of them!
LOL, you got that right!:D
I use to have more, but I've been downsizing my tanks.

Haha do you keep them all together? You must have a big house I've only just squeezed my little one in my room!:D :D

I have the saltwater in the living room.
The rift lake in my husbands home office,
The freshwater in the din and the goldfish are in my children's playroom.

My husbands office use to be my fish room (thats what I called it).
He brought his business home and I've been downsizing ever since.
My children are also at the age where I'm busy all the time doing their stuff (which is all good)...

I've been in the hobby for a really long time LOL, starting to slow down now.

Haha I definitely want to get a bigger tank but I'm afraid I will have to wait until I move out for years I've wanted a marine tank and I've blagged my dad he likes his fish but he's always said its too expensive and hard to do so I've done it myself:D :D

WOW! I'm very impressed! And a good job you're doing too!

Hiya I've noticed for the last few days one of my clownfish seems a bit down. Its hovering above the sand all of my other fish seem OK swimming round I've been feeding them frozen brine which they love but also flakes but my clownies don't seem interested could that be the problem?

Are the nitrates still high?

Yeah I got some of that prime but the instructions are a bit confusing:confused: :confused: I put 5ml into my 58 litre tank and its dropped to 40/20 could it affect only one fish if that was the cause?

Some fish are hardier than others and the effects of high nitrates will effect the more sensitive fish first..
High nitrates can and will cause stress on fish which leads to disease.
I'd just say watch him closely for any obvious signs of disease and watch to see if any fish are picking on him.

You did good with using the prime.
I'm guessing that you chose the "emergency" route for high nitrates since you added 5 ml, is that correct?
Keep using the prime with every water change, your normal dose should be 1.5 ml.
Keep doing this and see if the nitrate levels begin to drop even further down.

By the way, 20 ppm nitrate is looking much better - good job:)

Yeah I did thanks for your help!:D

How can you tell which damsels are male and which are female? Is something to do with the fins isn't it? My clown fish hs definitely perked up a bit today for a few days it were "quiet".

That's a tough question because I believe they can be either sex.
For instance, if you have 2 females, one can change into a male...
I know that sounds crazy, but I believe that's what I remember about them LOL.
I'll have to look that one up, because I'm just not sure. I do know that they have no outside appearance differences and the males are the ones that take care of the eggs after they spawn...
I'll check on the sex thing and let you know.

Yeah I've read that about the clownfish I didn't believe it at first! Lol

When I looked in my tank there was a small creature thing on my clownfishes fin I went to get my dad came back and it had gone! What could it have been? It looked like a small wood lice creature

Hiya one of my fish keeps rubbing on the rocks it has been for a while I noticed a few white spots but they are faint and not always noticeable could it be ICH? Would it do my fish any harm if I put a treatment in the tank even if its not that causing it?