Hii everyone
- Thread starter jdmpr27
- Start date
Welcome to the community, and glad to have you here!
It looks like you're off to an exciting start, but I’d strongly encourage taking things slowly from here. Based on the photo, I’m guessing that’s about a 15 to 20 gallon tank? Five clownfish is already quite a load for a tank that size, and adding multiple anemones on top of that introduces some serious complexity, especially if the tank’s only been running a month.
A few thoughts:
1. That stand situation needs addressing: If the bottom of your tank isn’t fully supported, it’s at serious risk of developing a leak or worse. Tanks like this need a flat, level surface underneath the entire base. A solid stand or sturdy table with full coverage will go a long way toward protecting your investment and your floor. Trust me, you don't want to wake up or come home to saltwater evaporating on the floor and dead fish all over it.
You really need to fix this before you spend a dime on anything else other than salt and fish food. Yes, it's going to be a pain to move, go ahead and make sure you have sufficient buckets or containers for all your water, fish and rock - you should be able to leave the sand in it tho.
2. How did you cycle the tank? If you used live rock and bottled bacteria, or just live rock alone, it still takes time for the biology to catch up, especially in a newer system. You’ll want to hold off on adding anything new for a while, ideally a couple of months, just to give your tank a chance to stabilize.
3. Expect a few “ugly” phases. These happen in most tanks, even when started well. Algae blooms, parameter swings, weird water clarity - they’re all part of the process. The key is not to panic or overcorrect. If you haven’t seeded copepods or added a cleanup crew, this would be the time to start small and build slowly.
4. Saltwater’s not like freshwater. I say this with respect: even experienced freshwater keepers can get surprised by how different marine tanks behave. Saltwater tanks can swing quickly, and small tanks in particular give you very little margin for error.
If you’re ever unsure what to do next, post your parameters and setup details. There are a ton of people here willing to help out (and we’ve all made our share of early mistakes too).
You're definitely on the right path by reaching out and asking questions - just slow things down a little, and your tank and its residents will thank you for it.
It looks like you're off to an exciting start, but I’d strongly encourage taking things slowly from here. Based on the photo, I’m guessing that’s about a 15 to 20 gallon tank? Five clownfish is already quite a load for a tank that size, and adding multiple anemones on top of that introduces some serious complexity, especially if the tank’s only been running a month.
A few thoughts:
1. That stand situation needs addressing: If the bottom of your tank isn’t fully supported, it’s at serious risk of developing a leak or worse. Tanks like this need a flat, level surface underneath the entire base. A solid stand or sturdy table with full coverage will go a long way toward protecting your investment and your floor. Trust me, you don't want to wake up or come home to saltwater evaporating on the floor and dead fish all over it.
You really need to fix this before you spend a dime on anything else other than salt and fish food. Yes, it's going to be a pain to move, go ahead and make sure you have sufficient buckets or containers for all your water, fish and rock - you should be able to leave the sand in it tho.
2. How did you cycle the tank? If you used live rock and bottled bacteria, or just live rock alone, it still takes time for the biology to catch up, especially in a newer system. You’ll want to hold off on adding anything new for a while, ideally a couple of months, just to give your tank a chance to stabilize.
3. Expect a few “ugly” phases. These happen in most tanks, even when started well. Algae blooms, parameter swings, weird water clarity - they’re all part of the process. The key is not to panic or overcorrect. If you haven’t seeded copepods or added a cleanup crew, this would be the time to start small and build slowly.
4. Saltwater’s not like freshwater. I say this with respect: even experienced freshwater keepers can get surprised by how different marine tanks behave. Saltwater tanks can swing quickly, and small tanks in particular give you very little margin for error.
If you’re ever unsure what to do next, post your parameters and setup details. There are a ton of people here willing to help out (and we’ve all made our share of early mistakes too).
You're definitely on the right path by reaching out and asking questions - just slow things down a little, and your tank and its residents will thank you for it.
Research and read…alot!
