Returned the anemone pt. 2- help please!

[nanshaw2001]

Hey everyone! Okay, I returned the anemone, he did not smell but was deflated. Lost all my snails and emerald crab. Guessing the anemone was letting off something toxic. I have done 2 20% water changes in the last few days. All I have for filtration is a hob whisper with 2 carbon filters. Should the filters be changed and how long should I wait before I add snails again? I finally got a nice Koralia 3 powerhead and will be looking for another so I can plumb the 15 gal I've got sitting next to the 55 into a refugium. With a limited budget what would you suggest for plants to remove toxins ( if mangrove, where to get one) ? Do I need to be testing/adding trace elements esp calcium. Any and all input appreciated!!!! Thanks for your patience with a super newb!!!!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Need add no suppliments to water.
The more live rock or base rock (dead live rock) the better
Chaetomorpha, AKA Chaeto is easiest.
Wait on all inverts

Wait a few weeks or more to let the tank cycle. Your damselfish will do fine. Hope the mandarin makes it but that is 50/50 at best

 

[Velamondry]

Everything thing that Fishy said, but id like to add you dont need the whisper filter just enough flow and live rock in your tank for filtering, and a good skimmer when you can get one, ive ran several tanks now for about 8 months with no skimming and they do fine, just need more water changes. Just a few tips.

 

[NaH2O]

Have you tested your water parameters? I'd make sure all is in order before adding more snails or inverts.

 

[nanshaw2001]

I have but my strips only test ph, nitrates, nitrites and alkalinity. What else should I be testing for? Calcium I would guess! All info appreciated!!!!

 

[krisfal]

Until you start getting coral you really do not need to worry about the calcium a whole lot. Regular water changes will keep your calcium levels up to a certain point, it is when you start getting into high calcium demand livestock such as SPS and clams that you will really need a calcium test.

The best advice I feel I could give you would be to ditch the test strip and at minimum buy yourself a higher quality test kit for ph and nitrate. I really like elos test kits, they are spendy but seem to work real well.

When I first started out I had a cheap test kit and thought I had 0 nitrates, but the tank said otherwise, I went out and bought a Salifert nitrate test kit and it showed my nitrates were very high.

 

[nanshaw2001]

Thanks everyone for your input. Water tests good @ the lfs, too??? Will keep up with the water changes, try to get a good water testing kit, get my fuge plumbed, add some chaeto and then let things cycle for a few more weeks. Looking forward to coral days!!!