Pico Tank Help!

[anhpeter]

Hey i'm a newbie and just started a pico tank and having some problems.

My zoas and polys are not blooming and they've been settled in my tank for 2-3 days now. I just wanted to know some reasons why they are not blooming and advice to fix it.


Tank Specs:
3-4 Gallons
Filter
50W heater (Temp is 78-79*f)
Rio 90 Powerhead (Set lower, maybe giving it a 60 flow)
Mini Aqualight 50/50 18W (8 per/day)

Life:
2-3 lb live sand
5-6 lb live rock
Firefish
3 blue leg hermits
2 snails
Flowerpot
Feather duster
Yellow polyps
Purple zoas

Also this is my very first salt water tank, and i understand that pico's are difficult to take care of. So if there is anything in my tank that should not be there please let me know.


I've notice there might be some problems. My hermits been walking all over my polyps and zoas, so should i take them out? Also my flow.. how much flow is necessary? Should I change my Rio 90 to the Rio 50? Is my compact light good enough? Also should i be keeping a firefish in such a small tank?

Thanks.

[Fsurocks99]

The zoas are probably still getting used to the tank. I'd give them some more time. Don't worry about the hermits, they do that. It's kind of pushin it with the firefish in that small of a tank. There is a top over the tank right? As for the flow, either the rio 50 or 90 will work. That will be something you will need to watch and see how it goes.

[anhpeter]

i think my yellow polyps are dying, their getting gray and limping

[WillWorkForFish]

hows your water parameters?

[scaz]

welcome to reef central!! test your water, and make sure you use a refractor meter to measure salinity. Really search around and find some local reefer groups. They tend to me more responsive.

[anhpeter]

my salinity was at 1.027 lol so i'm sure that was not good. i just did a water change so now it's at 1.023.

Also, how does phosphate and nitrate increase in my tank? And do i need any supplements, like calcium? And how often do i need to add plankton to my tank?

[fishwood]

Ok, there are a lot of issues here to deal with. Don't take any of this as coming in a negative tone, I'm just trying to be brief.

1. Did you let your tank cycle?

2. Nitrates are a perpetual problem for all saltwater tanks, as they're the end product of the nitrogen cycle. Elaborate on your filtration setup for more feedback.

3. When you say "flowerpot" do you mean a goniopora? They sometimes go by that name--if so, that thing's going to die most likely. Those things are a pain in the rump to keep alive.

4. Take out the firefish. Too small for a pico and they need a lid. He's a big risk to jump out and die. Stick to a goby in a pico tank, and don't add any fish til you get your parameters stable and the corals show signs of life.

[anhpeter]

At first I was worried about the cycling issue, but i got my rocks from a friend of mine and said that they are already cured. The rocks are somewhat purple, so i assume they are cured. But even if my rocks are cured, do i still need to cycle my tank? or is my friend wrong?

Yea, i think it's a poniopora, it's neon green, and i guess imma have to give my firefish to my friend. lol wow.

[pbenner]

Anytime a new tank is setup, it is recommended that you allow it to sit for 4-6 weeks in order to properly complete it's cycle.

If you didn't do this, it's likely that the cycling isn't done and you're poisoning all of your livestock.

Best,

Paul

[small alien]

I think what you're learning here is one of the key lessons of successful reef-keeping. Do your research BEFORE, not after. Before choosing a tank, before choosing pumps, before choosing lights, before buying livestock, before everything!

Don't feel too bad. We've all made mistakes and that's part of the learing process. Just try not to kill too much while you're learing.

Best of luck! -small

[anhpeter]

yea i didn't realize how difficult it was to raise a pico, especially if i'm a beginner. I was thinking to reset my whole tank. Taking out all the corals, zoas, polyps out and keep them settled at my friends tank. Than in the mean time replace my filter with a Aquaclear and making a fuge sump out of it. And let my tank cycle alittle longer and than check everything later on to resettle all my live stuff. You guys think this is a good idea?

[anhpeter]

I just check all my parameters for ph, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia it was good. My ph was 8.2, 0 nitrate and nitrite, but my ammonia is just little bit above 0. My question is will my ammonia sooner or later create nitrate or will my live sand and live rock will take care of it all. About my zoas, they are blooming now, probably because of the water change and equaling the salinity.

[davenia7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14531115#post14531115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anhpeter
my ammonia is just little bit above 0. My question is will my ammonia sooner or later create nitrate or will my live sand and live rock will take care of it all.
Any ammonia is dangerous to your livestock. Send your corals to your friend until you have 0Ammonia, 0 Nitrites, and some Nitrates.
Until then, just the live rock.
If you have ammonia, your cycle is just beginning.

[Sugar Magnolia]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14528807#post14528807 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anhpeter
yea i didn't realize how difficult it was to raise a pico, especially if i'm a beginner. I was thinking to reset my whole tank. Taking out all the corals, zoas, polyps out and keep them settled at my friends tank. Than in the mean time replace my filter with a Aquaclear and making a fuge sump out of it. And let my tank cycle alittle longer and than check everything later on to resettle all my live stuff. You guys think this is a good idea?
Very good idea. That water change you did that lowere your specific gravity from 1.027 to 1.023 is not good. Especially in such a small volume of water. Changing salinity should be done over a long period of time. In a tank that size I would have shot for maybe a few days to lower it. FWIW, salinity should be kept around 1.025 to 1.027, so your water change probably did mroe harm than good. Here's (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php) an article that gives you the acceptable ranges for reef tanks.

[hebygb]

I know there will be someone who disagrees with me, as well as another that will dispute... but a new tank regardless of a friends sand and live rock, cured or otherwise... is GOING to cycle. You cant avoid it.

To second several of the above posts... GO SLOW. Picos are hard enough... move in small increments, and stay dilligent with your water changes, probably 2 per week.