My first SW tank

[mamapuff]

So, after losing my puffer, it was either get rid of the tank, or do something. My husband opted to get rid of it, as we usually do after losing a tank. But, I decided to change it completely. We both want a SW tank, but dread moving one from house to house as leases expire.

So here is my little project. Its nothing great yet, but its a start. I have on Pajama Pants fish, one little clown, one peppermint shrimp, and two hermit crabs. I don't know what the non fish are honestly. I know one is a mushroom, and thats about it lol.

I am much more well versed in FW than this, so all my extra time goes to learning about my new little tank. Sorry for the bad pics, dont' have a cool camera :)

Oh and the mosquito fish in there were just for testing the waters. They are going back into their own tank

[justahobby]

Welcome To MAAST! Looks like you are heading in the right direction, nice and slow. I really like that rock your PJ is hovering over. What size is your tank? What kind of lights and filtration do you have? Plans for the future?

[mamapuff]

Hi, and thanks for the welcome :) Its just a tiny 5 gallon tank. I don't think plan to add any more fish in there though, it jsut seems too small, but i could be wrong. . The light is is a small bulb, half white half blue? I am not sure of the name. The filter is a HOB that was on there, I believe its a whisper. I think its for a 10 gallon I will need to obviously get all my specs in order lol. I'm much better with FW, and could tell you everything about those tanks lol.

[justahobby]

It sounds like you have either a Power Compact light fixture or CFL bulb in a common light socket. The live stock you have sounds good. In the not too distant future, You will want to upgrade to at least a 20 gallon to keep up with their growth.

How long has the tank been set up?

The last picture appears to be zoanthids.

[tony]

welcome to maast!

[Mr Cob]

Welcome to MAAST. Glad you found us. Feel free to ask a ton of questions! We all do and that's how we all learned! I'm sure you will find there is a TON to learn! Trust me...that never stops. LOL! Hence...the addiction.

A lot of us came from FW! I did...I was huge into breeding cichlids...but eventually got bored. Found SW and can't get enough. But, I've been wanting to set up a FW again here lately. I miss the simplicity some times.

Thanks for posting the pics.

Enjoy.

[Mrs. z28pwr]

welcome to maast!

[Europhyllia]

Hello mamapuff! What are mosquito fish?
Sounds like you're up for a challenge. I maintained a 30 gallon tank for a long time and it's much trickier keeping things 'right' in a small tank -especially with that much livestock for a small water volume.
If you would like to stick with the 5 gallon tank you could always rehome the fish and keep a shrimp in it.
Have fun! :)

[mabel_photo6]

LOL Nice! Mosquito Fish is a live bearing fish... sort of like a guppy or molly. I had a few Mosquito Fish in my 75 gallon freshwater that I had wild caught in Lost Maples area. lol I know I shouldn't have but yeah.... *cough*

I didn't know they were brackish fish... I knew mollies were.
I don't know why in the world though they put them in saltwater tanks.
They live for quite some time but I would imagine they don't like it. lol

[mamapuff]

Hey thanks everyone. The mosquito fish were left over feeders for a puffer that puffed and passed. I figured they can live in muddy ditches with little to no water flow, so why not. I do have a question tho. In the 3rd picture, there is a little flower thing, (sorry not sure on name). We had it rubberbanded it the coral/rock piece for about a week. Last night we noticed that the side that wasn't pinched down on the rock, was blooming and the blooms were standing really tall. (when the lights are on). But the part that the rubberband was pushing into the sharp rock was more shriveled up and not standing as tall. We cut the rubber band off, didn't hurt the "thing" and it seemed to like not being restricted. But this morning it was sitting on the bottom of the tank. What do i do? I feel so weird with corals and stuff. To me since they are living, I'm scared to hurt them. I went thru three knives cutting that little band off. I was scared I would cut the darn "thing"

[txav8r]

3rd picture looks like zoas but it's a little hard to tell.
If you you can glue them to the rock with Super Glue Gel.