Is this a recipe for disaster? (1 Viewer)

[wendy32693]

ok just to make this clear the tank i will be talking about is NOT MINE. My MIL decided she wanted to set up a saltwater tank after looking at mine. so i sold her a tank and some equipment. I gave her a list of things she will need like the argonite sand, and salt. Well she asked me to come over to hook up the things for her to find that she put in this substrate rock stuff on the bottom that is ment for freshwater without washing it which made it very dirty, she used tap water after i told her she needed ro/di water, then she bought pool filter sand and dumped it in the tank without cleaning it, bought salt for freshwater tanks and dumped it in (because it was cheaper) and then got instant ocean salt mix and dumped it in the water as well, now it has this very nasty yellow foam floating in the water in the tank..and she doesnt want to use a sump tank or wet/dry on the set up just wants to use a hang on filter. And wants to put fish in the tank after its only been setup for 3 days. She keeps asking me why does she need all this stuff to run a saltwater tank, that freshwater is so much easier. She does have freshwater tanks but are very filthy and the water is yellow. Everything i have told her so far she just basically does the opposite. Sorry if im ranting lol...it gets to be a headache living in a house connected to their house....

I dont know how to explain to her the benefits of a sump tank instead of a hang on filter, can anyone help me break it down so i would be able to explain this to her. They are wanting to go out and buy some very expensive fish to put in this tank but she doesnt want to wait for the tank to cycle or anything. Because shes comparing saltwater to freshwater. Maybe if i show her some of the answers i get on here shel realize she needs to do it right.

 

[trb]

Just tell her SALTWATER TANKS ARE MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN FRESHWATER! I'm not trying to be rude, but these are animals we are talking about. And if she can't wait and do it right, she might as well just throw her money down the drain because all her fish will most likely die.

A saltwater tank is more like cooking a complete meal from scratch vs a freshwater tank that is more like a frozen dinner you just heat up and you are done. Maybe you need to help get it all set up and then if she is up for it, then she can take over. I would not want her to kill hundreds of dollars of fish, from the $$$ standpoint and the animal standpoint, by taking shortcuts.

Good luck!

 

[flexrac]

step one: empty the tank, it is not suitable for fish of any kind.
step two: get rid of the substrate:
step three: clean tank with just water really good.
step 4: get new sand, at this point get the live sand with water in the bag from a saltwater fish store.
step 5: if this is going to be a fish only tank, then you can get texas whole rock, clean it real good, they are used in frsh water but good for fish only.
step 6: buy a 5lbs of liverock from a member or the store, this will help add bacteria.
step 7: add water: distilled or ro/di
water from the water mills or walmart is fine.
step 8: get a good size hang on filter until skimmer can be added.
step8 b: add sump instead of step 8 and add skimmer to setup.\
step 9: let tank run for a month without fish
step 10: get test kit to test nitrates,amonia,nitrites. test weekly during the 4 weeks to ensure tank is cycling.
was every thing reads 0 at the end of the 4 weeks, add one fish (low cost) you can then add one more fish every week.
this helps reduce stress and lets the system handle the fish addition.

hope this helps!

 

[tektite]

She's already passed the recipe part and is in the disaster....

Very first thing - She needs to completely drain the tank and use only the correct saltwater salt mixes. There is much much more than just salt in it! No saltwater creature will live in that.

If she doesn't want to get the proper equipment, she shouldn't start the tank, period. She WILL just lose all the livestock she puts in it. You can try to explain that 99.9% of all saltwater fish come from the ocean, unlike many freshwater fish that are being bred in captivity. Every lost fish must be replaced by another taken from the ocean. Responsible reefkeeping is not just a radical tree-hugger concept, its something that all of us must take very seriously.

 

[wendy32693]

I have tried explaining everything to her, i told her what she needs, i offered to set the tank up and everything for her (at her expense) and do everything. But hasnt asked me anything and just seems to be dumping everything into the tank... she atleast let me set up a skimmer on the tank. Then wants me to buy her fish when i go to houston. I have refused multiple times telling her the tank isnt right then wants to take my fish from my tank to put in hers for a little, i refuse to do that as well. I just figured since she doesnt listen to anything i tell her maybe shel listen to the answers i get on here. I have tried telling her saltwater is more complicated but then just remarks that it cant be that complicated because freshwater is easy.

 

[trb]

I have tried explaining everything to her, i told her what she needs, i offered to set the tank up and everything for her (at her expense) and do everything. But hasnt asked me anything and just seems to be dumping everything into the tank... she atleast let me set up a skimmer on the tank. Then wants me to buy her fish when i go to houston. I have refused multiple times telling her the tank isnt right then wants to take my fish from my tank to put in hers for a little, i refuse to do that as well. I just figured since she doesnt listen to anything i tell her maybe shel listen to the answers i get on here. I have tried telling her saltwater is more complicated but then just remarks that it cant be that complicated because freshwater is easy.

And if saltwater was easy, everyone would have a tank too. Most everyone can drive a car, but does that mean everyone can fly an airplane? After all, driving a car is easy.

Felix summed it up pretty good on what to do.

 

[Diesel]

Why not let your MIL enjoy your tank for $5 at the time. She's not ready for her own SW tank.
Btw, how are the crs and snowballs doing?

 

[wendy32693]

The shrimps are doing great, bought some of that soil to, to put in the other shrimp tanks as well. Thanks. Yea, it doesnt make much sense of her to come to me for advice when shes not going to listen to anything I say anyway. Thanks all for the help though maybe shel listen now.

 

[Tnconcept]

Oh my.....Poor fishes..

 

[TiAg]

All I can say is Wow. I can't imagine trying to start a salt tank if I couldn't keep a fresh tank sparkling and healthy.

 

[wendy32693]

Well they dont ever go to houston so she shouldnt be able to get their hands on any fish. She said the reason she didnt use ro/di water is because her husband didnt want her too..which in my opinion doesnt make much since, I just dont know what else I can tell her. Probably just wont help them anymore and hope theyl just end up taking it down as I wont get her any fish.

 

[spongebob281]

She's heading straight for a cat 5 disaster. I see countless animals perish in her system but let's he who is without sin cast the first stone. To some folks, no matter how much hot lead you pour into their ears canals they won't listen.

 

[ReefMaster32787]

Give her a week on her own, won't have to worry about it anymore. That is just outrageous.