Does this aquarium sounds good?

Question

Ok, I have 5 gallon salt water (I know small.. But my dad with money and pets.. DOn't mix), 2 small fishies.. (started with a T and they described it as small and beautiful fish), 1 starfish, 2 emerald crabs and some small snails. 2 Lbs of Live Rock and 5 lbs of Live Sand AragAlive! The filter is Whisper with a little bio filter bag stuffed in it. The people at the store told me to do it... o_o The Bio filter bag had little cylinder chaped what seems to have the texture of chalk. o_o.. Is it Over crowding? Do Invertebrates need alot of room? Is it too much.. Tell me what you think.. And sorry about the not definite about the fish and stuff. I like fish but I don't know nothing about them xD

The Star fish is as big as your palm...

Answer 1

Small saltwater tanks are a little harder to keep, but mainly because the water temperature and chemistry is harder to keep stable. I've kept a 2.5 gallon saltwater tank (a WalMart Mini-bow), so it's not impossible.

It's not really clear what fish you have in the tank - most won't like that size, but you'd be okay with a small goby, firefish, or something of that nature. Since you say it starts with a "T", I hope it's not a type of tang (needs a 55 gallon ot more depending on the species) or trigger (70 gallons+). Snails, hermit crabs, and the emerald should be okay. I wouldn't try keeping a starfish in something that small - they're mostly scavengers, so it may have a hard time getting enough to eat. Another animal you could try is a peppermint or cleaner shrimp, or a feather duster.

You might want to try looking up the fish you have on this website: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=15 - it will let you know what size it will be as an adult, and what size tank it should have. It's always a good idea to find out about the fish before you buy them - many "chain" pet stores won't allow you to return your fish. so this can keep you from getting something that you're not able to provide a good home for.

You might want to look up the starfish as well - some are predators and may eat the fish and crabs!

Here's a really good website for you - you can find more info on keeping small marine aquaria (called nano tanks or pico tanks depending on the size): http://www.wetwebmedia.com/


ADDITION: If you target feed the star, that will help it get enough to eat if it's a scavenging species, but if it's a predator, it will still try and go after your fish and inverts. If you can identify it from one of these links, you can see what it needs as far as feeding and tank size: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=528
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/inverts--stars.html
http://www.tropicalfishoutlet.com/InvertSubCategory.asp?InvertCategoryID=12

Answer 2

i think you have the same size tank i did, uses a screw in bulb on top right?? they have a 10000k screw in bub fom drfostersmith.com and use a maxi-jet 400 powerhead or a hagan aquaclear 10. neon or clown gobies, small, everyone has them and usually under $15 each. you could buy some macro alage and place that in the filter, add another 3-5lbs of rock and you wont need the pad. some sites, ebay as well have placks with small brittle stars, good stuff. walmart also has a 6500k 20w buld they come in a 2pk for about 8, i think they say sunlight 6500k on the box. i used those until i got coral. emerald crabs, the two fish and the starfish is too much in the tank, lose the starfish and one crab, and prolly the two fish. sorry. add one small goby, leave on emerald and 2 snails with the macro algae, just be sure to do weekly water changes and have the store test our water monthly, get a hydrometer and chenck that every day. and use RO water for filling and changing the water, walmart and target has the water for 33cents a gallon, i went thru less than 1 gallon a week. about 3 jugs last one month. they dont need alot, the fish like swimming space, add the rock as a flat mound across the back portion, but leave room for circulation across the back. you will need the powerhead, macro and more rock before you stop using the filter as it is now.

look into wetwebmedia.com for ALOT more info

welcome to the saltwater addiction

Answer 3

In a 20 gal tank jointly with your determination i might upload the two a unmarried male Paradise Fish or a woman and male Dwarf Gourami. i might additionally enhance your shoal of Neon Tetras to ten via the two getting 4 greater or getting 4 Black Neon Tetras. that should furnish you with an extremely advantageous reveal of fish on your new 20 gallon tank. decide for the 20 gallon tank over the 15.

Answer 4

yeah, you need more room. Since you cant spend too much, Id suggest gettng a big tupperware bin from Walmart or something, and attatching a filter to it