Saltwater gift dilemma

[Casey Norris]

A coworker of mine is giving me everything out of his saltwater tank because he has decided to convert it into a lizard tank for his kids. He is tired of caring for it and is down to one generic blue damsel so he offered everything but the tank to me. Here is my problem. I have nowhere to put another tank. And that would mean going and buying another tank or making some of my fish cohabitate with each other. And I already have 7 tanks in a two bedroom apt; do I really want to clean another tank every week? But 30 pounds of live rock and live substrate is allot to just pass up. I am supposed to go over to his house after work and check out what all he has and then decide. As far as the damsel I suppose I could throw him in my 2.5 nano saltwater for the time being until I get the larger tank up and running, But then again he would probably beat up the orchid dotty back that’s in there currently. Oh what to do? Would the damsel kill my dotty back, emerald crab and hermit crabs? And would he kill my zoanthids? This is one of those good stressful moments in life.

 

[FishSkins]

the damsel would probably not kill any of them but the live rock would die fast with out being in a set up

 

[Casey Norris]

Well i had to make a quick choice, so i went and checked out his set up. There is plenty of "live" rock in his tank and substrate that i wouldn't have to go buy more. He is also giving me his two powerheads and two HOB filters. A bunch of food, salt, and some crazy underwater lights. So i decided for now the 29 with my mollies in it (they got it when my chichlids moved into a bigger tank) will have to go in with my two goldfish in the 20 . I know, the goldfish and the mollies probably will not like having to live together, but i had planned on putting the goldfish in my pond when it gets warm anyway and i may be selling my mollies to the LFS. I figure my fish tank collection is getting a little silly, so i made a rule for myself that i dont set anymore tanks up without tearing one down. I put a heater in with the goldfish and put it around 75. I sucked all of the substrate out of the 29 that will soon be the saltwater, so it will warm up by tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me. My only other saltwater experience is my 2.5 and i have only had that for a few months.

 

[RadleyMiller]

Just drip the mollies into one of the salt tanks. They are saltwater as well.

 

[evil_monkey]

RadleyMiller beat me to it, drip the mollies.

what kind of lighting is on the tank? are you looking at doing a reef or FOWLR?

 

[RadleyMiller]

From what I read, it sounds like its just live rock and live sand but she has zooanthids in her other salt tank.

 

[Casey Norris]

I am planning on eventualy doing a reef setup. Right now my other tank has been too small for anything fancy. I went and bought a double row compact florescent light, I got a really great deal on it I Payed $70 for the once originaly $200 light. The one major problem right now is that saltwater reef setups are so damn expensive. But all of the freebies from my friend at work helps alot.