1st Nano Attempt...Need aquascaping advice

[khrios]

Hi everyone,

this is my first try at a 6g jbj nano setup. so far, I got the surface skimmer, upgraded to a mj mini 150gph pump, filled sump w/ LR rubble, added carbon. It has 12lbs of LR in the tank with a small cleaner crew of 3 black turbos and 5 mini blue leg hermits. Anyway, I am pretty sure that I bought way too much LR from the LFS, and I was looking for some advice as to how to aquascape it, because the side areas that touch the glass just built up detritus. BTW,
my params are:
am: 0
nit: 0
nitrate: 0
cal: 340ppm
alk: ~3meq/l
phos: ~0

Here is a pic:

 

[BLKTANG]

Dude,that rock has hair algae on it.

Do yourself a favor,& get rid of the small pieces with the HA on it.


Other than that try doing a pyramid with the 2 large rocks.

U will b fine with 8-10 lbs.

 

[khrios]

took out almost all of the small pieces, esp. the ones w/ hair algae. Going to do a major water change later today. Any suggestions for my cleaner crew? The turbos don't seem to be doing much. What could I get to clean the rocks and sandbed? I have a few nassarius already

 

[BLKTANG]

sand sifting star,& nassarious snails.Red leg,& blue leg hermits.

 

[july865]

khrios
patience. looks good, things will work them selves out. remember. " the only thing that happens quickly in salt water is death".

 

[Mark426]

A turbo snail will get rid of the hair algae. They are like a bull in a china shop though. Let him do his job and then just give him back to your LFS. Its a very cheap (in aquarium $$) way to rid yourself of the dreaded hair algae.

 

[khrios]

I just got back from the LFS. I got some premixed saltwater (i dont have an RO unit) 8 small blue legs and a small zoa frag. I am going to do a 50% water change and then put everything in and I will take pics. Thanks for the help

 

[oldreefer76]

be careful with premixed water from lfs I had 1 gallon once that was off the charts on salinity, it was the first and last gallon I bought also be weary of there ro/di also

 

[khrios]

I tested it last time and it was right between 1.023 and 1.024

 

[bryan812]

where are the new picts? what kind of zoas did you get

 

[khrios]

Here are pics after aquascaping, a 50% water change, 8 more blue legs, and some zoas:

 

[grink dude]

it's much better now. good l.uck with your tank

 

[FLricordia]

you really shouldn't be adding any corals till you are completely rid of the algae. A tank, no matter it's size, is not properly cycled when there is excess amount of undesirable algae. You could have scubbed the rock and left the lights off, not done any water changes so the rock sand (noticed you could have added a bit more) and water mature. maybe you could take the coral back to be held and finish maturing the tank first.

 

[Dr.FuManchu]

You are fine adding corals at this point. Since you are already cycled. Just make sure you keep up your weekly water changes. Algae is just a part of the maturing process and will eventually get less and less.