reefmama1220
New member
HIII EVERYONE!!! :wavehand::wavehand::lol2:
so I currently have a 40g breeder upcoming reef tank. Only a killer condy that ate my harlequin shrimp (im pretty sure.. no body to show otherwise lol) that was my bad tho. didnt know they ate shrimp haha! ANYWAYS. I am using this tank as a learning tank before i blow WAYYY more money on a HUGE tank. i would like around a 200g tank! I had tried starting a saltwater tank years ago and had no support and no idea what i was doing and it never got off the ground and i quit. well now im 100% into it and in it for the long haul! LOVE my tank already! was a 6m established tank with that mean ol condy. I added a pair of clowns, a dottyback and a couple cleaner creatures along with a starfish and urchin (hes my favorite but dont tell anyone else hehe). ok here are stats for my tank before i begin my questions.
day1 PH-7.8-8, Mg-1290, Alk-10.9, Phos-.25ppm =/ , Nitrate-1, Calc-440, Salinity-1.026
day 2once i realized my phosphates were so high i asked around and came to the conclusion i needed to do a big water change. SO changed out 25 gal of water and added a media reactor with phosban (only a small amount. less than half the amount it suggested to work up to) I only tested Phos that day as it was a crazy day Phos- .13 (checked salinity too. 1.026)
day 3 now yesterday, PH-8.0-8.3, Mag-1380, Alk-11.5DKH, Phos-.08ppm :celeb2:, Nitrate-2.5, Calcium-440, Salinity-1.026
the insert for my phos test (salifert) said between 6-8dkh i believe. so mine being 11.5 is quite high. but dr google said 7-11dkh... so idk who to believe...
Other Facts:
-I am wanting to do a mixed tank mainly coral right now. smaller inverts and blennys,gobbies,mandarin (things of those sizes).
-I have a sump rated for a 70g tank (so says the lfs)
-no clue what size return pump
-just installed a 2little fishies media reactor 150 with super small amount of phosban
-40-50lbs of rock.
-not much if any coralline algea..
-lot of green algae?
-radion xr30w light running 30% over 5wk acclimation up to 50%over all power
-little red sea prism hob protein skimmer
-2 clownfish
-dottyback
-evil harlequin shrimp eating condy
-scooter blenny
-few cleaner creatures lol
-tile starfish
-decorator urchin
-couple mushroom coral but not sure whats happening to them..
ok for questions.
1. Do i need a skimmer? i have a little hob red sea prizm or something that came with the tank.
2. my pump is so loud i think it is dying. what size is appropriate for my 40g
3. what is your suggestion on a ato brand?
my local saltwater fish store really ripped me off being so new to it. I figured all this out way too late but hey Know better Do better! I dont want to use them anymore for anything but had gotten into this planning on having them care for the tank... now having to learn all this on my own Ive been stressing pretty bad.
:sad1: i felt quite betrayed honestly. I want everything to live so badly! haha im trying my damnedest here! =D was talking to a young kid almost daily but i think i was bothering him with my questions. lol..
this is the green algae im not sure of. very soft hair algae?. sorry for the bad lighting, my light just went off for the night. Ill get a better picture tomorrow. the red leaves too. what are they?
