Do's and Dont's

[jonthany]

Hey Guys,
I have a fairly new tank. From what I have heard your not supposed to get a anemone for at least 6 months. I have had my tank up and running for a little over 2. I spoke with the guy at the LFS and told him everything that was going on with my tank and he said it should be fine. The one I saw at the store was really nice and with him saying it was ok I got it. I posted a pic of it the other day when I got it and someone responded says that I shouldn't put one in for a year. Well Its in there now and it seems to be doing ok. Its been in there about 3 days now. It has basically climbed to the back of my main center rock but I can still see it. Its tentacles have not fully extended like they were in the store and my clowns haven't even noticed its there.
My questions are basically what to look for if its not doing well? From everything I have read people say it will move around and find a place it likes with good light and current. Mine seems to have moved to a spot with very little current.
<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/user/jonthany/media/IMG_0326_zps71b8ca48.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/jonthany/IMG_0326_zps71b8ca48.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0326_zps71b8ca48.jpg"/></a>

 

[HD Aquatics]

RBTA often do this while they get used to their environment. Nothing to worry about just keep your eyes on it for the next few days so it doesnt decide to move to a overflow or power head.

 

[jonthany]

Stopped home for lunch... Starting to get some extension... Woo HOO!!
<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/user/jonthany/media/IMG_0337_zps7e2428be.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/jonthany/IMG_0337_zps7e2428be.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0337_zps7e2428be.jpg"/></a>

 

[jonthany]

Aaaaaaand now hes behind the rocks....

 

[worm5406]

OK well to start out, before any yeah and nay's lets do a few questions:

sg
pH
temp
Nitrate
Nitrite
phostpate
Mg
calcium
type of lights
cycle of lights (in hours by type)
what are you dosing with (if anything)
flow (type/model and power/flow/gph)
Other inhabitants
age: 2 months
patience

 

[jonthany]

Ill run the full set of tests tonight when I get home from work.
I tested
Ammonia 2 days ago and it was 0-.25
Nitrite 2 days ago and it was 0
Tested Nitrate last night and it was 5
Tested salinity last night and it was 1.023 ATO keeps it steady
Temp is always between 78.2 -78.9
Phostpate Ill test tonight
Mg Ill have to test
Calc Ill have to test
PH Ill have to test
I have an AI Vega color
White, Red, Green, Blue, Royal Blue, Deep Blue
The cycle is below...
WH RD GR BB DB RY Ramp
815a 2% 15% NC 5% 15% 5% .30 hr
845a 8% 20% 5% 20% 30% 25% .30 hr
915a 15% 25% 10% 45% 45% 45% .30 hr
945a 32% NC 25% 60% 60% 60% .30 hr
815p 15% NC 10% 45% 45% 45% .30 hr
845p 8% 20% 5% 20% 30% 25% .30 hr
915p 2% 15% 0% 5% 15% 5% .30 hr
945p 0 0 0% 0% 1% 1% .30 hr
Vortech MP10 on half way
Tunze 1073.02 return on max

2 emerald Green crabs. I think 1 kept going near it causing it to close up.. Could be why it moved.
5 snails
5 hermits
2 Snowflake clowns (havent hosted yet)
1 Bicolor pseudo
Goby/Pistol Shrimp

 

[worm5406]

So that is an hour and a half slow work up and total light output for 13 hours? with max at 60% for high part of the day.

 

[jonthany]

Wow it looked a lot nicer and uniform when i wrote it. its a 2 hour ramp up 2 hour ramp down. Whites only get to 32% blues get to 60. Its about 10.5 hours of full power

 

[worm5406]

LOL... yeah formatting does that...

Frankly it all looks good.. I am just worried about cycling still and an increased load that may irritate it some.

Sounds real good though. I would still wait because it really takes the bacteria a while to get better and better at what it does.

 

[jonthany]

Alright, Ill keep an eye on it and do the rest of the test tonight. It seemed to open up nice yesterday but it was missing this morning...
I appreciate the help

 

[velvetelvis]

Watch out for that pseudochromis. Bicolors are one of the most aggressive species in a very aggressive family of fishes.

 

[jonthany]

Watch out for that pseudochromis. Bicolors are one of the most aggressive species in a very aggressive family of fishes.

Hes starting to calm down a bit now. His nickname is bastard... He was the first fish I went with and I had a lot of trouble with him in the beginning. He would go after my pistol shrimp and goby so bad that when I first introduced them I have to keep my hand in the tank to keep the pseudo away from them so they could burrow...

 

[jonthany]

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
nitrate 5
PH 8.1
Alkalinity 3.5
Calcium 460
Salinity 1.023
Temp 78.7
Phosphate .25

 

[dartier]

Alkalinity 3.5
Phosphate .25

Is that 3.5 DKH?? (or a typo?) Your phosphate is quite high as well.

 

[jonthany]

Is that 3.5 DKH?? (or a typo?) Your phosphate is quite high as well.

I think its DKH, however I am not sure really how to do it. I ran the test. It said put in drops each drop was .5meq/l there were 7 drops which is 3.5.

I am not familiar with phosphates either. What is the best way of getting them down?

 

[dartier]

I think its DKH, however I am not sure really how to do it. I ran the test. It said put in drops each drop was .5meq/l there were 7 drops which is 3.5.

I am not familiar with phosphates either. What is the best way of getting them down?

Ahh, to convert to DKH multiply the meg/l by 2.8. So your DKH is 9.8, which is fine.

There are a variety of ways of lowering phosphate (Water changes, GFO, ATS, etc.). I would suggest waiting for some feedback form board members on how phosphate that high will affect your invert.

Also your test may not be providing an accurate reading. I would have expected higher Nitrate reading for a Phosphate like that. Do you have a lot of Algae in the tank?

 

[jonthany]

I barely have any. What I did have my 2 emeralds cleaned up in a week. Here is a pic of the tanks. Its not great, my main lights are off just some blues on now but I have my room light on.