My first set up

[Guy Fawkes]

Hey guys!

I'm new here and new to the hobby. After being told how impossible tanks are from my local store. I decided to just start it and see how it goes. I kind of did things not by the book. 1.5 months in and nothing dead. I have turbos, hermit crabs, sixline,damsel,clown, Cardinal and engineer goby.

Let me know what you guys think

 

[Jerzey]

Hd A pic or list of equipment would help, n ur tank parameters too.. And are you doing a fowlr tank or reef?

 

[Guy Fawkes]

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Fluval light. Filter and heaters. Also an oversized fluval circulation pump

 

[alexander_ktn]

It looks nice and it seems you have no algae problems except a light dusting of diatoms on the sand which should disappear in time on its own.

One tip: regularly measure the water parameters to catch anything that drifts off before it affects your live stock.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Not sure about the parameters. Had my water tested and nitrates were up. Not enough to worry

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Thanks for the reply. I will get a testing kit

 

[alexander_ktn]

The most important parameters for me (in descending order of importance in my opinion) for a well running tank:

Important for all inhabitants (too high or too low and stuff dies fast):
- Temperature
- Salinity
- Alkalinity (because it affects pH swings)

Important for corals (affects growth and very high or low levels may lead to serious problems):
- Phosphate
- Nitrate
- Calcium
- Magnesium (normally doesn't change very fast)

If something goes wrong:
- Ammonia (can kill fast but is usually converted by bacteria to less dangerous compounds in running tanks)

There are other parameters one can test, but for a start those are the ones I would care about most.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Thanks man! I appreciate the answers. I have a hydrometer and temperature gauge. I will get the rest of the testing stuff this week. This is an expensive hobby.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

 

[alexander_ktn]

This is an expensive hobby.

Yes it is, unfortunately... But you can buy things one at a time and the test kits will usually last you for some time.

It's just wise to stay on top of issues before they become real problems or stuff starts to die.

 

[alexander_ktn]

What are the yellow corals? They don't seem to have zooxanthellae so will need to be fed.
If they are candy cane corals they are bleached.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

They are candy corals. They have see through things that come out when feeding time or at night

 

[alexander_ktn]

Did you get them this way or did they bleach in the tank?

Feed them with bits of small frozen food until they recover their algae symbionts.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

 

[Guy Fawkes]

They look the same as when I bought them. Good guys at the new store. Might be my camera because they look green. How would I feed them? Turkey baster?

 

[alexander_ktn]

Yes, a turkey baster should be fine - just a few bits when you feed your tank should be fine (if they ingest too much at once they will spit it all out again).

If they look green they might be alright, though, and just a little bleached. That they put out their tentacles by day is a sure sign that they want to be fed, though.

 

[Jerzey]

I can't stress enough the importance of weekly 10% or biweekly 20% water changes!

 

[Guy Fawkes]

I've done one water change so far. I'm off work today and will do another.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

I just feed the candy corals. That was so cool lol they loved it. Almost instantly brightened up.