new 90 and pests!

[Island Son]

Oh where do I even start LOL Never owned a saltwater tank before but always wanted one. Gave in and bought a 90 gal drilled tank and some gear from a friend of a friend. Went to the LFS and called in a friend for some advice on set ups. Bought 90 lbs live rock off guy on CL for a steal *cough cough*, used 45 gallons premixed water from local Petco, and made the rest with RODI system. All was going great until I read about hitchhikers. What I thought was some free corals turned out to be aiptasia and the more I look the more I find. Well I keep looking around and found two rocks covered in green bubble algae. Now I'm thinking so much for my cheap rock. Although swear I saw a fish when I was setting up rock and water from the CL guy.

I was told I wouldn't have much of a cycle if any due to using rock out of an aquarium, mostly boxed water and live sand the stuff with water in the bags. 2 guys said no cycle the other said safe after 5 days if no ammonia spike. Last night pH was perfect, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10. When is it safe to add cleaning crew to take care of bubble and aiptasia? Not thinking fish until I get pests under control. I know I shouldn't rush things but want to eradicate aiptasia before it turns into an infestation.

Lastly I haven't been able to identify another hitchhiker, look little minature aiptasia but with bright green tips and looks very flowery. So small I'm having had time getting a pic.

 

[gone fishin]

The tank will cycle on it's own time line. There is no magic number of days.

Most regular CUC members will not eat aiptasia. If I was just starting out and had a bunch of aiptasia and bubble algae, I think I would remove the rock and let it sit out to dry and kill off the aiptasia. Give it a good scrub and rinse once it has set out for a few days. Put it back in the tank and start your cycle. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Sk8r]

No cleaning crew will take care of bubble and algae. Let's get this tank cycled first.

When the tank is mature and safe, it will be possible to add a few peppermint shrimp, who will take out your aiptasia population.

I am a little worried about this fish you spotted: indeed, some fish will hide in rock. Keep an eye out for him. It might also be a crab moving about, or a mantis. If you hear any clicking sounds, loud pops, mantis.

We can walk you through this. First step, read that monster 'book' up in the stickies: SETTING UP. It's free, it's accurate, and it covers most everything.

 

[Island Son]

Ive been slowly making my way through the stickies, they are great! That's how I figured out it was aiptasia. The mystery hitchhikers have been id'd by the LFS as Majano, and that rock has been removed to prevent it from going crazy. It's soaking in rodi with lemon juice very unfortunate because it was a very pretty rock, lots of coraline and nice sized holes.

 

[gone fishin]

The rock will eventually come back around only without the aiptasia and mojanos. Nasty bit of business they are.

 

[Island Son]

How long should I soak? LFS said just a few hours and put in the sun for a day. Seems a little short since everything I've read says they are next to impossible to kill

 

[gone fishin]

I think I would let them soak over night then let the sun do the rest for a few days. No hurry right. When done don't forget to rinse them off well.

 

[wcarterh]

Also where you were told that you would not see a cycle is not true. When changing over you will always see a cycle. It only depends on how much of a cycle. If the LR (live rock) was transported in water, warm, for a short distance, more than likely, a smaller die off than say transporting damp or just in a box. You just need to feed it to cause it to cycle, NO fish. Either ammonia (no additives) or a raw shrimp from the store (you can also combine both).

The bubble algae isn't a MAJOR concern, though a concern. If you control your phosphates once the tank is cycled, they will disappear. You can also buy certain CUC and/or rabbit fish that may or may not eat it. Though generally this is a hit or miss.

A clicking sound could be a mantis or pistol shrimp. I have a mantis paired with a goby. The popping can be a bit annoying at night, and if you don't have a DSB (deep sea bed), just more annoying if you have anything placed on the sand (they tunnel like mad and can bury corals on the sand bed).