New tank, clowns, algae and progress/questions

[Reef of Fillory]

Won't hurt to run the reactors. As for CUC, minimal is fine really. I think most of my snails I bought are dead. Had some random hitch hiker snail that comes out at night pop out a bunch of babies, so that part of the uninvited CUC is doing well apparently. All I actually have are two shrimp, they don't do much, and an Urchin, which mows the bejusus out of hair algae lol. Oh, and a scarlet hermit crab.

My rock was pretty well sterilized from the system it was in before (1yr+ with just flow and carbon running in a tank) so I didn't get any hitchhikers... Not sure if in happy about that or disappointed lol

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[davehead86]

Thanks for the tips! Not planning to use any chemicals, not looking to put in any more fish for a while, just corals slowly over the next 6 months. Haven't finalized my stock wish list yet with the wife, so sticking with what I've got so far. Only thing I am thinking about is a sand sifting goby to keep the sand bed moving, also have those nasarius snails (2) in there that I'm hoping will keep the sand moving. I'm okay with ugly, just don't want it to stick around after everything settles out, that's why I was wondering about pulling the gha so that it might stay away after, and not get too out of hand early. Checked my chaeto this morning and it's growing now.

I've been leaving fuge lit 24/7 since I put the chaeto in. What are they negatives of running 24/7 as opposed to pm only?

Thanks again, I appreciate any insight as I'm 100% new to all fish keeping (aside from a beta as a kid)

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Its generally recomended to not add corals to a tank until it has been mature for 6 months because of all the cycling that happens and all of the other stuff that just arises with a new tank. Id hold off on anymore corals for a little while.

Fuge light I run an opposite 12 hour schedule on my tank. It balances out PH and grows the algae.

Sand sifting gobies are great but they will need something to sift out of the sand. I would wait till you have some more fish and stuff in the tank for the goby to clean up after.

Nassarian snails are awesome at working the sandbed. I have about 10 in my 65 gallon, and then another 10 of the snails that clean the glass and about 3-4 emerald crabs (who i think died because my algae has been growing again).

 

[sde1500]

My rock was pretty well sterilized from the system it was in before (1yr+ with just flow and carbon running in a tank) so I didn't get any hitchhikers... Not sure if in happy about that or disappointed lol

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You'd be shocked what can be on rocks. 90% of my rocks were dry. I had about 8lbs cured from my LFS. If the rocks you got were in water, there is probably some life in there somewhere. From the sand too

 

[Reef of Fillory]

Its generally recomended to not add corals to a tank until it has been mature for 6 months because of all the cycling that happens and all of the other stuff that just arises with a new tank. Id hold off on anymore corals for a little while.

Fuge light I run an opposite 12 hour schedule on my tank. It balances out PH and grows the algae.

Sand sifting gobies are great but they will need something to sift out of the sand. I would wait till you have some more fish and stuff in the tank for the goby to clean up after.

Nassarian snails are awesome at working the sandbed. I have about 10 in my 65 gallon, and then another 10 of the snails that clean the glass and about 3-4 emerald crabs (who i think died because my algae has been growing again).

I've heard mixed things about corals, many say to put softies/easy lps in even before fish, then others say to wait like you said. So confusing, and so many ways to do things, take a chance no matter what you do! I'd like to know as much as I can before I take any unnecessary risks though. My mom is from Monticello, small world

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[Reef of Fillory]

You'd be shocked what can be on rocks. 90% of my rocks were dry. I had about 8lbs cured from my LFS. If the rocks you got were in water, there is probably some life in there somewhere. From the sand too

That's true, guy I bought the rock from runs a tank setup and maintenance business and had this rock he'd been holding onto for a while. Used caribsea sand, didn't think anything aside from bacteria could live in a bag for a year?

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[davehead86]

I've heard mixed things about corals, many say to put softies/easy lps in even before fish, then others say to wait like you said. So confusing, and so many ways to do things, take a chance no matter what you do! I'd like to know as much as I can before I take any unnecessary risks though. My mom is from Monticello, small world

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Crazy about your mom.

So just from my experiences with starting two tanks you need to get your schedule set and figure out your workload and what your tank needs before you add corals. Its not just algae, its just basic tank husbandry issues that need to be in place. Corals add a much higher level of detail, and frustration. :fish1:

 

[Reef of Fillory]

Coral only took overnight to open up and look happy. Added my gfo and carbon reactor and sand to the sump. I've been thinking about building an ats, but can pods be successfully grown in sump using an ats? Will gfo/carbon reactor counteract an ats?

Also built a lighting diffuser cover for my overflow to keep the snails out. Pvc stilts zip tied to the diffuser

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[Reef of Fillory]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...bErQZCtf9ONFOpe7fjA0rWrr6Wg/edit?usp=drivesdk

1. Clean up crew additions?
2. Treated for aiptasia
3. Cyanobacteria on my rock? Any visible problem algae in pictures?
4. Enough algae to support more CUC?
5. Urchin for my tank? I like the look of them and have heard just to be careful in acrylic and that they'll eat Coraline
6. Testing for calcium, alk and mag for 2 part dosing starting soon (brs 2 part)


My hammer is doing and looking great, just got my magnesium test kit, and my brs 2 part. Testing for a few days to see my levels, as well as changes. Treated for some aiptasia that came from lfs, decided not to use them anymore and to go through a private seller for my stock from now on. I know a guy who does a real good job sourcing corals and fish as well as qt'ing.

Got a bit more algae growth now, wondering if I should up my clean up crew...

Now I have 2 sand snails with long shells and antennas, 2-3 larger shell snails (turbos I think), about 8 of the snails that can flip themselves, and 6 of another kind. Emerald crabs were popping off my zoas and eating them, so both of them got traded in today. Any suggestions for additional cuc? Wanting a short spine urchin and something else/more for my sand bed, anything to look out for/consider?

Google sheet shows my testing and notes since shortly after setup of the tank.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...bErQZCtf9ONFOpe7fjA0rWrr6Wg/edit?usp=drivesdk

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[FernandesReef]

Looks good, keep good track of your water and the system will fall into place.


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[Reef of Fillory]

Added a tuxedo conch, and tried to fix my siphon for​ my beananimal overflow, but still not starting itself right...

Got my 2 part, going to get gallon jugs to mix everything in, then get my levels up to where they should be. How often do you guys adjust using your 2 part? I don't have much in my tank now, so I'll test less often and mostly depends on water changes and maybe weekly supplement with 2 part?

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[Reef of Fillory]

I was able to extend the siphon tube in the overflow box, and remove the 90° at sump for the siphon, now it starts up just fine. Added 2 tuxedo urchins, 15 nasarius, 10 astrea snails, toadstool coral and a soft coral (some type of euphylia?) Corals took about 2 hours to fully open up.


I can never tell what this PH test shows me (API)... Picture is identical to what colors show up in person... Anyone have any ideas? The purple color seems totally different than what's on the card.

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