New tank ?'s

[cynder]

Hello, I am setting up a new tank and I had a few questions.
1. How soon before you get your LR should you have your saltwater in the tank? Im going to try to have my LR on Monday or Tuesday of next week.
2. Im getting uncured LR, I have been reading this forum like crazy and it says to watch out for bad hitch hikers, like Mantis shrimp. I planned on wearing rubber gloves when I unpacked this and cleaned the dead stuff off, but after hearing Mantis are called Thumb Splitters should I wear something a little tougher? I really do NOT want to be injured by a Thumb Splitter. Or are they gonna run the other way and I shouldnt worry?
3. Im going to cure the LR in my tank, so is this correct...No lights during curing? Use protein skimmer during curing? Heater on or off? I have read different things on these.
Thank you,
Cynder (who had bad dreams of giant thumb attacking Mantis shrimp)

 

[Avi]

Re: New tank ?'s

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10270688#post10270688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cynder 1. How soon before you get your LR should you have your saltwater in the tank? Im going to try to have my LR on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Fill the tank now. Get the water to the appropriate specific gravity and have it at a correct temperature. Use this for a reference of the readings that you should have BEFORE you put the live rock into the aquarium....

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

If the specific gravity has been set properly and the temperature is correct, then add the live rock. You have ample time to do this if you're getting the rock next week.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10270688#post10270688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cynder 2. Im getting uncured LR, I have been reading this forum like crazy and it says to watch out for bad hitch hikers, like Mantis shrimp. I planned on wearing rubber gloves when I unpacked this and cleaned the dead stuff off, but after hearing Mantis are called Thumb Splitters should I wear something a little tougher? I really do NOT want to be injured by a Thumb Splitter. Or are they gonna run the other way and I shouldnt worry?

Wear the thick rubber gloves but make sure there aren't any chemicals on them. If you pick the live rock up critters will hide tightly inside the holes and crevices inside the rock for the most part. Once in a while a crab, for example, may fall out of the rock when you pick it up, but for the most part that doesn't happen. Try to hold the rock from the top but make sure you have a strong enough hold, of course, so it doesn't fall out of your hands.
Having hitchhikers is very common but having a dangerous one isn't so common. Still, take those precautions and it should be all right.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10270688#post10270688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cynder 3. Im going to cure the LR in my tank, so is this correct...No lights during curing? Use protein skimmer during curing? Heater on or off? I have read different things on these.

I cured my live rock in my reef when I first set it up and kept the lights on in a normal photo-period while the tank cycled. It never led to any algae blooms, but I recommend that you keep the skimmer on all the time while you do that and thereafter. The heater should be on to maintain the tank at the correct temperature though in the summer months it may never go on depending on the ambient temperature of the room it's in.

Good luck with the tank.

 

[Avi]

Re: Re: New tank ?'s

Re: Re: New tank ?'s

Double post....sorry

 

[chemesgh]

This is purely based on my experience and recommendations made ot me when I started my tank up a couple of years ago. I'm sure there will be varying opinions on this.


1. How soon before you get your LR should you have your saltwater in the tank? Im going to try to have my LR on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

I put sand first, then filled with water and salt. I think I waited a couple of days to put rock in. However, if you're cycling the tank anyway, I don't know how critical it is to wait vs. going ahead and putting the rock in, especially if the rock is uncured.

2. Im getting uncured LR, I have been reading this forum like crazy and it says to watch out for bad hitch hikers, like Mantis shrimp. I planned on wearing rubber gloves when I unpacked this and cleaned the dead stuff off, but after hearing Mantis are called Thumb Splitters should I wear something a little tougher? I really do NOT want to be injured by a Thumb Splitter. Or are they gonna run the other way and I shouldnt worry?

It probably wouldn't hurt to wear some type of gloves. Be careful of rubber medical gloves, they sometimes have a powder that helps keep them dry and easy to put on. I don't think it would actually hurt your tank, but better ot be safe than sorry. I just bought a 100 pack of arm length polyethylene gloves off of ebay, not much protection but keeps stuff off of you, and stuff on you out of the tank. If a mantis shrimp gets you, just remind it that it's always a good time to throw a shrimp on the BBQ!!


3. Im going to cure the LR in my tank, so is this correct...No lights during curing? Use protein skimmer during curing? Heater on or off? I have read different things on these.
Thank you,
Cynder (who had bad dreams of giant thumb attacking Mantis shrimp)

I'm not really sure about lights. Might start algae growth but you're probably going to have that anyway with a new tank. I couldn't tell you if it really makes a difference with the cycle, but I'd guess not. I wouldn't use a skimmer when cycling to maximize the gunk in your tank to facilitate bacterial growth. I think I did run my heater, seems like bacteria would like it warmer than cooler.

Feel free to correct me on anything!!

 

[cynder]

Hmmm, Thank you both. I will go ahead and get my water ready, test it make sure its right.
The lights will probably be turned on and off by my children so they can try to spot hitch hikers, 7 and 16 year olds home from school while moms working in the shop are really sneaky sometimes. I will just try to keep it at a minimum.
Skimmer on/off, I can see what you both are meaning about turning it on or keeping it off. I will just keep reading on that before Monday.
Grilled Mantis shrimp, above 7 and 16 year olds will try anything once, lol!

 

[Avi]

I wonder what the odds are of actually winding up with a mantis are. I bought a lot of rock, on different occasions, but never did get one. My friend bought a little amount for a nano-reef one time, and did get one.

 

[rbtwo4]

i dont think i would want one in m tank im just praying that i dont lol saw some really creepy videos on mantis shrimps on you tube you might want to check them out.

 

[rbtwo4]

i dont think i would want one in m tank im just praying that i dont lol saw some really creepy videos on mantis shrimps on youtube you might want to check them out.

 

[cynder]

When I first seen the picture of a Mantis shrimp I thought, cool. Then I read TBS's site where it said can it can cut you to the bone, Not cool. Just got back from buying some dish gloves, think I will wear two pair at a time just in case.....

 

[cynder]

I watched a couple of those YouTube videos, I really wanted to save the little crab. Those Mantis are fast!

 

[rbtwo4]

lol yeah theyre not called "Thumbsplitters" for no reason!