New TBS tank questions

[pangaea6]

I got my TBS rock in Tuesday night and in the tank by 9pm. My problem is reading my Ammonia tests. My current parameters are:

120g (deep) tank w/skimmer, 4VHO blue actinic, 2MH (running only 1)

Ph 8.2
Salinity 1.022-1.023
Nitrites 0
Nitrates < 10
Ammonia: Could be anywhere from .25 (Jungle test strips) to .25, 1, or 2 acording to my Aquarium Pharma test kit.

The Aquarium Pharma test is the one that looks like .25, 1, or 2.

My questions are how reliable are these tests, does anyone else have any problem reading these, how much die-off is expected in the first batch, what exactly does it resemble b/c I got a bunch of "sand-dust" on the rocks when I put them in after laying out the LS? Some of the rocks seem to have some white patches on them, just rock, not any decaying things, is this normal to occur over a few days? And some things look a little dull or turning white, is this death or just bleaching?

As far as living creatures, I'm not sure of my id's but I think I have some feather dusters, tunicates, tiger goby for first couple of days, haven't seen him since Thursday, 2 porcelain crabs, 1 gorilla crab got by me, 1 red emerald?, 1 pistol shrimp, 2 or 3 brittle stars, something with glowing eyes under a rock, various colors of sponges, and a couple of creatures I'm not sure but they could be rock anemones and a tube anemone, maybe a pulsing xenia? and several snail/hermit crab looking things.

Another question is what is the minimum time allowed for salt to disolve in new saltwater, one of my replacement batches got contaminated so I'm running low on water? I have been using Oceanic. Thanks for any and all help. The rock was and is great, me and the family had a kick unpacking it, searching for creatures and watching things pop up, now I want to make sure IT LIVES!!

Pangaea

 

[pangaea6]

Another quick question, if my ammo gets crazy and I don't have the make-up water to replace it can I use an ammo detox solution to help out in an emergency adn if so any recommendations?

 

[pangaea6]

Another quick question, if my ammo gets crazy and I don't have the make-up water to replace it can I use an ammo detox solution to help out in an emergency adn if so any recommendations?

 

[hdtran]

I'd let the salt stir in a bucket for at least 30 minutes (with water ). I prefer letting my saltwater stir for 1 day (well aged in an American made Rubbermaid container...)

Yes, you can use Amquel or Amquel+ as an ammonia detoxifier, but your ammonia test will still read all the ammonia (including the stuff bound up in Amquel/+).

Yes, I agree with you that the colors are very difficult to distinguish. Since you have two tests which indicate near 0.25, I'd tend to believe 0.25 to 0.5.

What do you want to bet that the glowing eyes under the rock is your tiger goby?

Good luck & hang in there!

 

[pangaea6]

Well it seems my Ammo stabilized at .25 so I'll see what happens in the morning. Seem to have some algae growth but doesn't seem to be a big deal. Those glowing eyes seem to be invert or crusty lookin' to me though. Hearing some clicking and seeing some burrows being built up. Is there anyway to tell if its my pistol or a mantis?

 

[hdtran]

I'd be surprised if a mantis didn't move. Those guys are pretty hyperactive. If they have eyes on movable stalks, they're mantis. If they have big lobsterlike claws, they're pistol.

 

[pangaea6]

I got a 2"-3" pistol in there. I seem to hear clicking where he's not, but haven't seen anything mantis looking yet, it's been 7 days. Starting to get lots of algae growing. Seeing lots of spaghetti worms and one little centipede looking worm. I found my goby, he's doing well. Haven't fed anything yet. My ammonia has been steady at .25, maybe a tad lower for last 2 days. Should I wait for it to be exactly 0 ppm? What would keep it hovering at .25ppm?

 

[hdtran]

Yes, wait until the ammonia and nitrites drops to exactly zero. It will. You've just got some stuff still slowly dying off, and the bacteria haven't equilibrated. Don't worry, my ammonia was hanging out at 0.25 for a long time, then, faded to zero.

 

[pangaea6]

While I'm waiting for my second half of rocks, i have found a bunch on little white crawling things on the glass. I would say they are about half the size of a pinhead, if not a bit smaller. What are these little creature? Anyone have an idea?

 

[pangaea6]

Just got in my new rocks last night for the second part of the package and they look great! Tons of life, got a couple of extra anemones (2 diff. kinds), found a few good hitchhikers; urchin, starfish, filter crabs, cowrie, Christmas tree worm. Haven't found any mantis yet, but I did find one yesterday finally from my first shipment. Just took out the rock and he crawled out, easy. Thanks again TBS for the great liverocks!:bounce3:

 

[mx250]

You probably have more pistols than you realize. I got one "large" orange one ( ~2.5") and a bunch of small green ones ( < .75"). The green ones are never seen outside of their holes, but the "pop" just about as much as the big guy.

 

[pangaea6]

Didn't want to start a new thread for this but how many porcelain crabs is good or bad? Having had the tank up for more than a month now I'm getting a good count of these guys and I seem to have close to 16 or 17. Should I leave them or get rid of a few?

 

[mx250]

Last count we had close to 40 in our 75g. I like 'em, and have resisted trade offers. We've had them for 18 months now, and they seem to be doing well and don't bother anything.