Newbie Corner Feedback-Reefkeeping 101

[allnatural]

my tank is not up and running but after doing months of research i feel its wise to know what i will be putting in my tank. my question is, i wanted a brown scopas tang as my herbavoire but my tank is only 50g. is there a smaller fish that is comprable to the scopas as far as grazing algea?

 

[pcwsailing]

I sure do want to Thank You for your help. The tank has been up about 8-9 weeks since the move. As far as the lighting goes There is one pheonix 14 metal halide and two coralife 96 watt actinic bluelights. these would be the 4 prong 34 inch double lights. I have just replaced these new. As i had mentioned the sand bed is 3 inches deep and my lfs is telling me to remove about 2 1/2 inches of it. They say I should only have about 1/2 inch depth for the bed.They say that way I will be able to vacume it during water changes so it won't hold poisons. Sure is getting complicated and I really do not like doing things twice. Would it be all right for me to remove the liverock corals and fish then take out the sand and put the things back in? As for the corals I haven't the slightest idea of what they are called. I do know one is called candy cane another is a hard green one and a few others, also there is some mushrooms and ricordia. I stoped feeding flake food and I'm feeding formula two pellot and rods food. I also feed the fox face everyday some ocean nutrition seaweed select. Seems to love it.

 

[terri_ann]

hello,
Is silica sand safe for sand sifting fish like yellow watchman gobies? I was reading it was easy to scratch your tank with it and wondered if it felt sharp to fish?

Any sand can scratch a tank whether it be acrylic or glass. Most people use aragonite sand in their tanks because of the benefits to the tank/mates. Having small-sized sand that will pass through the gills of gobies and other sand-dwellers is needed. Happy reefing!

 

[terri_ann]

You do not have to remove your 3" sandbed as your LFS is telling you. People do keep that depth in their tanks but are just careful not to stir the sand when tank cleaning as it can release toxins. With your tank only being a couple months old, I seriously doubt that you have to worry about that at this time. If you do want to go to a shallower bed now, it would not be necessary for you to remove the LR, fish and corals. You could take out a few cups of sand each time you do a WC (as any detritus that would go into the water column could be removed during the WC). Just make sure the water doesn't get too cloudy/dirty.

To identify your corals, you can post pictures here or do an online search for aquarium coral species. Many people use the food you are feeding, and others make their own...it is a matter of preference. I'm sure the Foxface loves the seaweed as they like to graze!

 

[Alaska_Phil]

I As i had mentioned the sand bed is 3 inches deep and my lfs is telling me to remove about 2 1/2 inches of it. They say I should only have about 1/2 inch depth for the bed.They say that way I will be able to vacume it during water changes so it won't hold poisons. Sure is getting complicated and I really do not like doing things twice.

pcwsailing
There are two theories on sand beds, I've used both with success.

Deep sand bed, needs to be 4 to 6 inches deep and cultivates bacterial that help reduce nitrate in the tank. It needs to be kept stocked with small worms and other digging micro-organizms to keep it aerobic. Other than that it should not be disturbed.

Shallow sand bed, or even a bare bottom tank takes the opposite approach and depends on the reef keeper to keep it clean. So should be kept to under an inch to make that easy to do. Course sand is better in this case so you don't suck it out while vaccuming. Although I'd recommend just stirring it weekly instead of vacuuming so you don't loose all the worms and other dentrivours that colonize it.

If you do decide to remove sand, I'd recommend using a 1/2" hose and just siphoning it out. shut your circulation off first. That way you'll suck everything right up and won't cloud the water or release and detrius into it.

Phil

 

[pcwsailing]

Worms? What Kind of worms and dentrivores might that be? I have live sand in there now. Will not that work if I make it 1/2 deep? I was thinking I could start siphoning it out on the water changes? Thank you

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Bristle worms mainly, but there are dozens of kinds of little sandbed worms. If your used the bagged live sand that's sold off the shelf then you didn't get any. Baby brittle stars are another common favorite. Baby is just the name, they're a tiny species that never exceeds about 1 inch diameter. You should get most of what you need from good live rock. Otherwise order some true live sand. I haven't ordered from them yet, but Indo-Pacific Sea Farms www.ipsf.com sells the worms, stars and even live Amphipods to seed your sandbed with. And they'll work with either shallow or deep beds.

Phil

 

[allnatural]

is there a tang that stays small enough for a 50gal set up?

 

[Aquarist007]

is there a tang that stays small enough for a 50gal set up?

simple answer no

Tangs start in the wild at about 8 inches at maturity. There has been some studies made where marine biologists claim a fish reaches about 66 per cent of its wildlife size in capitivity. But there is no gurantee nor is there a gurantee how fast it will grow.
If fish get stressed out about the size of the territory or sense that it is getting smaller, they can become quite agressive towards other fish in the display tank. There is also no gurantee that will happen or when it will happen

 

[Alaska_Phil]

I've got a yellow tang in a 50 Long, I don't recommend it. He's never looked very healthy despite all my efforts. I'd give him to someone with a 75 or bigger in heartbeat.

Phil

 

[pcwsailing]

gloves

gloves

I was cutting some mushrooms out of my liverock till I saw something wigling in it. I don't know what it was because it disapeared as fast as I saw it. My question is this, Does anyone wear gloves when handling liverock and if so what kind of gloves? I understand there are bristle worms in the liverock ( possible thats what I saw ) and I don't really want to be stung by one. Also could there be other things in there I need to watch for? I need to know what to wear for gloves?

 

[Aquarist007]

I've got a yellow tang in a 50 Long, I don't recommend it. He's never looked very healthy despite all my efforts. I'd give him to someone with a 75 or bigger in heartbeat.

Phil

Generous offer Phil--but to go to the North Pole to get it:fun2::dance:

 

[Aquarist007]

I was cutting some mushrooms out of my liverock till I saw something wigling in it. I don't know what it was because it disapeared as fast as I saw it. My question is this, Does anyone wear gloves when handling liverock and if so what kind of gloves? I understand there are bristle worms in the liverock ( possible thats what I saw ) and I don't really want to be stung by one. Also could there be other things in there I need to watch for? I need to know what to wear for gloves?

Have a look at post number 89 on my log book thread

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1786183&page=4

 

[pcwsailing]

gloves

gloves

Oh My! That looks to be very painful. The poison track is really someting. I had a urchin that came with my setup but I gave it away. I like the gloves that you are showing. They look very protective but where can I buy something like that? I've never seen those around. Once again Thank You

 

[Paul B]

Also could there be other things in there I need to watch for? I need to know what to wear for gloves?

If your rock is old enough there will be tube worms all over the bottom of it. These tubes are very hard and cut like razors. I get cut every time I pick up a large rock.
They go right through those thin plastic gloves

 

[drstratton]

Oh My! That looks to be very painful. The poison track is really someting. I had a urchin that came with my setup but I gave it away. I like the gloves that you are showing. They look very protective but where can I buy something like that? I've never seen those around. Once again Thank You

I saw them at Drs Foster & Smith.

http://fish-supplies.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/search?af=type%3Aproduct&view=grid&w=gloves&visitorID=&cartcount=0&wishcount=0&subtotal=0.00

 

[thebkramer]

Hello to all! I have a pretty dumb question and I thought this is the best place to ask.(well maybe it is)
Anyways, I would like to know how to add info at bottom of my posts?
If you don't know what I mean, this is from Capn's:

"evrr bean to sea Billy--evrr smelled a fish?" "Aye capn..experience is the best teacher"

Current Tank Info: 110gal high--250 lbs of live rock,60gal sump,30 and 37gal fuges,blueline100HD,MSX250 skimmer,2-150watt ,10,000k,2-96 compact attinics

I've tried searching for the answer, but with no luck.
Is it something only Premium Members can do?
Thanks ahead of time.

 

[drstratton]

I think you can do it at my RC, click the edit signature button under settings and options.
.

 

[thebkramer]

Great! Thanks! :bounce3:

 

[drstratton]

Great! Thanks! :bounce3:

Your welcome!