Newbie Corner Feedback-Reefkeeping 101

[BeerBattered]

New to Hobby

New to Hobby

Hello All, My name is Jeff from Buffalo, NY and I am Very grateful to have my new 75g tank that I recently just purchased from a local owner that didn't have time for his tank anymore so I was very happy when he posted on Craigslist right when I was about to purchase a 55g from a LFS for the same price with no Live Rock! I say Good Deal.. Anyway very new to the SW tanks, of coarse have a Fresh Water tank plus a some other pets, Iguana and Leopard Gecko. Wife says I have a zoo, but I say not yet!! Well here is some Pics of my tank which is in the cycling process that I started 2/24/10 and 3-4 weeks is going to seem forever to put fish in! The Tank has 2 powerheads, 2 Heaters and the Sump is a 20g tank.

 

[terri_ann]

Very Nice and GOOD for YOU!! Welcome to RC!!! You came to the right place. Spend lots of time here reading and don't hesitate to ask questions ;-) Happy Reefing!!!!!

 

[Aquarist007]

So what do I do with a Turkey Baster.. I don't get it.. I suck up the stuff on the rock n place it on the sand???????? I'm lost bro...so how can I remove the slim now??? There's a lot in the tank!!

You use the turkey baster to blast the rocks and lightly stir up the sand bed. It will be messy at first and then eventually hardly anything will be put back into the water column. The idea is you are removing the nutrients that fuel cyano and algae.

 

[terri_ann]

So what do I do with a Turkey Baster.. I don't get it.. I suck up the stuff on the rock n place it on the sand???????? I'm lost bro...so how can I remove the slim now??? There's a lot in the tank!!

Follow what Cap'n told you. The turkey baster is used to blow off uneaten food and other detritus that lays on the rocks so it can go in the water and be removed by your skimmer. You need to get rid of the excess nutrients (and phosphates) that are in the tank...they are part of the reason for the red slime, which is an algae. Directing the water flow as Cap'n said will also help. You just have to be diligent at doing what is advised and the algae will disipate....just realize it will take some work and time but it can be managed:fish2: Hang in there! It took time to get the algae going and it will take time to get rid of it.:wavehand:

 

[Aquarist007]

Follow what Cap'n told you. The turkey baster is used to blow off uneaten food and other detritus that lays on the rocks so it can go in the water and be removed by your skimmer. You need to get rid of the excess nutrients (and phosphates) that are in the tank...they are part of the reason for the red slime, which is an algae. Directing the water flow as Cap'n said will also help. You just have to be diligent at doing what is advised and the algae will disipate....just realize it will take some work and time but it can be managed:fish2: Hang in there! It took time to get the algae going and it will take time to get rid of it.:wavehand:

and when your done you can always be creative with the turkey baster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO0lk_eWMxA

 

[creep42031]

Koo thanks brothers... so with the red slim I just blast it with the Turkey baster... n the other filter with the refugium... how do u set that up???

 

[terri_ann]

and when your done you can always be creative with the turkey baster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO0lk_eWMxA

You're just crazy Cap'n! Have you tried making music that way? If your wife sees you blowing over a baster.....well, :hmm4:good luck!

 

[terri_ann]

Koo thanks brothers... so with the red slim I just blast it with the Turkey baster... n the other filter with the refugium... how do u set that up???

Reactors hold things like carbon, etc that collect unwanted contaminates. Refugiums are used for growing macroalgae, copepods and other uses. Take some time to read up on these and other areas within the hobby. After reading, you will have a much better understanding. If you then have further questions, let us know!

If you look at the top of the RC forums, you will see "STICKY"...these provide information that is invaluable and, written by very knowledgeable reefers...just dive in:fish2:

 

[Aquarist007]

Koo thanks brothers... so with the red slim I just blast it with the Turkey baster... n the other filter with the refugium... how do u set that up???

I have a good read on cyano bacteria on my log thread

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

 

[Floridagirl66]

Thanks

Thanks

Wow this is such great info! I have so much to learn and will be checking this thread regularly!! I have been reading and reading...
Trish

 

[Aquarist007]

Wow this is such great info! I have so much to learn and will be checking this thread regularly!! I have been reading and reading...
Trish

be sure to check my log thread---I keep it more up to date in the Waterkeepers absence.

I believe he is checking local suchi bars for selling illegal whale meat:dance:

 

[pcwsailing]

Flame Fin Tomini Tang or Kole

Flame Fin Tomini Tang or Kole

Hi everyone newbie here. I have a newly setup 70 gal tank and would like and would like to know if a tomini tang or a kole would be a good selection for someone just starting out in this hobby and this size tank.

 

[Aquarist007]

Hi everyone newbie here. I have a newly setup 70 gal tank and would like and would like to know if a tomini tang or a kole would be a good selection for someone just starting out in this hobby and this size tank.

they are not really recommended for a 70 gal even though they are smalller then most tangs as and adult.

Is your 70 gal a long tank?

 

[pcwsailing]

I guess I should have been more exact on the tank. No I don't believe that it's a long. It's about 40 inch long. I bought an existing setup that consists of the following-- 70 gal,berlin sump,1-150 metal halide, 2-96w 14k fluorescents,1/5 chiller,ro/di,old liverock that has things growing on it,protein skimmer.It also came with some fish-- two small clowns,goby,fire fish and a small fox face. I did replace the sand with live sand about 3 inches deep and used some of the original water. I really don't know how big the tomini or kole get but I would like to have one. The lfs says it should be no problem but I am new to this hobby and would like another opinion. Take has been up and running a couple months.

 

[Aquarist007]

I guess I should have been more exact on the tank. No I don't believe that it's a long. It's about 40 inch long. I bought an existing setup that consists of the following-- 70 gal,berlin sump,1-150 metal halide, 2-96w 14k fluorescents,1/5 chiller,ro/di,old liverock that has things growing on it,protein skimmer.It also came with some fish-- two small clowns,goby,fire fish and a small fox face. I did replace the sand with live sand about 3 inches deep and used some of the original water. I really don't know how big the tomini or kole get but I would like to have one. The lfs says it should be no problem but I am new to this hobby and would like another opinion. Take has been up and running a couple months.

Do not believe some one in the business over some one that is an experienced hobbyist. IMO there will always be conflict of interest between the commercial side and the hobby side.
The tomini and kole range between 8-10 inches as adults as does a yellow tang. Given the probability fo 66 per cent of that in capitivity you can support these fish biologically. However tangs need swimming room especially a stretch to boot up speed---this is why I asked you if you had a long tank.
The swimming room is vital for the longetivity of these species in captivity.
Also a fish that starts feeling its territory is starting to get small can get really wizzed and start attacking the other fish.

That said you can probably get away with one of the above mentioned tangs in your 70 gal. If it gets too big as an adult you can always upgrade

 

[Damsel13]

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?

 

[pcwsailing]

I think I will hold off for awhile before adding one of those tangs. Do you know how long it would take for a small one to outgrow my tank? I also have a couple more questions - I have my water temp fluctuate between chiller and heater at 76 to 78. Do I need to raise this a couple degrees? I change the sock in my sump every other day and I change the sponge once a week. The florescent lights I leave on for about 10 hrs a day and the halide for about 6 hrs.For water changes I am doing 7 gal a week.I have been adding one capful of purple up every other day. Some of the liverock already had coraline on it. I guess what I want to know is am I on the right path?

 

[ReefyRoy]

In case nobody's mentioned it in a while, thanks for all of the great info! This thread is a Godsend...books and forums typically present their opinions as etched-in-stone fact...don't do it their way, and you're doomed to failure! You do a great job of presenting different sides to issues along with the reasons why you prefer what you do. So thanks again, and I appreciate it!

Roy

 

[Aquarist007]

I think I will hold off for awhile before adding one of those tangs. Do you know how long it would take for a small one to outgrow my tank? I also have a couple more questions - I have my water temp fluctuate between chiller and heater at 76 to 78. Do I need to raise this a couple degrees? I change the sock in my sump every other day and I change the sponge once a week. The florescent lights I leave on for about 10 hrs a day and the halide for about 6 hrs.For water changes I am doing 7 gal a week.I have been adding one capful of purple up every other day. Some of the liverock already had coraline on it. I guess what I want to know is am I on the right path?

No one can predict how fast a fish will grow nor any living creature including humans

A temperature swing of 2 degrees is fine between 76 and 78

You are doing great--10 per cent water change weekly is ideal. You actually don't need the sponge.

Purple up is questionable---IMO you don't need to use it---the corraline will grow on its own with the lighting you have.

To comment on the lighting--how long has your tank been running and what do you have in it as far as corals

 

[Aquarist007]

In case nobody's mentioned it in a while, thanks for all of the great info! This thread is a Godsend...books and forums typically present their opinions as etched-in-stone fact...don't do it their way, and you're doomed to failure! You do a great job of presenting different sides to issues along with the reasons why you prefer what you do. So thanks again, and I appreciate it!

Roy

I thank you on behalf of waterkeeper and the other contributors to this thread