Newbies can help a lot---by answering things for other newbies like: the questions just keep coming, sometimes 3 and 4 pretty much the same every few hours.
1. what do I do about hair algae? The answer: get rid of the phosphate that came in with your live rock or from tapwater, if you aren't using ro/di. First, use ro/di. Then get either a fuge or a phosphate reactor going. No phosphate = no algae. Note: testing for it won't work unless it's in the water. It's usually in the algae.
2. I found a bristleworm. Should I kill it? The answer: no. They're valuable to your tank. Just wear latex gloves when handling rock, where they hang out. They won't hurt your corals. If your fish gets bristled, it'll fall off after 2 days and your fish will get smarter.
3. I have high nitrate. Why? THe answer: filters are the likely culprit. Change them every 4-5 days. Or do without them altogether.
4. Should I use the bioballs that came in my sump? Not good: withdraw them, if they're in use, handful a day until gone. Better for your tank.
5. my snails keep dying: snails have to be acclimated just like fish, even more so. And the pointy snails aren't good on fine sand: they'll die if they fall over. Get them back on the rock with chopsticks if they fall over, or shove them over near the glass.
1. what do I do about hair algae? The answer: get rid of the phosphate that came in with your live rock or from tapwater, if you aren't using ro/di. First, use ro/di. Then get either a fuge or a phosphate reactor going. No phosphate = no algae. Note: testing for it won't work unless it's in the water. It's usually in the algae.
2. I found a bristleworm. Should I kill it? The answer: no. They're valuable to your tank. Just wear latex gloves when handling rock, where they hang out. They won't hurt your corals. If your fish gets bristled, it'll fall off after 2 days and your fish will get smarter.
3. I have high nitrate. Why? THe answer: filters are the likely culprit. Change them every 4-5 days. Or do without them altogether.
4. Should I use the bioballs that came in my sump? Not good: withdraw them, if they're in use, handful a day until gone. Better for your tank.
5. my snails keep dying: snails have to be acclimated just like fish, even more so. And the pointy snails aren't good on fine sand: they'll die if they fall over. Get them back on the rock with chopsticks if they fall over, or shove them over near the glass.