Part 1

[Seehag]

Picked my package up last night at Oakland airport. Couple of box's were broke open and leaking no damage to the rock inside. Brought it all home and installed as per Richard's instructions. I recieved several large rocks, almost didn't fit throught the top of the tank, and a bunch of smaller rock's, plus some rubble. I put in the sand and set in the rock. There was no smell on any rock, smelled like clean ocean rock..... One question I had was, I thought the sand would form a deep sand bed, but the amount that came only covered about 1-2" of the bottom. I was not sure what to do about htis so I kinda piled it up and set the rock on a 1/2 inch layer with a little more around the edges. I might want to get more, but I need to talk to Richard.

As far as hitchhikers, there was a brief sighting in the murky water of a yellow covered fish about 1" long, haven't seen him since. Several small crabs, the size of a pencil eraser. 4 or 5 hermits. A sea cucumber brown with orange tenticals. Lot's of snails. Maybe more will show up today.

Water look's clearer today. Richard what was in the packet, is it food or just some sort of biological stuff to help with the cycle? I will post pictures later I have to go to Baseball game this morning..


Art

 

[scowiii]

There are instructions with the package. You need to put that in the tank. Basically that is your micro-organisms for the tank. I think Richard is out in the keys for the next week.

 

[Seehag]

Here are some Pic's. I am not sure about my aquascaping, think I will be moving some stuff around later. For those of you that have had the tbs rock does the plant life stay on it for along time? Definatley got something clicking in the tank, I went through the left over water in the tub I used and found this shrimp with one little claw and one big claw, it had a clear body with red tail and he was clicking his claw real loud. I lost him in the murk but he was making the same sound as what is in the tank.


Stand with rock's

Close up of one side

Art

 

[scowiii]

The clicking is more than likely a mantis shrimp.
Remember you will get more rock in your second shipment. And the growth usually stays on.

 

[panmanmatt]

The shrimp you found with the one larger claw is a pistol shrimp. The clicking in your tank could be from a pistol or a mantis.

 

[Seehag]

I found a porcelain crab hideing under a rock today also something with striped legs is sticking them out of a hole in a rock every so often. I think it might be a star fish the legs are defiantly soft tissue.

I would say with the rock in there so far it has made it all worth the wait and the expense. The wife and kid are transfixed watching all the little thing's.... Make's me excited and eager to get fish, but I will take my time.....


Art

 

[figuerres]

SAND:

Richards "formula" is for about a 2 inch sand bed.

if you want a deep bed just get some more sand from rich and or get some good sand from a LFS and mix it in with the tbs sand.

how deep do you want to go??

there is a calulator page here on RC that will tell you how many pounds to get total.

 

[Seehag]

Could my Cycle be getting done already? My amonia was somewhere over .25 since Saturday morning, never got green enough t indicate .50. Now today it is for sure less that .25 and I am hard pressed to say it is not below the threshold for 0.

Nitrates--- 10 (never got higher than that)
Nitrites --- 0
P.H. --- 8.2
S.G. --- 1.025

The tank is clear, I have seen several gorilla crabs in the nook's and cranny's. I have a Mantis that is coming out now he is about 1" long. I saw a porcelain crab but not since Sat. hope he is still around. The calepra is going crazy breaking off and floating around, kinda a pain. I was thinking about trimming it off the live rock next time, any thought's on that.


Art

 

[Seehag]

Today amonia is definatley 0 Nitrates went up to between 10 and 20 closer to 20 I would say.

What is this thing, there are several in the tank, kinda cloudy clear and it moves if you shine a light on it. It does seem to have a breathing tube sticking out on side.

another whole tank shot.

Art

 

[HowardW]

<<< The calepra is going crazy breaking off and floating around, kinda a pain. I was thinking about trimming it off the live rock next time, any thought's on that. >>>


I would leave at least some of the healthy looking caulerpa in the tank as it works at removing nutrients, just keep it pruned back from time to time and don't let it start to overtake the tank.