All my rock is fiji live rock. About half was just curing in their tub. The rest was out of a big display tank that they had to break down.
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Specific equipment questions regarding my new 45 gal reef tank.
- Thread starter ColbyWade
- Start date
Take the rock with the bubble algae on it out of the tank completely, hold it over a sink, and just get it off. Papertowel, screwdriver, whatever you need to wedge it out. If they pop, just rinse it with some tank water down the drain (Don't use tap water), and there you go. Unless its a huge piece its not like your tank is terribly established, shouldn't be hard to just pick it up!
Most of the growths you took pictures of are sponges of varying kinds.
The rock has hair algae on it (The green stuff), and maybe some cyano bacteria as well? I don't see anything thats a big red flag, but it can be hard on the wider shots to really make out whats there.
Most of the growths you took pictures of are sponges of varying kinds.
The rock has hair algae on it (The green stuff), and maybe some cyano bacteria as well? I don't see anything thats a big red flag, but it can be hard on the wider shots to really make out whats there.
If you are seeing ammonia, thats a nope. You are in stage 1.
You will see nitrite rise, then nitrate rise.
When your ammonia and nitrite are zero you are done.
Since you've seen ammonia, just keep testing til you don't anymore. Then you are done. Might take a week, might take a month.
You will see nitrite rise, then nitrate rise.
When your ammonia and nitrite are zero you are done.
Since you've seen ammonia, just keep testing til you don't anymore. Then you are done. Might take a week, might take a month.
I'm sure you "reefers" (which I know I am one too, not pointing a finger) get this a lot, but GD I am so ready to add critters to my tank.
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I'm resisting, but this is taking longer than Christmas did when I was a kid.
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Yeah.
I only started last year Colby. Rooting around on this forum for hours a day has been a wealth of knowledge. However, experience you can't get from someone else. I wish I did things different at the start I didn't do because I rushed, and I regretted it.
You'll do the same thing.
But you'll learn from it.
I only started last year Colby. Rooting around on this forum for hours a day has been a wealth of knowledge. However, experience you can't get from someone else. I wish I did things different at the start I didn't do because I rushed, and I regretted it.
You'll do the same thing.
But you'll learn from it.Anything specific you are referring to.
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Quarantining.
Taking more time getting quality rocks then rushing with the old ones that were sold to me with the tank.
Waiting longer to add livestock to the tank instead of putting in too much at once.
Buying cheap products/equipment and then getting irked by how shoddy they are and needing to rebuy the stuff I should have gotten the first time.
Taking more time getting quality rocks then rushing with the old ones that were sold to me with the tank.
Waiting longer to add livestock to the tank instead of putting in too much at once.
Buying cheap products/equipment and then getting irked by how shoddy they are and needing to rebuy the stuff I should have gotten the first time.
hkgar
Active member
There are two VERY important rules to reefing, and the sooner you memorize these rules the better reefer you will become.
1. Take things slow! Nothing good happens in reefs when done to quick
2. Go slower than you think rule 1 meant.
We are a year plus into this hobby and my wife is constantly telling me that if she really knew what we were getting into back when we were getting started, she might have made a different decision. Part of that is the length of time for this (part is the $$ too- ugh).
Then again, it is a definite learning process for my kids (us too!)- it REALLY teaches them patience! And I feel like, by going slowly, there is always something to be excited about because there is always something new.
I would agree with both points. I have spend a lot more up to this point than I thought I would have. Also i feel like there is always something to be excited for. Trying to plan out what items I'm going to go pick up after each paycheck.
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A few things I saw reading your thread:
Comment on someone elses post. You didn't start with "real" live rock, but did start with well established live rock from tank. This rock was probably well cycled before you ever stuck it in your tank provided your LFS had some bioload before they broke it down. Good job on waiting it out though. The sponges and things that are growing on it do well in reef tanks, which is why they are growing on the LR in the first place in your LFS's tank. This is a good sign of mature rock and means you have a great start to your tank vs dry rock/sand. The comment about this stuff probably not making it in the long term is true of "real" live rock imported from the ocean, not so much of established tank live rock. Just some info for you...
Also, the "liquid" that your LFS was trying to sell you is bottled bacteria. It will help speed up your cycle in most cases, but usually used for dry rock tanks. I use it to seed my final fish QT as I don't keep one cycled. Has worked well for me although others will argue.
Also, once your cycle is complete, you can stop testing ammonia and nitrite. Once you start adding fish, you can test if you want to make sure your tank is processing it well, but unnecessary in my opinion. Also, if you are going to test pH, get a cheap meter off of amazon. They work fine as long as they are calibrated. Much more accurate and easier then API kit. I only use it for water changes to make sure my water is ready to add (I use muriatic acid to drop the alkalinity to match my tank, takes a couple days to stabilize pH) otherwise I don't test pH.
One big tip - don't strive for 0 nutrients. That's one of the surest ways I know to struggle with coral. There was a big craze of 0 nitrate, 0 phosphate to control algae, and now there are lots that struggle with coral growth/color and even survival. This is one big reason, especially on new tanks. Others have said this but,-5 nitrates is a good target, and 0.03-0.09 phos is what I like to shoot for. Get a good CUC for algae control.
Great job so far, and good luck.
Comment on someone elses post. You didn't start with "real" live rock, but did start with well established live rock from tank. This rock was probably well cycled before you ever stuck it in your tank provided your LFS had some bioload before they broke it down. Good job on waiting it out though. The sponges and things that are growing on it do well in reef tanks, which is why they are growing on the LR in the first place in your LFS's tank. This is a good sign of mature rock and means you have a great start to your tank vs dry rock/sand. The comment about this stuff probably not making it in the long term is true of "real" live rock imported from the ocean, not so much of established tank live rock. Just some info for you...
Also, the "liquid" that your LFS was trying to sell you is bottled bacteria. It will help speed up your cycle in most cases, but usually used for dry rock tanks. I use it to seed my final fish QT as I don't keep one cycled. Has worked well for me although others will argue.
Also, once your cycle is complete, you can stop testing ammonia and nitrite. Once you start adding fish, you can test if you want to make sure your tank is processing it well, but unnecessary in my opinion. Also, if you are going to test pH, get a cheap meter off of amazon. They work fine as long as they are calibrated. Much more accurate and easier then API kit. I only use it for water changes to make sure my water is ready to add (I use muriatic acid to drop the alkalinity to match my tank, takes a couple days to stabilize pH) otherwise I don't test pH.
One big tip - don't strive for 0 nutrients. That's one of the surest ways I know to struggle with coral. There was a big craze of 0 nitrate, 0 phosphate to control algae, and now there are lots that struggle with coral growth/color and even survival. This is one big reason, especially on new tanks. Others have said this but,-5 nitrates is a good target, and 0.03-0.09 phos is what I like to shoot for. Get a good CUC for algae control.
Great job so far, and good luck.
The real and "real" rock was confusing for me at first. Probably because the "real" rock isn't the real stuff that came from a reef. My rock is fiji rock, and roughly half came from the broken down display tank.
I appreciate the advice and compliments.
Regarding an annomonie, what should I plan to expect. When would be a good time to add one?
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