Thanks for the advice....I knowbthe guy looks bleached but my camera phone does horrible justice. I couldn't get it to snap as bright green like it really is. I just may get a skimmer im just worried I will over skim stuff and not know how much food to put in. I use phytoplex, micrivert...and feed fish a mix of saltwater cuisine frozen food and cyclops...any food suggestions? I also do water changes ever two weeks. 10 gallons..is that enough? I use r/o for sure...tap is terrible here in texas.
Tank and pics
- Thread starter 11:11
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Thanks for the advice....I knowbthe guy looks bleached but my camera phone does horrible justice. I couldn't get it to snap as bright green like it really is. I just may get a skimmer im just worried I will over skim stuff and not know how much food to put in. I use phytoplex, micrivert...and feed fish a mix of saltwater cuisine frozen food and cyclops...any food suggestions? I also do water changes ever two weeks. 10 gallons..is that enough? I use r/o for sure...tap is terrible here in texas.
The only reason I bought the mandarin is because its tank raised on cyclops eeze...that's what it grew up on so that's what ibfeed it...in addition to pod supplements. I have looking into culturing them in my empty 10 gallon.
karsseboom
New member
you need a skimmer man the people who are not running skimmer with sps are freakin wizards at reefing. You are not which means you need a skimmer. I dont think you have enough lighting also 2 t5? DONT listen to lfs they just tell you whatever so you buy there livestock. What your doing is seeing some guy putting sps in the tank after 2 months and not knowing that guy has 20 plus years in reefing , has a 4000 dollar set-up and knows what to do. I almost bet anything that coral will die unless you get a good skimmer, better lights, more liver rock and keep the water pram very steady....
Flippers4pups
Home made abyss
I'm not jumping on you, so don't think I am, but you MUST slow down. Please take the advice of those that are taking their time to guide you. I've been reefing now for over 17 years and in my beginning, I made many foolish mistakes because i didn't listen to the advice given. This in the long run cost me more money than i could shake a stick at! Not to mention the lives of all the animals i didn't take care of properly.
So with that said, i will give my advice.
1. Take the sea apple/cucumber out ASAP to the LFS. If it dies it will kill everything in the tank, including the corals.
2. Take the target dragonet out to the LFS. Even if it's the trained to accept frozen food, these animals require Pod's in between feeding.(They hunt all day for Pod's) You lack the LR and time for an active Pod population to develop. The fish will starve in time.
3. Take the Large hermits and the Arrow crab out to the LFS. When these animals get hungry they will eat your fish.
4. Save your money and get a Hang on the Back Protein Skimmer ASAP.
I'm partial to reef octopus myself or CPR backpack will work very well.
5. Lastly, Buy Some Live Rock and add one small piece at a tme. The reason for this is to add the natural filtration within the rock (Using just live rock for filtering seawater in a reef tank is called the "Berlin Method")
Since you have livestock already in the tank, you should add one piece at a time over several weeks to keep from "cycling" the tank again or having a large spike of nitrates from dead things on/in the rock.
Keep up on the water changes once a week and try not to over feed until you get all of the above fixed.
Good luck with your tank and once again welcome to reef keeping!
P.S. When starting out with corals, mushrooms and leathers are good place to start.
So with that said, i will give my advice.
1. Take the sea apple/cucumber out ASAP to the LFS. If it dies it will kill everything in the tank, including the corals.
2. Take the target dragonet out to the LFS. Even if it's the trained to accept frozen food, these animals require Pod's in between feeding.(They hunt all day for Pod's) You lack the LR and time for an active Pod population to develop. The fish will starve in time.
3. Take the Large hermits and the Arrow crab out to the LFS. When these animals get hungry they will eat your fish.
4. Save your money and get a Hang on the Back Protein Skimmer ASAP.
I'm partial to reef octopus myself or CPR backpack will work very well.
5. Lastly, Buy Some Live Rock and add one small piece at a tme. The reason for this is to add the natural filtration within the rock (Using just live rock for filtering seawater in a reef tank is called the "Berlin Method")
Since you have livestock already in the tank, you should add one piece at a time over several weeks to keep from "cycling" the tank again or having a large spike of nitrates from dead things on/in the rock.
Keep up on the water changes once a week and try not to over feed until you get all of the above fixed.
Good luck with your tank and once again welcome to reef keeping!
P.S. When starting out with corals, mushrooms and leathers are good place to start.
Flippers4pups
Home made abyss
Bump
lisafoster
so much to learn
The octopus is a great hob skimmer. If you go with that brand get one where the pump is outside of the tank the pumps are alot bigger than they look online.Don't worry aout overskimming if that was a problem people would not use them. I agree get the cucumber out I would hate to see you put all this work into a tank only to have that thing nuke your whole tank. Also find a new LFS they are not giving you good advice.
I appreciate your advice...however it is highly conflicting on goniopora. It is to my knowledge that reef keepers owning goniopora with all the heavy flow high light and protein skimmer are the reason they die. Other sources say goni does best in the non typical aquarium environment. Im not saying I wont get a skimmer but you can't make bold statements like you are making. Especially since no one knows for sure why goni is "hard". It is to my knowledge that wizards kill goniopora every day. Is it ok for them?
I knew about the cucumber however he is highly fed. I have a pretty good eye on catching things when they are on their way to dieng...so im not too worried. He's a cool creature too! Octopus is actually the brand I have been thinking about...
lisafoster
so much to learn
sea cucumbers need a mature sand bed to survive. They will begin to ingest themselves to survive if they are not getting enough food. Unless you have experience wth this animal you will not even notice. It should be leaving castings(poop) that look worm like on a regular basis. Your tank is only 3 months old with maybe 10pounds of live rock. Do the research and you will agree your tank is not ale to sustain this animal it has special needs it is not like keeping a fish.
Actually not all sea cucumbers are the same. Just like not all corals are the same. This is why I appear to not take advice...(although I do) because there's so much conflicting advice...and some who claim they swear by their advice are just going by whatvthey heard. This is why I hear multiple sources then cone upbwith my own conclusions.
"The Pink and Green Sea Cucumber is a colorful filter feeder for home reef aquariums over 30 gallons. Rows of pink knobby thorns run lengthwise along its green and yellow body. Like Sea Apples, striking yellow and pink tentacles extend during feeding. Unlike most other sea cucumbers this animal normally stays stationary, when it finds a suitable location in the aquarium with the proper flow. This species of Sea Cucumber feed by pulling small particulates from the water column, which stick to the hair-like appendages off of its plume. The particulates are then moved to the mouth and ingested. Feed daily with zooplankton or other liquid invertebrate food. Like other Sea Cucumbers, Pentacta anceps has the potential to poison an aquarium. The chances of this happening are very rare unless the animal is accidently sucked into an uncovered pump intake or overflow boxes. Also avoid stocking with fish that normally pick at sessile invertebrates. Be sure to acclimate properly and house with appropriate inhabitants. The drip-acclimation method is recommended to minimize exposure to fluctuating water parameters. The Pink and Green Sea Cucumber cannot tolerate high nitrate levels or copper-based medications. Approximate Purchase Size: 1-1/2"
Live aquaria...
This cucumber is stationary filter feeder...not sand sifter.
Whybam I going with their advice over yours? Because they are right...my cucumber hasn't moved and actually prefers the rock not the sand.
If you want to back up your claims on this particular species ill be glad to read.
lacosta28
Premium Member
This is taken from your post.
"The Pink and Green Sea Cucumber cannot tolerate high nitrate levels or copper-based medications. Approximate Purchase Size: 1-1/2"
I also saw earlier you posted on having nitrate problems in your tank already. Others had told you this would happen with your HOB filter and not running a skimmer. People on here are trying to help you. I think you search the internet to find any source that will back up what you want to hear and then go with it. I feel bad for the people that tried to help you and understand their frustration.
"The Pink and Green Sea Cucumber cannot tolerate high nitrate levels or copper-based medications. Approximate Purchase Size: 1-1/2"
I also saw earlier you posted on having nitrate problems in your tank already. Others had told you this would happen with your HOB filter and not running a skimmer. People on here are trying to help you. I think you search the internet to find any source that will back up what you want to hear and then go with it. I feel bad for the people that tried to help you and understand their frustration.
Liquid Hobby
New member
Believe it not 11:11, we're all glad your tank inhabitants are still alive - that's why we're responding to your thread: We want to see you succeed.
lisafoster
so much to learn
Make sure the only sources of your information are not coming from online vendors.
Nitrate problems? When did I ever say tha. Your twisting words. I said I have less than 5ppm how can I make it zero. Most ppl suggest a skimmer. No where did I say "problem"
I guarantee it doesn't...I talk to reef keepers on an almost daily basis.
Liquid Hobby
New member
sorry, but I'm out, unsubscribing...
I don't doubt it...lol. I don't even group you all together. Your you and he's him. Every person has different experiences andknowledge. I don't see your advice as tangled with a more rude persons advice because you are two different people. I clearly see that some people may be good reef keepers...but not good teachers. At all.
No need to apologize. Nor announce.. to each his own...bye and thanks for the advice you did give.
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