Thank you and a few more questions

H

HollieR14

New member
Hello -

I wanted to say Thanks to you all for the nice welcome and putting up with all of my questions on Sunday. I ended up taking home two blue green chromis and they are still alive, although one of the found a way into the refugium on the fist night and we spent a good bit of time getting him out of there.

Has anyone used a plant/algae called Halymenia? We thought it would be pretty in the tank but want to find out about it before we purchaed it...

Also we have been reading and researching and being patient about adding stuff however I am confused- should get the crabs/snails/critters in the tank before the undesiable stuff is visible or do we wait until we are sure they have lots to eat?

Does anyone have any Chaeto or Red Gracilaria i can use in my refugium.

Thanks in advance for the info - Hollie
 
i'd say wait til you see your diatom bloom...since to me, thats a pretty good indication that your cycle is pretty much done....add the crabs and snails then....and slowly add the fish in thereafter......and i should mention to go ahead and make a fish list...research whats compatible, what to add first/last, and such....or post the list up here and im sure the members will share their experience with whatever fish you want
 
Halimeda is a pretty plant from the pictures. From what I remember reading it is that you have to plant it within the substrate for it to thrive. I never had any first hand experience with it, but I can give you pointers on other algae such as bryopsis if you ever encounter it...lol....Trust me, I've battle with it for over 3 years and won. There's plenty of members in here that have Chaetos in their tanks. I don't have any available right now cause I just did a big trim back and toss them in the trash. When you get the undesirable algae is when you should purchase the cleaners, but be sure you are finished cycling first before adding anything! I personally would not have gotten the Green Chromis if the tank was not finished for sure. I know how it is that you want to see something live and swimming through the tank, but at the same time it is very harsh for a fish to live through the cycling process. I'm just being honest here so don't take me harshly. After adding the cleaners is when you start looking for suitable fish mates depending on the size of your tank. Sometimes you can take your chances and it can either be good or bad. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask! :)
 
hey mike...i agree with you, but cycling with a fish will always be an endless debate....sure, most of us here would argue against it....but this stuff happens all the time...and most of the LFS would even tell you to use a damsel....atleast i was told that...and though my damsel lived through it, he was a pain to catch!...atleast she got a chromis....lol

hollie, just a little FYI for future tanks, and such.....most hobbyist would just toss in some fish food to start/boost the cycling process....it basically does the same thing as having a fish to start up
 
I've cycled lots of freshwater tanks, and now 2 saltwater tanks and found that using substrate from a clean established tank makes the process progress VERY quickly. I have previously offered to buy 5lbs of gravel or old filterpads from other freshwater guys in exchange for new filters or more new gravel and they are usually happy to do it because it does not effect their system (as long as they have enough substrate). I did that with my sw nano also (obviously with sw sand), granted it was a small volume of water, but it cycled in just under 48 hours....anyways I would totally wait to drop in any other life untill your nitrite is at 0, I murdered a few snails by not doing this!
 
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John's idea of waiting until a diatom bloom occurs is a good one, unless you do not cycle with your lights on, I cycled my current build without lights, and had a gloriously text-book cycle, and then turned the lights on and started moving things a day or two later. I then got a MASSIVE diatom bloom followed by cyano. looked horrible for a 2-3 weeks, but is much better now.
 
Does anyone have any Chaeto or Red Gracilaria i can use in my refugium.

Yes I have some if you do not get any closer you can come over and get some here there is a lot of it around the Boro free

I would wait for a little bit and get in on a group buy for a cleanup crew there are some places that we get it from.

I think it is funny listening to these great debate over cycling with or without fish I have always used fish normally the green chromes but now I have switched to mollies as they are cheaper and they are a neat addition to a tank.
 
sorry i think i mis-spoke- our ammonia and nitites are at 0- we have been cycling for 3 weeks before we put the chromis in. thanks for the info on the plants and critters- I live in Franklin- if I am going to be near mboro I will let you know waye - Thanks
 
Hollie, Hate I didn't find you at the meeting. I was wheeling in real late as usual! Send me your # via PM and I can call ya when I have some sand in hand. I am going down to spring hill today to one freinds home with a 29 and can grab you some sand. It will be fine in a jar till we can hook up. Talk later!
 
you were there?

you were there?

Hi Angela:

I am sorry I missed you too- I guess I left about 7:40 or so....I will send the number and you are welcome to call when you will be in Franklin- we ordered some GARF grunge today as well.
I am traveling to FL next Wednesday and will be gone for a week-Thanks!
 
Yea, I wheeled in about 7:30 or so with my load from my moms still strapped to the roof of my CRV! I asked about you but I may have just missed you. I had 2 containers of frogs by the door people were looking at. We will catch up one day!

On a grundge note.... I wish I had of talked to you before you ordered that. I ordered it also when I was new. Who could not be totally sold on the pitch they sell about the "mirical" junk from there extra special, super duped, loaded with life majic sandy stuff from the rocks from all the oceans. So I ordered a double dose! ;)

I basically got a bag full of dirty looking sand and chunks of rock rubble...oh, and a broken heater gutts. Yep, the glass red part that shows the temp with the chemical in it. Not sure if they use mercury in them now but I was still very disapointed. I guess I was expecting pods and worms and all kinds of stuff to jump out of the bag and dance on the front glass for me to watch in delight at my expensive scoops of sand :lol:
I am a very particular person over the look of the tank and hated the chunks of rubble I messed up my perfect white sand bed with so I spent a long time sifting the junk off my sand in front and tossing it behind the reef so just go ahead and dump the bag somewhere you are not gonna see. As I said I dumped mine in front VERY SLOWLEY looking for the sight of all the cool life and critters dancing! I am sure stuff was hiding but I was so sad I couldn't see any sign of it.
Since you did start with base rock you will get life from the sand no doubt but its just a little overated IMO. When you start getting corals you will get lots of hitchicker life in the form of pods and worms hiding out on the rock its attatched to also.
Tank looks like it is comming alsong nice also! How much macro rock did you order? It looks like it packed a 90 full! You can't beat the price either as opposed to live and it will be every bit as live as the expensive in no time!
 
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Hollie,

The Halimeda, alsop refered to as "Money or Green Money", is pretty easy to care for - you dont actually do anything besides let it grow! I actually have some in my tank and it seems to be okay, although I have heard that it is a calcium hog... I have heard that it likes intense light and high calcium levels...

Just wanted to share what i have heard...!

Scott
 
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