We all start somewhere... right?

[cghxg]

Congrats on your tank and welcome to Reef Central.

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

Phase one of QT setup complete. Move fish to their new home.

And now the tank is clean, and being filled up. Should be running tonight after work. Got the wife filling buckets of RO for me.

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

Looks like it's almost ready.

 

[shifty51008]

Looking good

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

Hard to tell where it's at, since I have a tough time determining color differences. (Yes, I am one of the many males that are partially color blind)

Also, not sure if the diatoms are giving me a false reading

 

[shifty51008]

Diatoms wont affect your readings.
They all look fine to me but diffent computer screens can show diff colors.

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

Diatoms wont affect your readings.
They all look fine to me but diffent computer screens can show diff colors.

Oh? I thought they helped hide ammonia?

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

If that's the case I'm going to test it again in a few days and maybe pick up some cuc to clean up these diatoms while the tank is fallow

 

[shifty51008]

If that's the case I'm going to test it again in a few days and maybe pick up some cuc to clean up these diatoms while the tank is fallow

No it wont change the result of those tests, phosphate should be the only test algae has an effect on due to the algae useing it up. So if in a couple days your test are still good, go for the cuc.

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

Anything specific i should be getting? Buddy of mine is pushing me to get a fighting conch, wich would be cool as hell, but I'm sure I don't have the proper setup for it.

I was thinking some turbos and some hermits.

 

[shifty51008]

I like a mix of snails, nass, certh, turbo's ect. I dont keep hermits because of them killing snails but i do like emeralds. A conch does get good size but you should be ok with getting 1. I buy my cleaners from reefcleaners.org they very cheap and always healthy. And he always sends extras if any die from shipping.

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

I heard the conch requires open access to the sand bed. Mines not very open. What is your opinion?

 

[shifty51008]

They do like open sand so after seeing the pics you may wanna hold off on one for now

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

They do like open sand so after seeing the pics you may wanna hold off on one for now

Ok. I didn't think it would work out. I've got some spots of open sand, but probably not enough. I will look into getting a fist full of snails and crabs late next week

 

[oldbones]

Nassarius snails will keep that sand stirred up, definitely a favorite.

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

What about a sand Sifting starfish? Too soon?

 

[stingeragent]

Sand sifting stars typically need a very well established sand bed.

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

Oh. Then waaaayyyyyy to soon. [emoji106]

 

[stingeragent]

Yes way too soon. Your screen name really suits you,lol. Don't worry about the diatoms. They are ugly and it sucks, but they will go away. Just get your 20 gal QT sorted, and let everything play out for a month or two. Will give you time to save up for the next purchase. I just picked up a used 125 today that will replace my 40 and 55. Got 200 lbs of live sand with it. Was a deep sand bed, and had to pull it all out to get the tank down to a weight that was liftable. I'm gonna have to let that sand brew for months before I'll be able to use it.

 

[LeadFootedRacer]

I got the QT cycle started today. I just want a cuc going so I can enjoy the tank a little. I scraped the glass and blew the diatoms around today and got a nice fuzzy feeling. LoL

The clown will be the first fish in the tank, once he is treated. Then I will purchase and QT the next one. Looking at almost thanksgiving before that happens though.