Step by Step Reef

[findingnemo]

What and when will my next step be? I have the filter, one power head , a compact 2 lamp 96 w 1000,00k actinic 24 hr lighting system,40 pounds live rock, stability liquid, live sand,5 coral skeletons , saltwater, some hermit crabs, and 2 damsels. Its been running since 8-27-06.

 

[nanoreefer22]

First off you should really get rid of the damsels and the crabs/hermits. No need to make them suffer thru a cycle. With the live rock your tank is going to cycle on its own.

Ditch the stability liquid no need to use it. Also be careful with the HOB filter, clean it out at least every 2 weeks so nothing builds up in it.

You're probably gonna need just a bit more flow in the tank depending on what you want to keep.

Also don't leave the lights on 24/7 :teeth:

 

[findingnemo]

What should I do with the fish and crabs for now? Wow you are only 18 jajaja

 

[nanoreefer22]

What should I do with the fish and crabs for now? Wow you are only 18 jajaja

Damsels are horrible fish for the most part. They grow to be little tank terrorizers. I'd get rid of those completely and get nicer fish when the tank is ready for them.

As for the crabs see if someone can hold them for you, if not chances are they're gonna die .

Yea I'm only 18, whats sooo funny about that???:yo: :irked: :lol:How old are you, huh huh huh?

 

[findingnemo]

Nothing wrong with your age but you sound like a veteran in the hobby. Im 27

 

[nanoreefer22]

Nothing wrong with your age but you sound like a veteran in the hobby. Im 27

LoL Spending too much time on the board doesn't help me out . I'm still a noob :teeth:

Anything else ur wondering about?

 

[findingnemo]

Acctually just now we were looking at the tank and some of the coral is changing color and one of them has some white almost hair like growing in it would u know anything about this?

 

[nanoreefer22]

Probably just some stuff that settled on the coral. Those skeletons you took pics of were 100% dead . Unless you're talkin about different coral. Can you get a picture of the stuff?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Don't let Kris fool you he is a vet. I would worry about getting rid of the damsels before the hermits. Find a boarder fot the hermit crabs and go from there. First step is to let the tank cycle. Next step is to get a protien skimmer IMO

 

[findingnemo]

Yeah same ones on the pics

 

[nanoreefer22]

It's probably just a little detritus settling on the coral. I've had it happen a lot of times. If you dont know what a polyp looks like you could mistake it for one.

LoL Chief...Me a vet? You making me blush :flirt::lol2:

Invest in a good skimmer if you're going to be serious about the hobby. You don't neccessarily need a sump. If you can get your hands on a Remora it would be good for your application.

Also are you using tap water? Or Ro/Di?

 

[digitalreefer]

Next step is to get a protien skimmer IMO

Agreed... the skimmer is essential. Also, get some good test kits so that you know when your cycle is over. You'll want ph, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite to start, then later on you'll probably want alkalinity, calcium and maybe phosphate kits... a lot of these veterans can tell by eye if something is wrong, but starting out they help quite a bit. They're also useful if something does go wrong in the tank so you can pinpoint what it is.

Then check your water and ride out the cycle!

 

[nanoreefer22]

Agreed... the skimmer is essential. Also, get some good test kits so that you know when your cycle is over. You'll want ph, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite to start, then later on you'll probably want alkalinity, calcium and maybe phosphate kits... a lot of these veterans can tell by eye if something is wrong, but starting out they help quite a bit. They're also useful if something does go wrong in the tank so you can pinpoint what it is.

Then check your water and ride out the cycle!

Take ur own advice on that skimmer dude!!!!!!!:duh: :irked: :shhh: :splitspin :iamwithst

 

[findingnemo]

Well I bought some at the fish store they told me I didnt have to do anything to it .

 

[findingnemo]

So what is the purpose of the skimmer ? Remora is the brand? What price for it?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Skimmer skims protien from the water. It is like when the waves hit the shore and you see the bubbles on the rocks and the beach. I have a remora, It's made by aqua C . They sell it at marinedepot.com

 

[findingnemo]

Oh ok thanks.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

You can also find it on e-bay or I think one of the MR members is selling one.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Here are 2 threads

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/sale-trade/15323-aquac-remora-protein-skimmer-maxijet-1200-a.html

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/sale-trade/14824-remora-mj-1200-prefilter.html

 

[findingnemo]

Oh cool I just saw it the cheapest one is 140, I cant get into those pages of the skimmer