Chris's Very First Tank Ever! 30 Gallon Reef Tank.

Oh how long do they take to come in? Should I just go with my fish for now or go ahead and wait for the pods to come in?

 

He gets them in with the fish. So every Monday, but you need to ask him to order some. If you call the store tomorrow at noon Brenda should be working there and ask her to leave steve a message asking him to order some pods for you.

You should be fine with getting the fish before the pods. I just got my fish distracted with food then poured them in to the tank. Honestly, your live rock prolly had pods on it when you got it. To see if you have pods wait about 2 hours after your lights go off then shine a light into the tank. You should see them swimming around and scurrying across the rock. That being said, it doesn't hurt putting more in your tank.

 

I actually dropped by there earlier today before heading to the movies and had him get me some. I also grabbed that buffer that gives me that pH I needed.

This is what the CUC I ordered will consist of:

30 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners
11 Nassarius
12 Florida Ceriths
9 Blue Legs
4 Large Nerite and 7 Small to medium Nerites

 

I am now adding my first organism to my tank! Its a cleaner shrimp and I drip acclimated it. I've got picks of me acclimating it but after dropping him into the tank he found himself a little hole in my rock and is just sitting there.

I tried to drop like two Formula One pellets around him so he can try and find those and eat. that won't screw with my cycle if they drop into the rocks and he doesn't eat them will it? How long should I wait before trying to feed him again? I am going to pick up some Mysis shrimp from Petco for feedings from now on.

Also, he is pretty much not moving after moving into the hole. Does this mean something is wrong?

 

Its my understanding that shrimp usually come out at night and during feedings. Yours is new and isnt used to the new home yet so it may be awhile before it will come out with the lights on. When I first got my peppermint shrimp they didnt do much and hid behind my rock work. Now they will come out quite a bit actually.

 

o....and welcome to 3reef

 

Thanks! The shrimp actually started moving all over the tank, I'm really excited! lol This just means after getting my CuC from Reef Cleaners I am like a week or so from getting my first fish.

How long after getting my fish going should I wait until I can add some corals like Zoas?

 

I added one more cleaner shrimp to the mix, I should be getting my CuC from Reef Cleaners in on Wed.

Here are some pics of the shrimp.

 

NEED HELP!

I've had this really cloudy water for about a week now and I can't figure out why.

Age - 4 weeks and 1 day
pH - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 15

I don't understand the cloudy water, I turned off all of my powerheads for 24 hours yet it still looks cloudy and has remained this way.

Here are some pictures:





Oh and I also got a Xenia frag. I know I know getting coral before fish and only at 4 weeks but it was pretty much given to me for nothing so I had to take it. I've had it for three days and it looks great.

 

Are you running any carbon? It will help clear and keep your water clear.

It's best to add all your fish than wait two weeks before adding coral. This way the bacteria can fully adjust to your bio-load before corals get in. You xenia should be fine though.

No once your tank has cycled the bacteria will process any uneaten food down to nitrates. Once you get your CUC in they will take care of any uneaten food.

If all you have in your tank for awhile is the cleaner shrimp a couple pellets a week should do just fine for them. After you get your fish leftovers from them will be plenty.