Hello

Hello 3reef!

I'm new to keeping a marine aquarium, though I've been doing fresh water for a couple years now. I stumbled into saltwater through an impusle buy (bad), but my OCD traits have kicked in and I've learned quite a bit in the past month and continue to learn more every day.

I have a 46 gallon bow tank, which has been up since 1/11. I made the mistake of listening to one of my LFS (not even the reputable one!!), and against my better judgement, and I added fish (listed below) on 1/14. It went something like me asking, "Hey, don't I need to cycle this tank first?" And them saying, "NO NO that is what this live rock is for, buy another few pounds and use that fish credit!" So anyway, everything has gone well so far.

Here are the deets:

Equipment -
Fluval 405
Aqua C Remora w/Maxijet 1200 (bought after doing some reading)
25w 36" fluorescent bulb (the one that came w/the tank)

Substrate and rock -
60 lbs live sand
18.5 live rock
7.5 base rock

Inhabitants -
2 Occelaris Clown
1 Yellow Eye Tang
2 "Red Hairy Hermit", though I believe them to be "White-spotted hermit" (Dardanus megistos)
1 Yellow Brittle Star (added on 1/26)
10 (was 13) Nassarius Snails
1 Coral Banded Shrimp (added on 1/26)

A couple of my lessons learned so far (besides the obvious impulse @ the LFS) -
My tang will (does) need a bigger tank.
The crabs are aggressive, they eat anything, including snails.
And that I shouldn't have done that water change last weekend (thankfully no adverse affects besides more diatom).

My plans are to LEAVE THE TANK ALONE for another month or so and just keep an eye on the water quality. After that, my next purchases will be a light and some more live rock. I'm also open to advice as far as this goes such as; which first, light or rock? And does anyone think I need more (or less) cleaner crew?

Once again, hello. I shall leave you with one of the first pictures I took of the tank.

 

Welcome to 3reef, im sure you will find it to be full of knowledgeable peeps

 

Welcome to 3reef! I say trade the tang for more Live Rock then let the cycle complete. You may lose the shrimp, star and/or the clowns(hopefully not) Don't overfeed! Keep the feedings minimal. Are you testing your water? If so, for what and when(how often?) I'd say rock first, you have no corals, the fish will be ok with the light you have.

 

Thanks for the advice. I like the exchange idea, though I will miss the guy.

I'm testing water weekly. So far I've been testing for nitrate, nitrite, pH and ammonia. I just picked up an API Reef Test Kit w/the calcium, phosphate, carbonate hardness and (another) nitrate tests. Last week's test my nitrate was near 20, so I did lighten up on the food. The diatom started to die out over the past couple days, so I'm looking forward to my tests today.

 

Hello and welcome to 3reef and best of luck to you and your tank!
Read and go slow and often times, use your better judgement and get a second opinion before incorporating what the pet shop tells you!
Your best bet is to check out 3reef, past experiences and readings!

 

How long has this tank been running? It sounds like your stilling cycling, and if so, you have a lot of livestock on hand while still cycling. I wouldntgo to that LFS anymore, it seams that the mighty dollar is in their best interest and not you or their livestock.

 

Well, another example of a LFS out to make money and not help a customer establish and maintain a successful tank. I know for one, customer service is of the utmost importance. LFS are out to make the quick buck, not looking at the long term. If they would just the new customer especially in the beginning, they would realize, in the long run, they would make more money. A happy customer, especially a reefer(LOL) would continue to go back, time after time, and spend lots....Just my 2cents..One other note, red hairy hermits, imo, do not belong in a tank...8)

 

To 3Reef!!! ​

Salutations! Glad to see you found way here!

You are going to enjoy this grand new adventure!

Agree, get all the LR you need now, and get initial cycle over.

You are off to good start.

Stay away from that LFS!

Keep us posted on progress!

Pics are great...


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The Tao of Marine Aquaria
Tips for Our Hobby and Life

© 1997 Adam H. Whitlock
Edited By Elizabeth M. Lukan 11/25/00


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Welcome to 3Reef>>> and good luck...

 

Welcome to 3reef!