New Poster, New to Hobby, New Tank Start

Don't know why "smiley frowns" showing up in post...should be just opposite...am quite happy with way things are going...Om

 

Look'n good,
As for your lights. I don't really think it matters if your lights are on or off during the cycle. I had mine on because I enjoyed watching all the new life that started to form.

What is in your filter that became clogged? I would just use "filter Flose" and change it out every couple of hours.

J

 

welcome to the forum sorry ive been missin some of the post lately

it seems like your tank will be a sucess you want to take it slow and learn thats how tanks work out. i dont think it matters with light on or off either where jakets left his on i cycled mine with the lights off either way works. as far as the sand it can take a couple of days to settle but no worries it will and after it does take a turkey baster and blow off your lr. you will find a turkeybaster comes in handy for many things in your tank.

keeping a journal can come in handy and it will help you watch the progress of your tank can be fun

 

Thanks for "welcome" Karla...

The hardest part of this wonderful "exercise" is the going "slow" part...spending hours pouring over web sites, forums and dealers...has me constantly reaching for credit card to order something I know I need to wait for...so wait I (we) do.

We test, we watch, we test, we watch...

1st "great cycle" complete...have some more lr coming today from Dale Barger at Gulf View...along with some snails to to start after the algae that is having a wonderful time spreading everywhere.

Hey...last night a new "creature" showed up in tank (up to now has been only little "duster" things poking heads out of holes...pretty, but boring...) - a small frantically swimming "creature" about 1/2 inch...looks like a "larva" of some kind - don't think it could be a fish...too small and too fast to see well...rips around tank for a while then goes and hides. What do you think it could be???? (hopefully not the "dreaded" mantis shrimp I have been reading about)...

Rgds,

OmarD

(PS: --- my web page is my "journal" --- I record everything there)

 

im not ssure what the larvae looks like of the mantis shrimp. but heres everyting you wanted to know about mantis shrimp from getting rid of them to keeping them as a pet

http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/

 

Welcome from a newcomer myself! Iwould like to throw my two cents in, first I find it easier on myself while cycling a tank to visit lfs and see what theyhave and discuss what my next step is. with that said my biggets advice to all new reefers is you will get 5 different pieces of advice from 5 different sources, find one that kind of follows what you want and listen to that ONE. if you try to follow too much of everyones advice you will constantly be changing the tank and equipment. You also might want to get and idea of what the tank will look like when you are "completed" to keep from having to tear down everything on a whim.
Thanks,
Phil

 

Thanks for "advice" Phil...made sense and have spent a considerable amount of time at LFS over last few days...

Learned much...

Initially was turned off by them by the "obviously" such higher prices then could be found on internet...but after makeing first livestock order on web and counting shipping, their prices do not look so bad.

Esp. for corals...was almost ready to jump out and buy some from Jeff's exotic fish (9 for $99)...seemed like great deal...

But after your post & thinking about it...I decided I really did not know what I exactly wanted...what it was going to look like...and if it would really "fit" well in tank...or if tank was ready to take on such a big "load"...

At LFS I can pick and choose exact pieces that will "fit" best in tank...plus I know exactly what I am getting...not to mention good source of info right around the corner...& luckily I have one that has lots to choose from...

Don't really think it costs all that much more in long run...and I can get 1 or two at a time when I (& tank) are ready...


Rgds,

OmarD

 

Hey Omar,
Just checked out your site. I wish I had started my site from Day one. Great to look back at.
Anyway the tank looks great, I'm sure you and your family are really enjoying the whole experience.
It looks as though you are learning a lot and doing everything you can to make it fun.

Good luck
J

 

i like the idea of being able to look at what your buying first also. you can pick things and find what works best in your tank and go from there instead of buying a lot and things not mixing or working out. also its nice to see if your getting a healthy critter, you can ask to see if it eats before buying, or find the name and research before hand

 

Salutations "Jakets"

We are having GREAT FUN!

Esp. now with some live "critters" in tank to watch...

Tank is actually getting more "watch" time then the TV in other corner...great exaltations heard and mad rush to tank when a "new discovery" is made by a family member.

With visable "living things" now in occupation - two tangs, crabs, snails...am now into "mystery's" of feeding...am a bit worried about doing too much or too little. Have on hand now both some general marine flake and pellet food...

How best and when to apply? (turn filter off for while? - time of day...?) - have only tried the flakes so far...fish seem to ignore it initially, but seem to pick it off rock later...only put in the tiniest amount...like one small pinch...is this enough?

Other issue I am grappling with is small tang seems to like "resting" against filter intake tube...sometimes getting "stuck" there...simply flipping power on and off gets her off...but am concerned about long term health problems...

Should not be problem if she lives long enough to get a little bigger.---think she spent most of 1 night that way...with no ill effects...but is worrysome...(does not take long to get quite attached to these little guys - not to mention the feeling of great responsiblity for their "welfare&quot---can easily see that an inadvertent error may result in a great emotional event for the tank keeper and other family members....

Is there a lesson here about having fish "too small" for tank?

Thanks Again,

OmarD