Start me up: 30 gal

Hi Chicago reef one - understood

original question - pair of clowns and a flame in a 30 - IMO ok
bearing in mind Flames sometimes develop a tendency to pick at corals - not all of them, but its something to be mindful of if your setting up a reef tank

 

And that goes for ANY dwarf angel. Right now, I have just found the culprit in the great who is eating my zoas mystery. I had suspected the coral beauty, but it was confirmed last night. Caught in the act. So it is, as stated, a fish by fish thing.

 

My Coral Beauty has left my zoa's and mushroooms alone... However the Gsp's were not so lucky

 

Hi guys! I've gone from 1 karma, to 14 so thanks everyone!!!!

PharmrJ, thanks for the reminder about the coral picking tendencies of pygmy angels. I've been doing my homework so I am aware that it could happen. I've also just picked up a load of caulerpa so hopefully the pygmy (that I get far in the future) will eat that, but I know I like to eat more than one thing and I am guessing a pygmy will browse. BTW nice man-bear-pig avatar. I'm so cereal.

Scuba Steve, the way some people treat their GSP's like pests, that might be useful information for some folks! Maybe you could rent you Coral Beauty out to people in need and open up a new revenue line.

 

The look of the that clean tank is awesome... You have a long road ahead of you, but if you plan well you do fine... I agree that the angel and a pair of clowns will be fine... Like stated above a few times, you should be cautious with he angel around corals...

Id recommend, during the cycle, to not run the lights or just maybe a single Atinic to help educe algae growth. Also, have you looked into or purchased an Ro/Di unit? Also make sure you have some good test kits! NO TEST STRIPS! lol

 

Yes, I have an ro/di unit from Bulk Reef Supply in Minnesota. I see people posting about where to get a unit all the time, and I would HIGHLY recommend these folks. Fast shipping, great product, plug and play ease of use. Plus it's an American company and it's important to support those. Other units on eBay may be cheaper, but they are CHEAPER and flooding isn't fun.

Bulk Reef Supply, good stuff, plus aren't they a sponsor?

So yeah, I'm using ro/di water. Into my first month of research on the SW it became clear that was necessary, so boom, another $100 expense.

While we're on the topic of products newbies buy, I would STRONGLY advise against the Tetra test kit. The SW pH test goes from 8.0 to 8.5. Not helpful. So I have an API Reef Master kit and the Tetra Master Kit. Needless to say I will be switching to the API master kit ASAP.

Here's another question: I'm guessing there is some die-off from the live rock I just put in there, should I add the raw shrimp and speed it along? There's no way I am putting a fish in there, that method of cycling seems a little rough.

And one more question: I'm totally down with sparing the energy bill and turning off the lights while the tank cycles, but there is a small coral on there along with a lot of coraline algae with obviously I would like to take care of. Do the concerns of those nix lights out?

 

Yes they are a sponsor and I too have purchased the 75 gpd 5 stage unit from them.. I agree with you, a great company...

I would still use the raw shrimp too boost that cycle, the die off may not be enough...

the lights are a personal preference... I dont use them because im using all base rock and have no need for anything but atinics... Some say to use lighting to save the hitchhikers you may have.. the coraline will grow eventually and shouldn't completely bleach...

I too have the master test kit from API... its great for the price, although their are other much better test kits...

 

i wouldnt put it right by the heater of your house.. IMO those old radiator heaters get pretty hot.. and it will raise temps in your tank which some sensitive creatures and corals dont like.

 

DoorBoy good spot! Yeah that radiator is turned off as long as the tank is there, because you're right those radiators getting boiling, literally. Before setting it up I left my glass thermometer next to it when it was on, it got to 95! Needless to say it's off for good.


I took the other tests ammonia and nitrite (again with a Tetra test kit which is proving to be worthless) and they registered nothing.

whiskey: ditto the affordable

 

yup we have those in our house and one is by my bed and i cant stand when its on at night when im trying to sleep.. its like laying on the beach in 110 degrees with direct sun.