Finally..

C

CameL

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Hi there,

I originally registered on this forum in Dec 2008, having wanted a tank from even before that but circumstances have just not allowed.
Anyways, bought my house a few months ago so I have now settled down and the time has FINALLY arrived where we are settled enough in our lives to enable us to have a tank. And it has been amazing so far.

I guess this is kind of my introduction thread to the forum. So hellow my name is Luke and I didn't believe this when I read it.. but I think im addicted to marine fish tanks.

I bought a AquaH20 tank which is about 600 long, 400 wide and quite deep. It holds with the two compartment sump about 120l of water. minus the liverock.

All together up to now I have the tank and sump, about 10 kg's of liverock, aragonite and a few other bits and bobs like a sunsun wavemaker, 2 boyu 100w heaters, a reeftek ts1 skimmer, and a hailea return pump.

Im very happy with the tank and the progress we have made with it so far.

Here is a picture of the tank at the moment, i.e taken a few minutes ago.

DSC03804_zps7b7128fd.jpg


So it is all starting to come together.

I have tested water parmaters twice in the week I have had the tank.

First time was on 30/06/2014


Tested with Red Sea Marine Care Test Kit
  • PH = 8.2
  • Nitrate = 20
  • Ammonia = 0.8
I then re-tested last night and did a few more tests
· Temperature = 25 degrees celcius
· Nitrates = 10
· Ammonia = 0.2
· Alkalinity(KH) = >5dKH; >5Meq/L didn't continue after I passed 14 drops in the test kit as that is where the table stops
· pH = 8.0
· Nitrite = 0
So in terms of water chemistry im seeing things happen and I believe it's quite good.
I don't plan on adding any livestock soon so we will see how it goes.
Now down to my questions, will try and supplement with pictures where I can.
First is, below there is a picture of a hitchhiker that came on one piece of the liverock, im not sure what it is.
I've done some research and I think it is a Green Porcelain Crab (Petrolisthes armatus) which from the limited info there is when I google it I have gathered is reef safe. Can anybody confirm for me if a) my findings are correct and b) it will be okay in my tank.
WP_20140630_004_zpsf68064ec.jpg


The next thing I have noticed is a whole bunch growing on my rock, would just like to know if it is all in order.

DSC03800_zps3886eb82.jpg

The circled areas are what I am referring to, I would also like to know what exactly they are.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this, I know it's long.

Last but not least for right now, I have to say thank you to all the people here on MASA who unknowingly have helped me learn and have showed me how and shared their experiences along the way, there are too many to mention but you guys like dallasg, irie_ivan, Viper357, etc.. with all your very informative threads.

Also thanks to @rickgoldwing1, @wvdheever and @KATHIE for selling me all the equipment up to this point. Appreciate it.

Thanks a lot once again.
Luke
 
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Sorry, just got a bit carried away above and I forgot a few things.

What do you guys use to read temperature? I bought a digital thermometer from a pet shop but after less than a week it has stopped working.

Is the TS1 skimmer going to be to big for my tank? the skimmer is rated for 350-400l and my tank including sump is 120l

All I can think of for now.

Thanks.
 
Hi Luke @CameL.
Glad you finally managed to get your tank running.

Working from the back...
The skimmer size should not be a problem being bigger than needed. On skimmers the saying is "bigger is better " - There is a current thread on skimmer size, try search for it... (Too much hassle on a phone)

For 2 years I used a regular Hg thermometer. Then went over to digital. And finally after 3 years decided to go with the STC-1000. This was R300 (or thereabouts) well spent.

Regarding the fuzzy growth on your rock, I can not assist.

The crab does not quite look like a porcelain crab to me, judging by the one black pincer. I would place it in the sump until it's ID is verified. There are too many predatory hitchhiker crabs to take risks.

The scaping looks quite interesting with the two pinnacles, I am sure that with the right corals, this will end up being a great system to look at, once mature. (And even while growing)
 
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Thanks for the replies.

I think Andre is correct, however, I have not seen the crab since Monday night when I got the rock. When I initially found him I wasn't sure about him so I put the rock in the sump after taking only two pictures. I cannot remember if his pincer was indeed black or if that is not something on the rock just infront of the pincer or something like that.

I googled "spiky crab reef aquarium" and after visiting many sites over 3 nights I was pretty confident it was a green porcelain crab, until Andre suggested google "gorilla crab"... Now im not sure.

I only put the rock into the tank on Thursday and I have since removed it, searched the rock frantically for him but cannot find him, so I don't know where he is, but still can't see any movement in the tank and can't see him in the sump.

I am now looking for a new "pinnacle" on the RHS and will just leave that rock in the sump.

I've also noticed the coralline algae on the rock when I bought it has started going white, think that means it's dying, but haven't tested for calcium or magnesium or anything, only reason I can think that would be down is because it is old water, will do a water change soon I guess..
 
So I found the crab and can safely say he is on the rock in the sump, just need to get a red light so I can get a proper look at him
 
As long as he is in the sump, and you do not plan to use the sump to house any other livestock, then he will be fine there. Just remember to feed him a piece of whatever every now and again.

If you do plan to use your sump as refugium, with other critters like sand anemones, or other snails or whatever, they might be at risk.
 
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hmm, will have to remember that he is there in the future.
What should i feed him as i have no foods due to having no livestock per say
 
That depends on the specific ID.

But if predatory, he would accept any meaty foods. you could try hake?

Since your tank is still in cycling mode, do bear in mind that feeding any kinds of proteins, this might influence your water parameters. But if your skimmer is running, such small feeding should not have any impact.
 
WP_20140706_002_zpsba6ca341.jpg


He is in that rock, and definitely has one black pincer.. not sure what to do lol, really don't want to kill off anything
 
He should not be able to escape from there, just be sure to feed him.
 
Welcome CameL, glad you could join our community.
Nice skimmers those Ts1's, just make sure you are on the right water level.
 
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