Tank is looking gr8 love the scaping.
Thanks guys. Will update with some critter pics soon, hopefully.
My first marine tank, RSM 250
- Thread starter Bendor
- Start date
Thanks guys. Will update with some critter pics soon, hopefully.
Looking good!
How is the GHA? The best defense other thank good nutrient levels are natural predators, snails, emerald crabs, lawn mower blenny, small tang, I know you dying to add a fish or 2 but if you add a cuc now you can beat gha, adding a fish will add to the nutrients
I would add, turbo snails, 1 emerald crab and a shrimp, but if u add a fish, make it small and remember to not overfeed
How is the GHA? The best defense other thank good nutrient levels are natural predators, snails, emerald crabs, lawn mower blenny, small tang, I know you dying to add a fish or 2 but if you add a cuc now you can beat gha, adding a fish will add to the nutrients
I would add, turbo snails, 1 emerald crab and a shrimp, but if u add a fish, make it small and remember to not overfeed
Thanks @dallasg
GHA almost completely gone. Started biocubes which decreased phos and nitrate significantly and the single hermit seems to be mowing the rocks quite nicely.
There is a little left in the front right corner on the substrate, but it isn't long enough to pull out and I hope to get some turbo snails tomorrow to sort it out.
Not planning on getting any fish tomorrow and if I do like any the lfs said they would keep it for 10 to 14 days before collection.
Actually I first need a QT so I can't get any fish. Sadly
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I like your attitude/approach
Strombus snails are great for keeping sand clean, even cleaner or coral banded shrimp
Don't add starfish yet, gravel to new, a blue spot goby, Valencia sexgutta is a good addition for the future
Strombus snails are great for keeping sand clean, even cleaner or coral banded shrimp
Don't add starfish yet, gravel to new, a blue spot goby, Valencia sexgutta is a good addition for the future
I like your attitude/approach
Strombus snails are great for keeping sand clean, even cleaner or coral banded shrimp
Don't add starfish yet, gravel to new, a blue spot goby, Valencia sexgutta is a good addition for the future
Thank you. I hoping it will keep me out of trouble.
QT setup
Painted 3 sides black.
Airline sponge filter left in DT for 3 weeks, 50W heater, pvc for hiding, lid, no lights. Slightly lower than DT to hide it a bit (from my wife) and allow for easy syphon from DT to QT when doing DT water changes to allow QT water changes with exactly the same composition as DT.
Painted 3 sides black.
Airline sponge filter left in DT for 3 weeks, 50W heater, pvc for hiding, lid, no lights. Slightly lower than DT to hide it a bit (from my wife) and allow for easy syphon from DT to QT when doing DT water changes to allow QT water changes with exactly the same composition as DT.
I have been struggling with algae for a while. Lots of variety.
GHA
Turf I think
Red macro leaf like
Green macro leaf like
Cyano
Very little of each but still.
Had high nitrate and phosphate. Did 10 to 20 percent water changes per week and started biocubes. Nitrate at 2 and phosphate at 0.1 and going down. I did another 20 percent water change today.
Thanks for looking.
GHA
Turf I think
Red macro leaf like
Green macro leaf like
Cyano
Very little of each but still.
Had high nitrate and phosphate. Did 10 to 20 percent water changes per week and started biocubes. Nitrate at 2 and phosphate at 0.1 and going down. I did another 20 percent water change today.
Thanks for looking.
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I have been using the QT for fish, but I haven't gone past 3 days with any of them. I know this defeats the purpose completely but none of them had eaten while in QT. Not even a nibble, then I get worried, put them in the DT and they eat and swim around.
Should I just wait it out? How long should I wait if they don't eat in the QT? It just seems like it stresses them out more. If I had nerves of steel I would just leave them in the QT, look after them, feed them etc. If they don't make it they don't make it and at least I don't affect the other inmates with a stressed/diseased fish but I haven't been able to do that.
I suppose I know the answer. Rather one than all. Otherwise I'll soon be using my QT for a hospital tank I suppose. The sailfin and the firefish are both eating well, the Banggai has only nibbled since I've put him in. Doesn't look skraal or anything and does eat but very little. Hoping to get some supershrimp from the lfs when they get new stock. I've tried pellets, marine mix, brine shrimp and mysis. Seems to avoid anything that looks like a shrimp and only eats the very little pieces in the marine mix. Don't know what that is though.
Should I just wait it out? How long should I wait if they don't eat in the QT? It just seems like it stresses them out more. If I had nerves of steel I would just leave them in the QT, look after them, feed them etc. If they don't make it they don't make it and at least I don't affect the other inmates with a stressed/diseased fish but I haven't been able to do that.
I suppose I know the answer. Rather one than all. Otherwise I'll soon be using my QT for a hospital tank I suppose. The sailfin and the firefish are both eating well, the Banggai has only nibbled since I've put him in. Doesn't look skraal or anything and does eat but very little. Hoping to get some supershrimp from the lfs when they get new stock. I've tried pellets, marine mix, brine shrimp and mysis. Seems to avoid anything that looks like a shrimp and only eats the very little pieces in the marine mix. Don't know what that is though.
Hey Bendor,
Tank is looking good! You have a nice selection of coral
Have you added stress guard to your QT? And was the tank darkened?
No stress guard, I don't know anything about them. Will read a bit. Tank black on 3 sides and lid. Should I cover the front as well?
It is a good product, helps with their stress levels. Can have a read here as well:
Seachem. StressGuard
I think the three sides covered should be fine, will wait for the experts to comment further on this though
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Two dark blue PVC pipes to hide in. I could add more. Should maybe also not go "look if they are stressed" with my flashlight as often as I do.
They should be able to see you coming. The sudden predator is upon me freight will stress them out.
My bedroom door and the tank is on opposite sides of the house but positioned in such a way that I can see the tank (and they can see me I think) down the hallway across the dining room and the lounge. Easy to see if the power is still on in the middle of the night.
Yes, but it is a bit hidden behind the main tank. But mostly clear view of approach.
Still struggling with patches of GHA, cyano and red ?macro algae
Today I removed some of the smaller rocks and brushed their teeth. Some of the bigger rocks had their teeth brushed where they lay and syphoned the substrate. Just general maintenance really with a 10% water change.
Parameters:
Nitrate = 0 Hooray, first time since starting the cubes about 6 weeks ago.
Phosphate = 0.03 Hooray, but why do I still have algae?
Ph = 7.9
Ca = more than 500, Salifert test maximum
Alk = 6.1 dkh or 1.93 meq/L
Preclean photos
Below is a pic of the red leaf like algae I have.
This fella comes out regularly for a snack at feeding time. He has a smaller sibling as well but it's a bit more shy.
And FTS after the fact. I have a firefish (hiding), a lawnmower blenny and a banggai cardinal. The corals are all softies, one lobophylia and one large red monti frag and a tiny green monti frag.
I thought I'm taking it slow enough. I don't understand the drop in Alk (used to be 7.5 at max), Ca has been above 500 mostly.
I started with Red Sea Coral Pro salt today. My Seachem Reefsalt was finished and none was available locally. So I will integrate the new salt with 10% WC.
Planning on adding a phos reactor as per another thread to really get the phosphate down. Will see how that goes.
Today I removed some of the smaller rocks and brushed their teeth. Some of the bigger rocks had their teeth brushed where they lay and syphoned the substrate. Just general maintenance really with a 10% water change.
Parameters:
Nitrate = 0 Hooray, first time since starting the cubes about 6 weeks ago.
Phosphate = 0.03 Hooray, but why do I still have algae?
Ph = 7.9
Ca = more than 500, Salifert test maximum
Alk = 6.1 dkh or 1.93 meq/L
Preclean photos
Below is a pic of the red leaf like algae I have.
This fella comes out regularly for a snack at feeding time. He has a smaller sibling as well but it's a bit more shy.
And FTS after the fact. I have a firefish (hiding), a lawnmower blenny and a banggai cardinal. The corals are all softies, one lobophylia and one large red monti frag and a tiny green monti frag.
I thought I'm taking it slow enough. I don't understand the drop in Alk (used to be 7.5 at max), Ca has been above 500 mostly.
I started with Red Sea Coral Pro salt today. My Seachem Reefsalt was finished and none was available locally. So I will integrate the new salt with 10% WC.
Planning on adding a phos reactor as per another thread to really get the phosphate down. Will see how that goes.
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Just a heads up when changing salt brands. You may experience some changes for the good or bad until everything is acclimatized to the new salt.
When last did you check your RO water?
The tank is look good, not as bad as you make it sound.
Tok
PS, You may want to look at adding a little more LR.
When last did you check your RO water?
The tank is look good, not as bad as you make it sound.
Tok
PS, You may want to look at adding a little more LR.
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Thanks @Tokalosh
RO/DI unit is only 10/52 old, bought new. It's a good point though. I should get a TDS meter.
I have 30kg live rock but you're right I could fit a lot more in. Frags don't seem common here so most future coral purchases will probably come with some rock.
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