Hello

Rcpilot · 09-17-2007, 06:14 PM

I'm new to reefing. I'm not new to the hobby, just new to keeping reefs.

I have a 30g tall tank. Currently have:

61lbs of live rock
4 zoa colonies
5 green striped mushrooms
2 frags green fuzzy mushrooms
1 unidentified polyp
1 small SPS unidentified
14 regular astrea snails
3 margarite snails
1 GIGANTIC astrea snail

I got frags from a local reefer. I don't know what some of them are. They are COOL, I do know that.

I also have 3 fish:
yellow tail damsel
6-line wrasse
diamond watchman goby

The damsel is on the way out. I bought her to make sure my tank was fully cycled. I cycled it with shrimp from the local grocery store deli, but wanted to make sure it was finished and stable, so I got a cheap damsel. It's a typical damsel--aggressive. I can't catch it with a net, so I'm going to catch it with some nymphs from my fly fishing tackle. I'll take it down to the local fish store and trade it for a snail.

I'm using a CPR HOB refugium w/skimmer built in. I have a Coralife 130w PC light. Using a Coralife timer unit. Also using powerheads in the tank to keep water flowing. Total flow in the tank is 800GPH and total flow through the refugium is 300GPH.

I have a 5" DSB in the tank and 4" DSB in the refugium.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
Calcium 480
Alkalinity 3.4
dKH 9.4
Salintiy 1.023

I've had it cycled for about 2 months. Added 61lbs of rock in 2 phases. Added 37lbs after it cycled and the rest about a month later.

Tank has been set up and running about 3 months. One of my green stripe mushrooms has already split once. My zoa colonies are growing and reproducing.

DrHank · 09-17-2007, 06:41 PM

Good luck with your fishing. Don't think that's how I'd get it out. I've used a simple bottle trap successfully on several occasions. You're definately in the right place for friendly advice. Your parameters look great except for salinity. I'd recommend slowly increasing it to around 1.023. I always stayed on the low end too when I was doing fish only but the corals seem to prefer a bit more salinity.

Tell us about your equipment and plans for your tank.

DrHank · 09-17-2007, 06:44 PM

Sorry, you did tell us about your equipment. When you get to my age you'll understand how short term memory really gets short. One other suggestion is that if you are thinking of anything other than shrooms, zoas, softies, and maybe easy LPS up high, you may want to consider upgrading your lighting at some point in the future.

Rcpilot · 09-17-2007, 07:06 PM

That was a typo on the salinity. It's 1.023

I am looking into T5s because I know the PC are very limited in what they can do.

boozeman · 09-17-2007, 07:10 PM

framerguy · 09-17-2007, 07:56 PM

Welcome!! Great first post. Sounds like you know what you're doing, LOL. It all sound good to me, the calc is a little on the upper end. Clams and Acros would love it!!

Rcpilot · 09-17-2007, 08:13 PM

Yeah, I wish my calcium was down around 375--40, but I'm "culturing" coraline, on my live rocks, so I'm hoping it will go down soon. I have quite a bit of coraline already. Some of the rock I bought was from a local reefer with an established 125g reef. That was PREMO rock with lots of life. My cured rock --no solid coraline yet-- is starting to develope patches of hard coraline. That will use up the calcium eventually.

My snails are growing. Their shells look 15% bigger then when I put them in the tank. That's good.

Water changes may bring the calcium down too. I'm using Instant Ocean salt. It would take a lot of water changes to dilute that much calcium, considering the new salt has calcium too, just less than whats in the tank.

I do want to get rid of that silly damsel and get another fish. It's a hard decision to make when looking at new additions. I've decided to limit myself to around 8--10" of fish in the tank. The wrasse is tiny at about 1.75" long. The goby is about 3" long. That leaves me with about 5" of fish before I've reached my max fish load. Tough choice to find just the right candidate, because it's most likely the last one. The goby and the wrasse will grow over time, so my new addition needs to be small and not get too big when mature.

My kids want a clown (Nemo) so bad, but those are a member of the damsel family and most are aggressive. If I get a clown, then I gotta get an anenome and I don't have enough light for an anenome--not right now.

Ah well. I'm happy to just sit back and enjoy it for now. I'm stocking polyps and zoas slowly. Trying to find frags from locals rather than pay the rediculous prices the stores are charging. I'll get some more SPS after I get T5s.

DrHank · 09-17-2007, 08:27 PM

If you plan on LPS or SPS (you could do both with the right T5 set up) that will pull down your Ca. Actually, your Ca is at a good level with some stonies. An anemone isn't a required with a clown (just a desired) and you won't want one for at least another 6 months anyway (10 if you want anything other than a BTA). One plus about the clown is that it isn't going to bother your reef.

As far as frags go you're right on. Might want to check another site (RC) and see if there is a local club in your area. Our club meets every three months and a frag swap is always part of the meeting.

framerguy · 09-17-2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

My kids want a clown (Nemo) so bad, but those are a member of the damsel family and most are aggressive. If I get a clown, then I gotta get an anenome and I don't have enough light for an anenome--not right now.

Perculas or Occelatis aren't as aggressive as others, and you don't have to have an anemone. Mine is hosting in a pulse Xenia which your kids would also love, they also host in varieties of Euphyllia (frogspawn, torch and hammer), ricordia, you name it.

Woodstock · 09-17-2007, 09:31 PM

Hello and welcome to ReefSanctuary

You've gotten good advice above!

BigAl07 · 09-17-2007, 09:47 PM

Welcome RcPIlot. Fellow RCer here

Sounds like you're off to an AWESOME start especially with your corals. I would caution you to re-think your stocking levels. 8"-10" in a 30g tank (your volume is significantly less with that much LR as well) is a tad on the high side. That's gonna make your bio-load be touchy and leaves little room for error. I'd stock it slow and let the tank "level out" after each stocking for a month or so. It's easier to add more slowly than try to battle a roller coaster of fluctuations and tank problems. It's like trying to fly your RC with the trim out of whack in high winds.

Welcome to the REEF!!

Allen

Rcpilot · 09-17-2007, 10:02 PM

I'm content to take it slow for right now. I DO want to get rid of that DAMsel, but I'm in no real hurry to load it up with more fish. I am aware that I probably only have about 25g of water in my system. My refugium is 4.6g-- I might have 30g in the whole system. I've heard 1" of fish per 5g in a reef. Sounds about right. I'm almost there now.

I'm all set up, just want some new lights. I know my SPS frag wouldn't have turned brown if it had enough light. It was bright green when I got it.

I was looking at this fixture:
TX5 Series Aquactinics 24" 5 lamp T5 fixture - no lamps: Premium Aquatics

OHHHHHHHHH, that would be sweet.

BigAlo7:
What do you fly?

I mostly fly 50--60cc gas aerobats. Got an 85" Edge 540 w/60cc engine flying right now. Got an 87" Laser 200 w/60cc engine flying. Got a GP 33% Pitts w/Fox 52cc flying. And a World Models 80" Extra 300s w/60cc engine. Those are all flying right now. Oh, and I got a slope combat wing and a DS crunchy.
I am building an 80cc Extra 300L right now. I don't fly warbirds or general aviation. Just the usual Extra, Cap, Edge, Laser, Sukhoi, Yak, Giles etc.. My favorite plane is a Giles 202 for IMAC sequences and a Cap 232 for tumbling and flopping. The Extra 300S or the 300L is a great sport plane that usually trakcs fairly straight. Of course, it all depends on who designed it and who put it together. The nicest Carden in the word can be a turd if the wrong guy builds it and uses "Blue Bird Special" servos.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

AQTCJAK · 09-17-2007, 11:03 PM

Welcome Aboard

sasquatch · 09-17-2007, 11:07 PM

Welcome to RS! we would really like some pics, if you have trouble uploading just ask. Steve

Rcpilot · 09-18-2007, 12:16 AM

I was trying to upload pics, but mine are all about 350--400kb in size. It appears there is a 200kb limit on uploads. That's the extent of my computer knowledge. If they need to be resized--I'm toast.

I can paste links to photobucket. I did post a couple hours ago, but I believe that post is in limbo, awaiting moderator approval, because I pasted a link to Premium Aquatics. I suspect all new accounts are monitored closely if they post links. I am a moderator at an RC website and we monitor all new accounts and the links they post for the first couple weeks. This ensures that people are not spamming the boards or posting links to inappropriate content.

For now, I'd like to thank you all for the warm welcome. I'll get some pics if I can manage to upload them into my gallery. I might just lower the pic quality on the camera and snap a few more pics tomorrow.

09-17-2007, 06:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rcpilot Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 297 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hello I'm new to reefing. I'm not new to the hobby, just new to keeping reefs. I have a 30g tall tank. Currently have: 61lbs of live rock 4 zoa colonies 5 green striped mushrooms 2 frags green fuzzy mushrooms 1 unidentified polyp 1 small SPS unidentified 14 regular astrea snails 3 margarite snails 1 GIGANTIC astrea snail I got frags from a local reefer. I don't know what some of them are. They are COOL, I do know that. I also have 3 fish: yellow tail damsel 6-line wrasse diamond watchman goby The damsel is on the way out. I bought her to make sure my tank was fully cycled. I cycled it with shrimp from the local grocery store deli, but wanted to make sure it was finished and stable, so I got a cheap damsel. It's a typical damsel--aggressive. I can't catch it with a net, so I'm going to catch it with some nymphs from my fly fishing tackle. I'll take it down to the local fish store and trade it for a snail. I'm using a CPR HOB refugium w/skimmer built in. I have a Coralife 130w PC light. Using a Coralife timer unit. Also using powerheads in the tank to keep water flowing. Total flow in the tank is 800GPH and total flow through the refugium is 300GPH. I have a 5" DSB in the tank and 4" DSB in the refugium. Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 Phosphate 0 Calcium 480 Alkalinity 3.4 dKH 9.4 Salintiy 1.023 I've had it cycled for about 2 months. Added 61lbs of rock in 2 phases. Added 37lbs after it cycled and the rest about a month later. Tank has been set up and running about 3 months. One of my green stripe mushrooms has already split once. My zoa colonies are growing and reproducing.

09-17-2007, 06:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,251 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello Good luck with your fishing. Don't think that's how I'd get it out. I've used a simple bottle trap successfully on several occasions. You're definately in the right place for friendly advice. Your parameters look great except for salinity. I'd recommend slowly increasing it to around 1.023. I always stayed on the low end too when I was doing fish only but the corals seem to prefer a bit more salinity. Tell us about your equipment and plans for your tank. __________________ Jim Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html Dr Hank's 155 Bowfront:http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

09-17-2007, 06:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,251 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello Sorry, you did tell us about your equipment. When you get to my age you'll understand how short term memory really gets short. One other suggestion is that if you are thinking of anything other than shrooms, zoas, softies, and maybe easy LPS up high, you may want to consider upgrading your lighting at some point in the future. __________________ Jim Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html Dr Hank's 155 Bowfront:http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

09-17-2007, 07:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rcpilot Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 297 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello That was a typo on the salinity. It's 1.023 I am looking into T5s because I know the PC are very limited in what they can do.

09-17-2007, 07:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

09-17-2007, 07:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,326 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Welcome!! Great first post. Sounds like you know what you're doing, LOL. It all sound good to me, the calc is a little on the upper end. Clams and Acros would love it!! __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 390gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 150g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

09-17-2007, 08:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rcpilot Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 297 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello Yeah, I wish my calcium was down around 375--40, but I'm "culturing" coraline, on my live rocks, so I'm hoping it will go down soon. I have quite a bit of coraline already. Some of the rock I bought was from a local reefer with an established 125g reef. That was PREMO rock with lots of life. My cured rock --no solid coraline yet-- is starting to develope patches of hard coraline. That will use up the calcium eventually. My snails are growing. Their shells look 15% bigger then when I put them in the tank. That's good. Water changes may bring the calcium down too. I'm using Instant Ocean salt. It would take a lot of water changes to dilute that much calcium, considering the new salt has calcium too, just less than whats in the tank. I do want to get rid of that silly damsel and get another fish. It's a hard decision to make when looking at new additions. I've decided to limit myself to around 8--10" of fish in the tank. The wrasse is tiny at about 1.75" long. The goby is about 3" long. That leaves me with about 5" of fish before I've reached my max fish load. Tough choice to find just the right candidate, because it's most likely the last one. The goby and the wrasse will grow over time, so my new addition needs to be small and not get too big when mature. My kids want a clown (Nemo) so bad, but those are a member of the damsel family and most are aggressive. If I get a clown, then I gotta get an anenome and I don't have enough light for an anenome--not right now. Ah well. I'm happy to just sit back and enjoy it for now. I'm stocking polyps and zoas slowly. Trying to find frags from locals rather than pay the rediculous prices the stores are charging. I'll get some more SPS after I get T5s.

09-17-2007, 08:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,251 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello If you plan on LPS or SPS (you could do both with the right T5 set up) that will pull down your Ca. Actually, your Ca is at a good level with some stonies. An anemone isn't a required with a clown (just a desired) and you won't want one for at least another 6 months anyway (10 if you want anything other than a BTA). One plus about the clown is that it isn't going to bother your reef. As far as frags go you're right on. Might want to check another site (RC) and see if there is a local club in your area. Our club meets every three months and a frag swap is always part of the meeting. __________________ Jim Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html Dr Hank's 155 Bowfront:http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

09-17-2007, 09:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,857 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Hello and welcome to ReefSanctuary You've gotten good advice above! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

09-17-2007, 09:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Welcome RcPIlot. Fellow RCer here Sounds like you're off to an AWESOME start especially with your corals. I would caution you to re-think your stocking levels. 8"-10" in a 30g tank (your volume is significantly less with that much LR as well) is a tad on the high side. That's gonna make your bio-load be touchy and leaves little room for error. I'd stock it slow and let the tank "level out" after each stocking for a month or so. It's easier to add more slowly than try to battle a roller coaster of fluctuations and tank problems. It's like trying to fly your RC with the trim out of whack in high winds. Welcome to the REEF!! Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

09-17-2007, 10:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rcpilot Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 297 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello I'm content to take it slow for right now. I DO want to get rid of that DAMsel, but I'm in no real hurry to load it up with more fish. I am aware that I probably only have about 25g of water in my system. My refugium is 4.6g-- I might have 30g in the whole system. I've heard 1" of fish per 5g in a reef. Sounds about right. I'm almost there now. I'm all set up, just want some new lights. I know my SPS frag wouldn't have turned brown if it had enough light. It was bright green when I got it. I was looking at this fixture: TX5 Series Aquactinics 24" 5 lamp T5 fixture - no lamps: Premium Aquatics OHHHHHHHHH, that would be sweet. BigAlo7: What do you fly? I mostly fly 50--60cc gas aerobats. Got an 85" Edge 540 w/60cc engine flying right now. Got an 87" Laser 200 w/60cc engine flying. Got a GP 33% Pitts w/Fox 52cc flying. And a World Models 80" Extra 300s w/60cc engine. Those are all flying right now. Oh, and I got a slope combat wing and a DS crunchy. I am building an 80cc Extra 300L right now. I don't fly warbirds or general aviation. Just the usual Extra, Cap, Edge, Laser, Sukhoi, Yak, Giles etc.. My favorite plane is a Giles 202 for IMAC sequences and a Cap 232 for tumbling and flopping. The Extra 300S or the 300L is a great sport plane that usually trakcs fairly straight. Of course, it all depends on who designed it and who put it together. The nicest Carden in the word can be a turd if the wrong guy builds it and uses "Blue Bird Special" servos. Thanks for the warm welcome.

09-17-2007, 11:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,936 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Welcome Aboard __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

09-17-2007, 11:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Welcome to RS! we would really like some pics, if you have trouble uploading just ask. Steve

09-18-2007, 12:16 AM	#15 (permalink)
Rcpilot Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 297 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello I was trying to upload pics, but mine are all about 350--400kb in size. It appears there is a 200kb limit on uploads. That's the extent of my computer knowledge. If they need to be resized--I'm toast. I can paste links to photobucket. I did post a couple hours ago, but I believe that post is in limbo, awaiting moderator approval, because I pasted a link to Premium Aquatics. I suspect all new accounts are monitored closely if they post links. I am a moderator at an RC website and we monitor all new accounts and the links they post for the first couple weeks. This ensures that people are not spamming the boards or posting links to inappropriate content. For now, I'd like to thank you all for the warm welcome. I'll get some pics if I can manage to upload them into my gallery. I might just lower the pic quality on the camera and snap a few more pics tomorrow.

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