Hello

[Aquadelight]

I have been doing fresshwater tanks for a few years, but I have just started a new reef tank and am about 3 months into it. I have a local fish store helping quite a bit, but would love more input.

I have a 125 gallon tank. The LFS guy helped me put together a sump filter and sold me a good (don't know more than this) protein skimmer. I have an Outer Orbit Pro Seriess combination light (metal halide, T-5 atinics and LED) that delivers 762 watts (@ 6 per gallon). I even decided to create my own R/O water.

So far the animals are 6 green Chromis (used for cycling, but I like them), a pair of orange spot sand sifting gobies (had a lot of algae in the sand), one Fox face rabbitfish (algae on the rock), one copperband butterfly (general pest control and may not keep it long), 3 peppermint shrimp, one skunk cleaning shrimp, various snails and hermits, one crocea clam, one onrange and green BT anemone, one red BT anemone and a pair of percula clowns that take care of both anemones.

I also have multiple leather corals, one colt coral, three different zoas, one candy cane coral, oneTrachyphyllia (folded brain) coral, a large colony of green star polyps, and three mushroom colonys of various colors.

Right now, I am focused on stablizing this mix. It is working fine, but I have the typical worries of a beginner, even with the wekly help. I will be adding more corals and snails and crabs in the next few weeks as water parameters and tank conditions allow.

Sorry for any poor spellings, over use of familiar names, etc.

[BEELZEBOB]

WElcome. Soy Bob.

Resident weirdo.


but im good lookin. so i make up for it.


got any tank pics?

[Aquadelight]

No tank pics yet, but I plan to take some this weekend. If I can figure it out, I will put a few into my gallery.

[sasquatch]

Welcome to RS! Looks like your lfs threw you in the deep end, at 3 months you are going to have to pay close attention to your water parameters, anemones are tough but really require very stable conditions, please tell us what tests your doing ,how often etc so we get an idea of whats going on. Steve

[Kazzy]

Welcome to RS. I am the resident teen reefkeeper here.
As for your tank, you need to slow down and return the anemones and the clam. And please do not take too much advice from LFS as they will claim many things to make you buy fast and spend lots of money. How much live rock is in there? How old was the tank when you started adding fish, corals, and inverts?
On the bright side, the foxface, chromis, and clownfish were excellent choices. I do not know much about sand sifting gobies so I probably can't make an accurate statement about them, though I can say that I hope you have a deep sandbed. And one quick warning for future reference: DO NOT GET A MANDARINFISH.

[Aquadelight]

Wow. A bunch of good input.

I have been dealing with what I called the LFS for many years (freshwater) and know them well. I also trust them. they are primarily an aquarium maintenance company that is helping me get started.

I knew the anemonies were agressive, but we watch them very closely. The LFS owner does the wide range of testing every week when he visits. I am not sure on the specifics as I am not always there. I keep track of amonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph and high end alkalinity every other day while things settle in. More often if things look like they warrant it.

I do not know how much live rock in terms of pounds, but I have built three piles with an open flat part in the middle for the anemones. I have created bridge work for the two piles on the left (need pictures). I also have a good size piece in the sump.

Is the clam really that agressive an add? He has been there a month and is (dare I say it) as happy as a clam.

[AQTCJAK]

Welcome Aboard

[Kazzy]

Originally Posted by Aquadelight

Wow. A bunch of good input.

I have been dealing with what I called the LFS for many years (freshwater) and know them well. I also trust them. they are primarily an aquarium maintenance company that is helping me get started.

I knew the anemonies were agressive, but we watch them very closely. The LFS owner does the wide range of testing every week when he visits. I am not sure on the specifics as I am not always there. I keep track of amonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph and high end alkalinity every other day while things settle in. More often if things look like they warrant it.

I do not know how much live rock in terms of pounds, but I have built three piles with an open flat part in the middle for the anemones. I have created bridge work for the two piles on the left (need pictures). I also have a good size piece in the sump.

Is the clam really that agressive an add? He has been there a month and is (dare I say it) as happy as a clam.

I am glad you have a LFS that you can trust. Not many people do. But clams take anywhere from between 6-14 months to starve. For clams, even 3 months is nothing, considering they can live to over 250 years old. Your tank is just too young for the anemones and clam. When you hit 8-12 months, you can probably get them again.

[Aquadelight]

Thanks.

[sasquatch]

Probably the simplest, best thing right now is for you to learn about your water, leaving that to somebody else wont help you in an emergency, if your interested we can give you links to some very straight forward and understandable reading, its key to keeping what you have alive right now and for prolonged ease of reef survival. Steve

[hma]

Welcome to RS

[lcstorc]

Welcome to RS!
I second the statements on the anemones and the clam. Your tank is just not ready for either at this point. Your lfs may be a great guy but remember he is in business to make money. Or he may not really know how sensitive these animals are. The anemones have such a slow metabolism they can take months to die and look perfectly fine until near the end.
I do like the fish choices. How about some more equipment specs? Especialy on the protein skimmer.
One final note. If you have leather coral, you really should be running carbon in the tank somewhere. They can emit toxins that are harmful to the rest of your tank inhabitants. Don't get me wrong. I love leathers and have several. Just be sure to keep up on the carbon to prevent chemical warfare.