Chronicle to Christopher's 1st Reef Adventure!

[GeeWizzItsMe]

Ummm... My cycle is over, and I have live rock...

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by jnohs

did i read that you have a nitrate peoblem? if so it is probably from that hob filter that you have running chuck that. the only filter i have running now is my skimmer and i am even contamplating ousting that to. again people will say that i am nuts. but the skimmer really takes out a lot of zoo plankton and micro and nano plankton. i do have a bunch of power heads thogh water circ i crucial.

Thats the silliest thing i have read in a while. Skimmers don't cause nitrates unless you don't clean the sponge that is on the output of a in sump skimmer. There designed to remove the organic material in the water column. Nutrients will cause a nitrate rise. Before you toss it out try shutting it down for a week and test everyday. See what happens.

[GeeWizzItsMe]

I know, I think it is silly as well... BTW I found all these little white specs on my glass when I was rescaping, looks like I HAVE LIFE!!! This excites me! Also, my little bloody baron shedded today; it was weird removing it from the tank... Pictures of the new scape coming soon!

[Frankie]

Very good! molting shrimp is a good sign that the tank is healthy. Se if you can get some shots of the white spec's too.

[jeremy_reed]

What kind of lens/camera do you use to take close up pictures like those? My wife and I have a 55g tank and can't get really close good pictures. I have a canon rebel G EOS. I have the 35-80 mm and the 80-200 mm lenses, but can't get in close enough. She has a good digital, but the apeture requires a signicant distance to focus properly. What do we need?

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by jnohs

since you are just starting your tank i would get as much live rock as you can prefably fully cured. but if it isnt do not worrie cause your is not cycled then just throgh the uncured rock in the tank. do not expect the damsiles to make. probable will die.just cann not help that. some people will say i am crazy but if you wait to put live rock in untill after the tank is cycled then when you add the rock your tank will have to start cycling again.

remember every time you do something to your tank it will have to cycle all over again. It will be quciker and not as drematiac. even rearangen the tank can cause a cycle. I you have r ock that has been in light for a couple of months then rearange the tank and that one ends up on the bottem. anything photosynthetic that was on that rock will now die off.

IMHO, I disagree about adding uncured LR to your tank with any occupants. If I understand correctly, you have a few inverts in there. You can always cure your LR in a bucket without killing/harming your tank inhabitants. Do the "smell test" before even adding cured LR. If it smells fishy or yucky, try to cure it in something besides your display.

[GeeWizzItsMe]

Ok! Thanks Melanie! And really thanks FFrankie for reassuring me I am not completely failing...

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by GeeWizzItsMe

Ok! Thanks Melanie! And really thanks FFrankie for reassuring me I am not completely failing...

You are not failing! And I'm impressed that you didn't let some of your set backs discourage you from trying to make the best little reef ever. I think you are doing a good job and your questions are good too.

[GeeWizzItsMe]

Yay! Thank you! I am going to the fish store today! I don't know what I'll come out with, but probably not livestock...

[GeeWizzItsMe]

Would it be okay if I got a mushroom or zoa?

[GeeWizzItsMe]

? Sorry I messed up?

[Melanie]

Can you refresh my memory on what equipment you have and your last test results?

[prow]

Originally Posted by Melanie

You are not failing! And I'm impressed that you didn't let some of your set backs discourage you from trying to make the best little reef ever. I think you are doing a good job and your questions are good too.

i agree. i am impressed also.

dont add any zoa's or anything right now. let the tank ride for two more weeks then add some cleaners. you want a lot of different "cleaners" that feed on the various stuff that could casue issues. i suggest, after 2 weeks, add these guys.

3-5 Trochus snails
5-8 cerith snails
5-8 nerite snails
1 Nassarius
1 banded tiger serpant star, your going to need target feed for a little while, but for some reason i think your going like it. (dont get others only the banded serpant (Ophiolepsis superba). avoid brittle stars.

then wait once again. in a couple weeks your tank will ready for a hardy type fish.

[GeeWizzItsMe]

I have a clean up crew... but I do want a serpent star!!! But yeah, I won't add corals until I have my fish in september.

[GeeWizzItsMe]

I just read that serpents grow to over 1 foot! How would I keep that?