Cody & KCs Newbie Reef Tank!

[DrHank]

You're going to enjoy the work of your clean up crew. It will take a bit of time to get rid of the nuisance algae but there are a few things that you can do which will speed it up. First, since you don't have any fish yet you don't need to feed the tank. There is plenty of food for the clean up crew there already.

As for the Koralia, I have mine in a back corner and aim it at the center of the front glass. This breaks up the flow and disburses it better. The flow should get rid of your cyanobacteria quickly and keep it from coming back.

Since you don't have any corals you can reduce your lighting to a few hours (maybe 4) per day. Most of your CUC is nocturnal so they will be out and working more with less light. Also since your algae needs light to grow, without it, it won't grow as fast.

Try to keep up with weekly 10% water changes. I'm sorry that I can't remember if you had an RO/DI filter but you should be using DI water for make up and top off. If you don't have one buy the water from your LFS until you can get your own filter.

Sounds like things are coming along nicely. Just remember that slow is the way to go. Also, there aren't any dumb questions in this hobby so please ask when you aren't sure. Happy reefing!

[lcstorc]

Good luck with the new CUC.
I love that you gave them names. That is adorable.
Meanwhile I agree with everything the DR said above. Get a handle on the algae now while it is relatively easy. Then later get the fun stuff.
I am not sure about the dimensions of your tank but I will say I have 2 Kpralia #4s in a 6ft long 125. If the flow was not soo disbursed my reef would not be able to handle what these guys put out. I am still trying to find that "sweet" spot where everything is good. ATM my finger leather is pouting and I think it is because the power head got too close.
I do think once I find the right spot the combo of these 2 power heads will easily replace all my maxijets and I may be able to keep some higher flow corals in the right place in my reef.

[cynicechoes]

Ok, so we are still trying to figure out whether or not the Korallia has too much flow like we are thinking or not, but DrHank is being very helpful and hopefully we will work it out!

I believe everyone survived, but I am not sure about the Nassarius snails because we can't find their little snorkels sticking out of the sand anywhere! I hope they are just somewhere amongst the rocks or something so that we can't see them because if Peppy survived I can't see how they wouldn't have.

We just purchased our refractometer from Drs Foster and Smith Online, and we are looking at possible upgrades for our lighting. We really would like to get the Current USA Outer Orbit HQI/T5 lighting. It seems very nice! Its got 1 150w HQI Metal Hallide, 2 T5 actinics, and 6 white and blue LED moonlights that all run off an internal microprocessor based driving system. But we want to make sure that that much lighting isn't going to be overkill and also that we will be able to rig it to fit our tank because the smallest is 24" and typically the fixtures on AP are around 20". Any opinions on this brand and type of lighting would be appreciated!

[Melanie]

Casey, I am so impressed with the research and work you are doing with your tank. I look forward to chiming in when I can help and reading the others answers when I can't.

Your snails are probably just hiding. Maybe buried in the sand or in the rocks.

I love my refractometer. Dr. Hank and HMA suggested I get some calibration solution to make sure it is dead-on but I'm having trouble finding it. I used the distilled water and 68 degree room that were mentioned on the instructions. Let me know what you think of yours. It's so easy to use!

I saw in your other thread that you got differing opinions on your Hydor Koralia. That's going to happen ALOT. Even experts like Bob Fenner and Julian Sprung, etc. disagree. I think you are doing the right thing by polling and then making your own decisions. Often there is more than one right answer.

In order for people to give you a good opinion on your lights, you should tell everyone what corals you plan on keeping when you have your tank fully set up.

[emj35]

Okay so I am total newbie so keep that in mind.....

I have been reading your thread as I just started up an AP24 as well. I can only say what I have read from other threads by people with our tank, a lot of people seem to love their sunpods if you like the open top look. Also, a lot of people recommend nanotuners.com. Theay make a ton of great stuff for these all-in-one tanks, you should check out their site. They have upgrade lighting hoods designed specifically for the aquapod if you like having a hood, and lots of other cool upgrades as well, including a very small chiller you can install. Once again, I haven't used any of these things, just relaying what I've read from others....

Hope that helps some!

[Melanie]

emj35, those are some great links. karma for you!

[Melanie]

Casey, how's the CUC doing?

[cynicechoes]

umm... im not so sure lol! The cyano seems to be exploding! But hopefully the flow will take care of that soon.

I haven't seen Peppy in like 3 days, I am assuming that is a good sign. I think if he was dead I would be able to see him, but since I can't I assume he is handing onto a rock hidden real good somewhere, I hope. He isn't touching the aiptasia either! I think were going to have to figure something else out...

I also still can't really find the burying ones, I think I did see one of the "snorkels" yesterday though. I am not too worried about them, since im not really supposed to see them.

I also think that I might need to get 1 or 2 more snails to clean the rocks, but we will see.

Take care everyone

[DrHank]

Casey, direct your korallias more toward the source of the problem (the cyano). The flow should get rid of it quickly. Also, you can turn your tank lights of for up to 3 days without hurting anything other than the cyano. It should knock back or eliminate the cyano.

[cynicechoes]

Thanks DrHank, you've always got good advice. What is your opinion on what way to go if the pep. shrimp doesn't start eatting the aiptasia? There seems to be more small ones appearing and the preexisting ones keep growing!

[Melanie]

Thank you for the update on the CUC! Sorry to hear the peppermint shrimp are not eating the aptaisia. Have you tried to pick it off with a razor blade and tweezers?

[DrHank]

The first thing that you need to do is make sure that you did get peppermint shrimp and not camel shrimp. There was a thread on that today with great pictures. Both of the shrimp look very similar and a less than knowledgable salesperson could have given you the wrong type.

Also, there are some peppermint shrimp that don't eat aiptasia.Here is a link to the ones you want.

Peppermint Shrimp - Lysmata wurdemanni

I had a problem similar to what you had in my 110 gallon tank. I added 5 peppermint shrimp and they took care of all my aiptasia in 2 weeks. The nice thing about the shrimp is that after their work on the aiptasia is done, they become part of your CUC. Mine are out everytime I feed.

There are other ways like Kalk paste, Joes Juice and even Vinegar which all work but I really prefer the shrimp. They will get the aiptasia before you can ever see them.

[cynicechoes]

Thanks for the info about the posting and that link... I am having a brain fart as to what exactly our supposed pep looked like, but if I am remembering correctly I think the guy was a complete idiot and didn't sell us a camel or a pep! I think quite possibly he gave us a cleaner, but I am totally drawing a blank , hopefully I will be able to lure him out with some food in order to get a good look at him and figure it out! lol I am totally never getting anything ever again without doing proper research!

Oh, we are starting to think about what we want to stock with.

Fish:
1. We would like to get a pair of percula clowns.
2. Watchman goby and pistol shrimp pair
3. Still thinking for this category

Corals:
We just started our research and have read about some good beginners and we were thinking the first one we try might be a zoa so that our clowns will have something to host. We also thought a star polyp would be a good start. We would like to try a Mushroom Toadstool too. This is just that start of what we were thinking and we aren't planning on adding them all at once, or until we get our tank parameters nice and stable, as well as our upgraded lighting. Any opinions on these choices, or suggestions for good beginners?

Night everyone! Happy reefing!

[GeeWizzItsMe]

Those sound like some great beginner corals! I don't think the clowns will host the zoas, but they may host the mushroom toadstool.

[DrHank]

Don't worry about the clownfish hosting anything. They will be the ones to decide that. Don't think of an anemone until your tank is a year old. Go slowly, research thoroughly, ask questions, and enjoy the little changes in your tank. I'm still watching as my pink zoas slowly take over a 4" rock. I first added a few almost a year and a half ago. Stock your tank slowly and enjoy each new addition. Watch as your critters grow. There isn't a rush. You'll get to enjoy your tank for many years to come.