New 240 Tank

[fishhead]

I see the tube of a little feather duster in #3, sponge in #2 and a conch in some wierd shell in #1?

[Warnberg]

The first picture, I have 3 of these little guys, they run all over the place and plow thru the sand very nicley.
That sponge looks like a ball of snot, not to be gross but that is what it looks like.

Thanks all for the id's

[Warnberg]

Last night I decided to toss a piece of shrimp in the tank (left over bait shrimp that was frozen) I shelled it and tossed it in. Well within 5 minutes there where 5 of the conch's on it. I believe they are florida fighting conch's, I though I only had two, but I have 5. Are conch's normally meat eaters? Or do they just eat anything dead?

Also my parms have changed slightly:

Ammonia 0.0
Nitrites 0.1 ppm
Nitrates 5.0 ppm down from 7.5 ppm
ph 8.1
SG 1.024
KH/Alk 9.6 dhk or 3.43 meg/L

I'm really confused as to what is going on here, I thought my nitrites would go down before my nitrates would.... what is up with that.

Dave

[cheeks69]

In SW nitrite readings are insignificant since they're not toxic like ammonia is. I really don't see anything wrong with #'s since the bacteria levels are still fluctuating as they normally would in a new tank until it stabilizes in a few weeks to the levels that would be appropriate to add livestock. Remember to add livestock slowly so that your bacterial populations can catch up otherwise you'll get ammonia which could be deadly.

[Warnberg]

Well I was wrong on my identification and you guys didn't catch it

I went out to the TBS web site to help identify some of these animals I have and this is what I found.

Snail: Whelk
The "trunk" emerging from the head of this snail likely identifies it as a whelk. Unfortunately, whelks often bore through barnacles and other crustacean shells, so you may want to get rid of it if you happen to find one. Photo: patsan

Looks like these guys are going to have to come out.....

[Craig Manoukian]

Originally Posted by cheeks69

In SW nitrite readings are insignificant since they're not toxic like ammonia is.

Robert,

My understanding is that nitrites are not toxic to fish but are certainly a problem for invertabrates. Just to clarify a little.

Dave,

I have a fighting conch and it is a wonderful algeavore/detrivore.

[cheeks69]

Randy Holmes-Farley:

Aquarists' concerns about nitrite are usually imported from the freshwater hobby. Nitrite is far less toxic in seawater than in freshwater. Fish are typically able to survive in seawater with more than 100 ppm nitrite!17 Until future experiments show substantial nitrite toxicity to reef aquarium inhabitants, nitrite is not an important parameter for reef aquarists to monitor. Tracking nitrite in a new reef aquarium can nevertheless be instructive by showing the biochemical processes that are taking place. In most cases, I do not recommend that aquarists bother to measure nitrite in established aquaria.

[Warnberg]

Well after almost 2 weeks of up and running I have noticed the temp in the tank climb a bit. Current temp at the end of the day with the lights running has been reaching 82.5 degrees. I have fans ordered and they should be here today, hopefully this will help. The temp has varied (not alot) from 81 to 82.5 at the end of the day. I'm going to try to get the temp down around 80 degrees. I didn't check my parms yesterday as it was mothers day and she wanted my attention rather than the TANK (oh well) so we went to the beach.

We have discovered more life in the tank everyday (my wife even spends at least an hour everynight looking), we have now over 20 feather dusters, more snails, a new brittle star, a very small anemone and everything seems to be growing, including new sponges and alge. I am amazed at how much life has come into the tank from these rocks. I am seeing a little bit of bleeching from the very top rocks (the ones closest to the lights).

[Warnberg]

Well here are the test parms for today:

Ammonia 0.0
Nitrites 0.01
Nitrates 0.5 Had to use the side this time to get a reading
ph 8.2
SG 1.024
KH/Alk 8.0 dhk or 2.86 meg/L
CU 0.0
Temp 82.1

The fans I got are Orion fans, not sure how I'm going to mount them as of yet. Right now they are just sitting on the back of the tank blowing in across the lights.

The Algae at this point is growing in spots but just as it seems to go the snails move in and destroy it (turbo snails)

Skimmer is not working but will be replaced soon (sent me a new one) should be up by wednesday of this week.

Water movement right now is being taken care of by two little giant pumps model 3-MDQX-SC, I believe they are rated at about 1200 gph.



With the way the water parameters are when would be a good time to add some of my clean up crew? There are 5 turbo snails in there, 5 of those welks, 2 Cerith snails, 1 large and 1 very tiny brittle star, a couple very small spagetti worms, and a bunch of feather dusters (this all according to the TBS web site). All of these animals came in on the rock accept for the turbo snails. There is also those two small ocellarius clowns that where given to me. I also discovered a small shrimp, I think it is a cleaner shrimp. He just poped out of one of the holes in the rock one day and he comes out once in a while and swayes back and forth. (yes we have been really looking as we find more stuff every night)

oh and by the way, that piece of shrimp I threw in there the other day.. well it's gone.

[cheeks69]

That depends some will wait until all readings ammonia nitrite nitrates are 0 others when only ammonia and nitrite are 0. If the cleanup crew you have is doing the job then I wouldn't rush to get more, I would just increase it as you add your fish but it's your call...usually it's much cheaper to order a package.

http://www.reeftopia.com/ has great deals on cleanup crews check them out.

[Jiddy]

Warnberg, congrats on takin it slow, i too have a big tank waitin to be properly setup, i was wonderin what SKimmer you use? and if you could show us a new full tank shot!

[Warnberg]

I was just thinking about a few hermits (blue leg), just adding a little at a time. There seems to be a lot of buildup on the top of the sand. The large Brittle star I have doesn't move much, he just kind of hangs out at one end of the tank. What is the differance between a brittle star and a sand sifting star?

I'll try to get a full tank shot tonight and get is posted for everyone. I have been taking shots of individual's in the tank, seems the feather dusters are growing and multiplying everyday.

The skimmer they sent me is a Red Sea Berlin Classic Protein Skimmer with a Rio 2500 pump.

[Warnberg]

Here is the latest pic....

[Warnberg]

Here is the latest test results:

Ammonia 0.0
Nitrites 0.0 ppm
Nitrates 0.50 ppm
ph 8.2
SG 1.024

This is 10 days after set up

[Craig Manoukian]

Lookin' good Dave!