True 'white' show tank

KMStandley · 12-31-2005, 12:27 AM

Hi there, hope someone can help me. After 10 years of keeping a 100 gal FOWLR salt tank, I want to start a small 'white' show tank. I want to use green crushed dolomite and white (artificial) coral branches. My planned fish are simple clownfish, maybe false perculas or maroons.... In my current tank I employ hundreds of snails, hermies and of course fish to keep the rock, substrate and glass clean. I really don't want to put a whole lot of those guys in the show tank, since I know they will not have plenty to eat like they do in the big tank. Are there any good additives on the market to keep nusiance algae under control in show tanks? Or am I going to have to scrub the decoscapes every few weeks....Any advice on lighting ranges to minimize algae growth in a mini fish only show tank? I use full spectrum PC's on my current tank.
Thanks!

Woodstock · 12-31-2005, 06:50 AM

Welcome to RS!!

All newly set up aquariums go through a normal algae phase. If you use ro/di water, use phosphate sponge, feed zero-lightly, keep an aggressive skimmer, and use low lighting, you will reduce the algae growth tremendously. With that said, you will still need to remove your artificial corals to clean them (boil, then sun dry for a day or two); how often this will be needed to keep them clean is the question....

KimPossible · 12-31-2005, 11:06 AM

When I first started I went for the "white look" too.
Doni's right. I was boiling and sun drying my corals every month....uuugggg...pain in de' butt. Perhaps it was because I was using dead coral branches...dunno, my favorite chinese joint has a white salt tank, everytime I go in, it is still white. I would ask them how they do it, but the guy who's tank it is doesn't speak a lick of English.

12-31-2005, 12:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
KMStandley Tunicate Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1 View Gallery Karma Komment	True 'white' show tank Hi there, hope someone can help me. After 10 years of keeping a 100 gal FOWLR salt tank, I want to start a small 'white' show tank. I want to use green crushed dolomite and white (artificial) coral branches. My planned fish are simple clownfish, maybe false perculas or maroons.... In my current tank I employ hundreds of snails, hermies and of course fish to keep the rock, substrate and glass clean. I really don't want to put a whole lot of those guys in the show tank, since I know they will not have plenty to eat like they do in the big tank. Are there any good additives on the market to keep nusiance algae under control in show tanks? Or am I going to have to scrub the decoscapes every few weeks....Any advice on lighting ranges to minimize algae growth in a mini fish only show tank? I use full spectrum PC's on my current tank. Thanks!

12-31-2005, 06:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21,652 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: True 'white' show tank Welcome to RS!! All newly set up aquariums go through a normal algae phase. If you use ro/di water, use phosphate sponge, feed zero-lightly, keep an aggressive skimmer, and use low lighting, you will reduce the algae growth tremendously. With that said, you will still need to remove your artificial corals to clean them (boil, then sun dry for a day or two); how often this will be needed to keep them clean is the question.... __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~29 gal QT/Hospital tank~* *~3 gal Pico~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MH, dual Actinic t5s,AquaController III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

12-31-2005, 11:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
KimPossible Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 2,544 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: True 'white' show tank When I first started I went for the "white look" too. Doni's right. I was boiling and sun drying my corals every month....uuugggg...pain in de' butt. Perhaps it was because I was using dead coral branches...dunno, my favorite chinese joint has a white salt tank, everytime I go in, it is still white. I would ask them how they do it, but the guy who's tank it is doesn't speak a lick of English. __________________ Kim ~My environment is a product of myself~

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