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Quick question. 20 gallons with Penguin 125 (125gph), Prizm skimmer (mostly closed), and Rio 600 power head (200gph). Too much for this little reef? It just seems like a lot in there. Do I need to worry about what corals I get and where in the-line-of-flow I put them?

So, I got a pepperment shrimp last weekend, and for 5 days (as far as I could tell) he did nothing but hide in a big hole in the back of some LR. I was about to hand him his pink slip when, the night before last, I noticed some movement under my luner's...and...BAM...the little dude was wolfing...

I'm growing algae like crazy on my glass and wierd brown stringy algae on my LS and LR too. My tank has been up for a little over a week and my levels are all fairly low-ammonia <.25, trites 0, trates 20. I used RO water to fill. I have a turbo, 2 herms, and a damsel in there now. I just lit off...

Sounds like sage advice, Amphibious. Thanks. I brought the LR right home from the LFS (about 5 minutes from my house), where it was in a 6 year old display tank, so it is interesting to hear that that could be the case. That's a great quote, and I'll definetely wait and test for a few more...

The damsel WAS stressed a few days ago (which makes me suspect the ammonia has already spiked), but has been doing well for the past couple days - eating well, very active, no signs of respiration problems, etc. And yes, I have more flow than just what the power filter provides. My question is...

My 20H has been running for 11 days with 27lbs LR and 20lbs of LS. I have had a blue damsel in it for 8 days, and prior to that I fed the tank frozen brine shrimp for 3 days. I have a Penguin 125 power filter w/ bio wheel that has been running since day 1. I have tested most days, but became...

Okay, thanks for your help TeresaQ and Millerman! Sounds good. My 'trates seem to be dropping pretty rapidly and my skimmer finally arrived, so I think I'll order soon...

Gotcha. Thanks Dogster. I think I'll let the tank stew in its own filth for tonight, and start the skimmer up tomorrow. I'm also a little confused about where the tank is in the cycle because I think my dry-tabs have been bad for the last couple years, but they were all I had until yesterday. If...

Thanks Millerman. So if I make sure they have shells to move up into they should leave everybody alone? Is there a niche that the herms fill that snails won't? Or would it just be safer to have all snails? I have heard from a couple people that hermits are major opportunists and will kill or...

I just got the same skimmer for my 20 gallon today, though mine doesn't have the deluxe package. The directions say to start it up with the valve fully open, and the primer hose conntected to the primer tube in the cover of the skimmate collection basket, and then reduce the intake valve...

So skimming now will slow the process down, but will keep the cycle levels lower? I've already seen a lower number of 'pods and worms in the tank...but the sooner I cycle the sooner I can get some cool stuff! (half-joking) I want to do everything right, and a quality tank is way worth the wait...

Yeah, I heard that about starfish also, so no starfish. I have 27lbs of LR and 20lbs of LS. Have you had any problems with your herms harrasing any of the other inverts? I heard that they can also clash with emerald crabs. Thanks!

I thought skimming and water changes during the cycle slow the process down and don't do any good since the whole point is to feed the nitrifying bacteria until they get well enough established to support additional bio-load?

My skimmer finally arrived today! It's a Red Sea Prizm HO. I'm starting a 20H reef with 20lbs LS and 27lbs LR, and I'm about 9 days into the cycle. I was away from the tank for a few days and I think I may have missed the ammonia spike because my nitrates have been pretty high for the past...

Okay, maybe I need to be more specific. I have heard that herms eat lots of algae and look cool, but they kill stuff. So, no herms then. I like conks, some cool looking shells, but how many should/can be kept in a 20 gallon reef with a 1" sand bed? I want emerald crabs because some bubble algae...

Good point.

This may belong in the "New Kid" threads, but I figure you guys would certainly be able to help out. Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about the Seachem Reef Pack Fundamentals? Other than calcium (obviously important) how important are other additives like trace elements and amino...

Anyone?

Thanks for all the responses! I can't do the butterflies-my tank is only a 20H, but the pepperment is already on my livestock wish-list. I'm waiting for the tank to cycle, then I'll get my cleaning crew. Can I just pinch the little bugger off until then?

How do I inject the boiling water? Do I use a needle and just fill it up with boiling water and inject a small amount into the base?