I am new to the hobby, a few qustions!

[im_a_piranha]

Hi everyone I am new to the hobby and I'm loving every second of it. I have a 12gal nano I got as a birthday present and have had it for 3 weeks! It is by Cube Masters... Anyway, I have everything setup with following so far:
- 7lbs live rock
- I can't remember the sand part
- I get pre-mix salwater from my LFS already and do water change every week, 10 - 12%
- I have a candy cane, 2 kinds of button polyps and a mushroom. Got them 2 days ago
- I have a false perc, who has been in the tank for 5 days now
- I have a cleanup crew of about 16 snails (nass, cerith etc) and 4 scarlet hermit crabs
I currently put half a cube of brine shrimp everyday. LFS advised that it is a good starter food. My water parameters are perfect, I've done several tests for PH, alkalinity, salinity, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia. I keep the water temp around 78-80. I actually have a heater inside because without it, my water would drop to the low 70's.
I am very happy with it right now. My questions are as follows..
1) I have been told that it is good not to stack the rocks against the backwall of the tank for a better water flow. So right now, I have a gap between the rocks and the back wall. However, I want to get more creative with my rock formations but find it hard to do this if I cannot lean some of the rocks against the back. How much truth is there to the 'better water flow' if I keep the gap in the back?
2) how often should I rinse the bio balls, ceramic rings, and filter? SHould I take them out and replace them with rocks instead? I have heard mixed things about this. One has said that since I already have a good amount of bio load in my tank, that I shouldnt make the switch anymore
3) I am thinking I want to add another buddy to sushi (my clown). I am thinking of either a six-line wrasse or another false perc. What do you think? Sushi is fairly small, about 1.5 inches.
4) How long should I leave my lights on. At night, instead of completely turning it off, is it better to just leave the moonlights on?
5) For the corals I currently have in there, my LFS told me they don't need any food etc and that they just feed off of the light. Is this true?
6) What other corals would you suggest I add?
7) If you look at the picture, some of the candy cane coral doesn't look good. Is it dying? Should I take it out? it never opened up when I got it from LFS, but the rest seem to look good.
Thanks so much for reading I am hoping to get some good feedback! I love this hobby :joy:

 

[azfishgal]

Well, keep in mind I do not have my tank set up yet (125 gallon as I'm not brave enough to start a Nano tank). But, from the research I've done, you have added fish/coral way to soon. :scared: From what I have read, most tanks need to cycle for 4-6 weeks, sometimes 8 weeks. So this could be why your candy cane is not doing good. I'm sure someone with actual experience will pipe in and give you more advice on what to do. But if it were me, I would not add another thing for a month or two.
With all that said, you have a nice looking tank. Welcome! :cheer:

 

[im_a_piranha]

Originally Posted by azfishgal
Well, keep in mind I do not have my tank set up yet (125 gallon as I'm not brave enough to start a Nano tank). But, from the research I've done, you have added fish/coral way to soon. :scared: From what I have read, most tanks need to cycle for 4-6 weeks, sometimes 8 weeks. So this could be why your candy cane is not doing good. I'm sure someone with actual experience will pipe in and give you more advice on what to do. But if it were me, I would not add another thing for a month or two.
With all that said, you have a nice looking tank. Welcome! :cheer:
That's what I was thinking at first..bbut then again, I had algae blooms and went through the diatom stage already...which supposedly signals a finished cycle...unless I am wrond :notsure: I am just thinking that my candy cane was damaged in the bag when I got it because all the others are doing well...but I suppose only time will tell. Thanks for the response!

 

[azfishgal]

Your cycle can go up and down several times before it settles and the reason I personally won't have a nano tank is it can crash fast. I've also been told that coral is the last thing you want to add, as they need a well established tank. But again, I'm learning msyelf as I'm from the "freshwater" family. So it will be interesting to see what the pros say. I do like the way you have your rock set up though, I like for the fish to be able to swim through something, instead of just going in circles.

 

[cwazy clow]

holy smokes.
1. where did you get LR? from store?
2. do you have ANY test kits?
3. take all corals back. if answer to ^^ is no
4. LR on the back is fine. i have it on the back and its fine.
5. take out all filter media (balls/filter media) and replace it with rock rubble.
6. RUN CARBON
7. TEST TEST TEST TEST FFS TEST some more.
8. 80 is to high for certain corals, seems like 76 is a neutral temp.
so your questions:
1. i have no clue with candy cane. i am sps
2. 8hr exposure
3. max of 4 hr moonlight
4. add another perc. they like pairs
5. depending on what lighting you have stick to softys. add xenia, leathers and etc. dont add LPS or SPS
5. you need to do some reading man