Just starting out and very overwhelmed!!

[teresaq]

since this is your first tank, lets keep it simple.
google - Saltwater SeaGarden Plants - They are nice looking but you will have to clean them now and then.
You can also use things like these, just be sure they are not real poky. the soft rubber is better.
filteration. there is no right answer here. its research and asking questions about products.
This is what I used on my old tank. Rapids Pro Series Wet/Dry Filter Systems
I have also used canister filters. Both just require regular maintance, nothing hard about them
Do you have yahoo IM - Its easier to talk

 

[amandastp]

Originally Posted by TeresaQ
http:///forum/post/3061074
since this is your first tank, lets keep it simple.
google - Saltwater SeaGarden Plants - They are nice looking but you will have to clean them now and then.
You can also use things like these, just be sure they are not real poky. the soft rubber is better.
filteration. there is no right answer here. its research and asking questions about products.
This is what I used on my old tank. Rapids Pro Series Wet/Dry Filter Systems
I have also used canister filters. Both just require regular maintance, nothing hard about them
Do you have yahoo IM - Its easier to talk
Hi teresa I have a Yahoo E-mail address. I'v never used IM but I will see if I can figure it out. It's almost embarrassing how bad I am with computers.

 

[teresaq]

Its pretty easy. Post you e-mail with spaces and I will invite you to talk. Here is mine. Teresaq1 @yahoo.com take out the space
T

 

[amandastp]

Originally Posted by TeresaQ
http:///forum/post/3061256
Its pretty easy. Post you e-mail with spaces and I will invite you to talk. Here is mine. Teresaq1 @yahoo.com take out the space
T
My home computer died on me last night, so untill I figure out what is wrong with it, I can only come on between patients at work, which does not give me much time. I do appreciate all your help and as soon as I can get my computer working I will be back on more.

 

[amandastp]

I tried to download Yahoo IM at work and they have it blocked so I won't beable to try it untill I fix my home computer.

 

[amandastp]

Hi Teresa My computer has a bad battery so as long as I'm plugged in I'm good. I also downloaded Yahoo IM. Let me know if you don't get my message.

 

[teresaq]

nothing yet, try e-mailing me first Teresaq1@ yahoo.ocm

 

[amandastp]

Well I got my base rock in the mail yesturday. It looks much diffrent than the stuff the LFS sold me. I washed it really well and arranged in the tank. I am not sure if there is a right way to do it. One of the sights I was looking at sold little poles and nuts and bolts to fasten the rocks together. Is that nesacarry? The rock was very lumpy and bumpy and seems to fit together pretty securley. I even managed to make a little archway they can swim through. I am now in the search for a piece of live rock to seed my Base rock with. Any suggestion as to how much I need? So far I have 25 pounds of Base rock in my 29 gallon tank. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[teresaq]

Here ya go, I posted your picture for you - you only need a couple of fist size pieces of live rock to seed.
T

 

[amandastp]

I finally got my live rock to seed my base rock. Should I put the live rock on top of the base rock, or in the sand under, or next to the base rock?

 

[teresaq]

it dosent matter, put it where ever you think it pretty.
T

 

[amandastp]

Thanks Teresa! I am putting some pics of my new rock. Let me know what you think. If anyone can identify anything on it, that would be greatly appreciated! I know the pics are not great but it is the best I could do. I am also wanting to buy a power head. I can't remember the one you recommended to me, and do you think I need more than one?
Rock Pics

 

[teresaq]

wow there is a lot going on with that piece of rock. The green bubble stuff should be picked off.
I would like a closer picture of the dark tan looking things. to make sure they arent hydroids, and the round things with circles in them are courius.
Some of the other green things look like macro algea which are ok
T

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by amandastp
http:///forum/post/3072769
I finally got my live rock to seed my base rock. Should I put the live rock on top of the base rock, or in the sand under, or next to the base rock? %%
Welcome Aboard!!! You tank looks AWESOME!
Decorating a tank takes time, especially when your "Canvas" is always growing and changing. If it were me, I would set the rocks up how I wanted them to look, not how "mature" the live rock(LR) is. Eventually your landscape will be blooming with all sorts of life and you will not be able to tell the LR from the seeded rock(SR). But if you want your SR to grow faster, I'd put them on top. Plants grow towards light, so all the coraline and plant matter will grow up, therefore covering the barer, SR quicker.
The are many other things to be considered when building your seahorse tank ~where you want to place your "hitching posts" or resting areas for your horses.
Feediing stations
Intake filter covers
heater cover
and many others...
But for now I would focus on cycling your tank. The more mature your tank is, the more successful you will be with your seahorses.
Again, Welcome aboard! And remember, the only bad question here is the one one you do not ask! So ask away

~Rykna

 

[amandastp]

Thanks so much. My mane concern right now is the possibility of introducing bad hitchhikers. I was wondering if there is a list of things that can come on live rock that can be harmful to sea horses. Teresa mentioned getting rid of the green bubble like things(very technical I know). I was wondering how to remove it. Names and/or pictures of the things I should be worried about would be helpful. I don't have anything in the tank yet so I would like to keep on top of any potential problems before I get my horses. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I was thinking of taking the LR out tomorrow and picking off anything that is unidentifiable. I also finally put my shrimp(ammonia source) in today. When should I start testing my levels?

 

[teresaq]

The green bubble algea - you should be able to just pick off. get a bucket of sw and pick them off in there. try not to break them. the goo inside can spread, thus doing it in a bucket.
The only thing I see that conserns be are the tan tube looking things. Is there anything coming out of them?? can you get a closer picture of the differant things on the rock.
Its a really nice rock though.
T

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by amandastp
http:///forum/post/3073370
Thanks so much. My mane concern right now is the possibility of introducing bad hitchhikers. I was wondering if there is a list of things that can come on live rock that can be harmful to sea horses. Teresa mentioned getting rid of the green bubble like things(very technical I know). I was wondering how to remove it. Names and/or pictures of the things I should be worried about would be helpful. I don't have anything in the tank yet so I would like to keep on top of any potential problems before I get my horses. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I was thinking of taking the LR out tomorrow and picking off anything that is unidentifiable. I also finally put my shrimp(ammonia source) in today. When should I start testing my levels?

Always be on the look out for bad hitch hikers. Alot, if not all of us here, have stories to tell that would give you nightmares. Not to scare you, but to prepare you~ as Smokey the Bear said "Prevention is the best way to fight fire"!

Hitch hikers are always going to be able to find their way into you Display Tank(DT). Seahorses immune systems are extremely weak compared to other marine fish we keep. This is why you want to quaratine your seahorses before introducing them to your DT. There are many methods and medications you can use to remove unwanted parasites.
As for testing your levels will I would start right now. Keeping a record of your tank levels can be helpful too. Pictures of your tank are always a bonus, and make it easier for others here to understand your situation and give more acurate suggestions.
~Rykna

 

[amandastp]

Well my new wet/dry sump filter came in. It is so powerfull, I am afraid it may be too strong and blow my sea horses away. I have sparked my husbands interst in the hobbie, and he is not only willing to help me by making me a spraybar that will hopefully help dispers the massive amounts of water comming back into the tank, but he also is thinking of doing his own reef tank. Do you think the spray bar will help,and if I have all this flow comming in, do I still need a power head? The water seams to be really moving around in there.
I also have cleaned the green bubble alge off of my LR by scraping it of in a bucket of salt water. I think I may have killed it? I just mixed the salt with water with out measuring, and I did not pay attention to the temp of the water. Now instead of the nice purple color the rock use to be it is now a redish color, and all the macro algie(? green like plant things) that came on the rock are all dying and falling off. A couple of worms that must have been hiding in the rock aslo came out and are now dead. I have no idea what I did wrong, but do you think I need to buy more LR? Heeeeelp!!!!

 

[teresaq]

No you should be fine. It will just help with your cycle. There will be enough bacteria deep in the rock to seed your tank.
You are ok
T