New 12g Aquapod- Thoughts?

rad

Member
This is my first tank, a 12 gallon aquapod. I just put 13 pounds of live rock in yesterday and have since added TLC bacteria to my tank, I dont feel I need to add a shrimp to start the cycling since I wasnt instructed to do so by my lfs. But really I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how I should structure my lr (its four seperate pieces, I left alot of surface area on the rock and tried to keep all coral areas in good lighting. the one in the back on the left has a hole in it for my lobster) or if I should even still be moving my lr since its been in there for a little over 24 hours as of right now. Also if someone could help me as to what kinds/how many fish/corals I can keep in one of these with stock lighting and pumps I would appreciate it. Hopefull list of items in tank:
Fish etc.:
Pair of False Percula (or a perculia and another coloful fish. stupid gobies and thier cold water needs)
Red Reef Lobster
Anemone Crab
Fire Shrimp
Star fish (open to suggestions)
and maybe a sea horse after the tank has been established
Corals:
bubble coral
frog spawn
Yellow Gorgonian
Blue Striped Mushrooms
and some other things, havnt thought too much about corals yet. theres lots to read up on and I havnt had the time.
 

chipmaker

Active Member
As long as your just getting into the cycle its not a problem to move and rearrange your rock. Once tank is cycled and inhabitants are added, its best to leave rock alone as it risks creating a crash by disrupting detrius and junk which re initiates a potential for another cycle. Your smart for not adding a dead shrimp to initiate the cycle, and doing it with live rock would have been sufficient, with no need to add the bacteria in all reality. Guess in a way the lfs was smart but in another they were business savy since they make 0 money on selling dead cocktail shrimp but make money on packaged bacteria.......but the rock alone would have been sufficient all by itself. I take it that list of inhabitants is for future stocking and yu do not have anything in the tank as of yet? The way live rock is placed is personal preference. I like lots of beach area as well as layers or shelves and flats to put corals on the live rock, as well as caves and such but still be able to see within any cave or closed areas which also helps to provide decent current flow.
 

rad

Member
Thanks for the response! Good info on moving the lr, thats exactly what I was looking for. But my lfs didnt make any money on the TLC. They were free samples that they just threw in when I was buying my lr, there good guys I swear, (at least untill they screw me over) everyone keeps trying to tell me otherwise. I too would like lots of beach area in my tank but with a 12g and the rocks I have its not really a possibility. I have the most beach area behind the rock on the right in the cave area. Anyone think caves are a bad idea? I havnt seen too many in the photographs around here. But the way you discribed your rock seems pretty much the way I tried to set mine up, minus the current flows. But I still think I could have good flow-idge with the set up I have.
edit: do you think the lr in the front left is angled enough to accept corals? I included an extra pic for a better vantage point:
 

chipmaker

Active Member
You can stick most corals on any degree of slope even a vertical plane. They will / can re-orinetate themselves if necessary. Corals like shrooms do not have a problem with any angles or such.
 

rad

Member
^Excellent. Now I just hope that my one middle (top) rock dosnt fall on anything. But I dont think a clown would be strong enough to push the rocks away. thanks for the help.
 
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