New Additions Update & Acclimation?

[marvelfan]

Finally got around to placing my first SWF order.
My 2 Ocellaris clowns have been doing awesome over the last month or so. No issues. They eat and play and all that good stuff. I didn't have much of a clean up crew in there since and I've been running my lights as if I have corals in there, so the algae build up has been moderately bad, but I've been able to clean out most of it with my scrapper during my weekly water changes.
I was waiting for my QT to cycle before ording my CUC and my second fish addition. My QT has been ready for a couple days now so I just placed my order for my CUC my next fish and my first coral.
1 Flame Angelfish
10 Astrea snails
5 Nerite snails
3 Emerald Crabs
1 hammer Coral - Single Stalk
1 Fire Shrimp
Seems like a lot to add at once, but I figure the Flame Angel will go to QT and the other additions should pose that large of a bio load seeing as its all inverts.
Is there any certain order I should acclimate or add them. Can I place all my inverts (snails, crabs and shrimp) in container and drip acclimate them all together? and then just drip acclimate the angel fish by itself.
According to the site I will only have to temperature acclimate the coral before I place it in my display tank.
Since this is my very first coral is there anything I need to do. Some sort of dip? What do you recommend?
Excited and nervous!

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Is there any certain order I should acclimate or add them. Can I place all my inverts (snails, crabs and shrimp) in container and drip acclimate them all together? and then just drip acclimate the angel fish by itself.
You should be fine to set up two drips. One for all the snails, crabs, and shrimp form your DT. Then one for the Flame angel from the QT. That should be fine.
Congrats on the order from SWF. First coral is a blast!!! You will love watching your reef tank now.
Post up some pics MarvelFan!!!

 

[sagxman]

Finally got around to placing my first SWF order.

My 2 Ocellaris clowns have been doing awesome over the last month or so. No issues. They eat and play and all that good stuff. I didn't have much of a clean up crew in there since and I've been running my lights as if I have corals in there, so the algae build up has been moderately bad, but I've been able to clean out most of it with my scrapper during my weekly water changes.

I was waiting for my QT to cycle before ording my CUC and my second fish addition. My QT has been ready for a couple days now so I just placed my order for my CUC my next fish and my first coral.

1 Flame Angelfish
10 Astrea snails
5 Nerite snails
3 Emerald Crabs
1 hammer Coral - Single Stalk
1 Fire Shrimp

Seems like a lot to add at once, but I figure the Flame Angel will go to QT and the other additions should pose that large of a bio load seeing as its all inverts.

Is there any certain order I should acclimate or add them. Can I place all my inverts (snails, crabs and shrimp) in container and drip acclimate them all together? and then just drip acclimate the angel fish by itself.

According to the site I will only have to temperature acclimate the coral before I place it in my display tank.

Since this is my very first coral is there anything I need to do. Some sort of dip? What do you recommend?

Excited and nervous!




Yes, pics please!
You shouldn't have a problem with that bioload. I've added a lot more than that at once before and felt comfortable.
Some people dip their corals but I never have. I'm sure it's a good idea but I'm not qualified to give advise on that.

 

[flower]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Like SaGxMAN...I don't know enough about dips to give advice. I used Lugals but it killed my brain coral, so not all corals can be dipped, that's all I learned about the dip thing...I quit dipping after the brain death altogether. I just inspected the coral very carefuly to see any critters on it. Beware of something that looks like snot...it could be eggs of something. Folks here a pretty good at being able to tell you what something is if you spot it.

 

[superman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarvelFan http:///t/391385/new-additions-update-acclimation#post_3470689
I was waiting for my QT to cycle before ording my CUC and my second fish addition.
Just curious why you had to wait for the QT to cycle? Typically a QT is pretty empty save for some PVC or other item for fish to hide.

 

[marvelfan]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Superman http:///t/391385/new-additions-update-acclimation#post_3470774
Just curious why you had to wait for the QT to cycle? Typically a QT is pretty empty save for some PVC or other item for fish to hide.
I'm a bit confused by the question. But I had to wait because my Nitrites were ungodly high. I wanted to wait for the QT to grow all the beneficial bacteria it needed to support my new fish addition. I

 

[marvelfan]

Drip acclimating everything now. Everything seems to be moving very slowly. My shrimp isn't moving at all.. he molted in his bag. Not sure if he is dead or just taking it easy for a bit due to his trip.
Flame Angel seems good so far.
Do livestock usually seem lethargic for a while after you receive them?

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarvelFan http:///t/391385/new-additions-update-acclimation#post_3470968
Drip acclimating everything now. Everything seems to be moving very slowly. My shrimp isn't moving at all.. he molted in his bag. Not sure if he is dead or just taking it easy for a bit due to his trip.
Flame Angel seems good so far.
Do livestock usually seem lethargic for a while after you receive them?
It depends on the specimen. I have had blennies be very active after shipping and other fish very inactive.

 

[marvelfan]

The Fire shrimp didn't survive the trip =( Poor little guy. But everyone else seems to be thriving! Overall, I'm happy =)
The coral is beautiful! and I love my new Angel Fish. Got her in quarantine!
Closed:

Open:

Flame Angel: (Rosey)

 

[marvelfan]

Oh and I think I have an Aiptasia problem!
Found this this morning!

Might have to got get some peppermint shrimp? Is that a good option?

 

[bang guy]

That looks like a Featherduster to me.

 

[marvelfan]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/391385/new-additions-update-acclimation#post_3470996
That looks like a Featherduster to me.
That doesn't seem so bad! I'll have to keep an eye on things. Seems like I have a bunch of stuff sprouting in my tank all of a sudden.

 

[marvelfan]

To be honest I'm not sure what to feed my Angel while in QT. Since it does't have any live rock in QT to feed off of, what can I give it to eat. Its been picking at the walls and bottom of the tank. I've provided some algae strips treated with garlic also. I put a very tiny bit of brine shrimp in there today. I'm going to buy some mysis for my tank tomorrow. I've been feeding brine the last month or so, but I want to switch to a brine mysis mix since brine is basically junk food.
I've also read some angels are finicky eaters.

 

[btldreef]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarvelFan http:///t/391385/new-additions-update-acclimation#post_3471031
To be honest I'm not sure what to feed my Angel while in QT. Since it does't have any live rock in QT to feed off of, what can I give it to eat. Its been picking at the walls and bottom of the tank. I've provided some algae strips treated with garlic also. I put a very tiny bit of brine shrimp in there today. I'm going to buy some mysis for my tank tomorrow. I've been feeding brine the last month or so, but I want to switch to a brine mysis mix since brine is basically junk food.
I've also read some angels are finicky eaters.
The algae sheets are essential. You should also look into some frozen foods designed for herbivores and omnivores. Personally, I think Emerald Entree is one of the best blends on the market. PE mysis is a good one too, but that has NO veggies, it's just straight mysis shrimp.

 

[marvelfan]

I bought some live brine shrimp yesterday. It was only 50 cents, so I thought I'd try it. The angel chased them all down and ate them all. I'll keep the algae strips in there. The guy at my LFS told me to take a small piece of LR out of my DT and rubberband algae strips to it so it can graze. What do you think?

 

[bang guy]

Quote:
take a small piece of LR out of my DT and rubberband algae strips to it so it can graze. What do you think?
Yep. Do that often.

 

[marvelfan]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/391385/new-additions-update-acclimation#post_3471294
Yep. Do that often.
Ok.. good deal.. thanks, I wasn't sure I should put live rock into the QT. But I have some extra in my Sump I can pull out. and place in the QT.
I'm heading out of town for 5 days (about 2 weeks from now) I hope that maybe adding some LR will also help maintain some stability since I won't be around for water changes on the QT for that amount of time. I was going to do every 2 -3 day 50% water changes. I'm going to have my brother stop by to test the tank for me while i'm gone on a daily basis.