New AP24 HQI Diary

[mimic]

I added 5 turbo snails, and 3 blue legged hermits and 1 domino damsel.
Eventually I want 10 total snails, 15 hermits, 1 shrimp.
I bought the damsel just to have something for my eyes, I dont think I am going to keep it forever because I want to eventually have (1 Flame Angel, 2 Black/White clowns and if I can one Watchman gobby) but its still up in the air.
Tommorow my nitrites should be 0.3mg/l which is safe but I know I still want to shoot for 0, my nitrates are 20ppm, and I plan to do a 50% water change sometime soon probably in a couple of days so I can drop my readings.

 

[new2salt1]

Originally Posted by mimic
I added 5 turbo snails, and 3 blue legged hermits and 1 domino damsel.
Eventually I want 10 total snails, 15 hermits, 1 shrimp.
I bought the damsel just to have something for my eyes, I dont think I am going to keep it forever because I want to eventually have (1 Flame Angel, 2 Black/White clowns and if I can one Watchman gobby) but its still up in the air.
Tommorow my nitrites should be 0.3mg/l which is safe but I know I still want to shoot for 0, my nitrates are 20ppm, and I plan to do a 50% water change sometime soon probably in a couple of days so I can drop my readings.
Hey Mimic -
You definately want the snails to outnumber the hermits. The hermits will eat your snails and steal their shells, and you dont want a high demand and a low supply- it could mean an end to your snail population. Pick up some nassarius snails. They're the ones with the really long foot. They sift the sand, which will be important for your tank, since it looks like it might be tough to get inside those caves yourself to do the housekeeping.
As far as a skimmer, I dont use one on my 14 gallon tank. I dont think it's necessary, but I know there are others with the 24 gal pod that know better than I. Personally, I would spend the $100-$125 on an R.O. unit. You can get a cheap one for like $60, but I would recommend putting the $125 away, saving another $100 or so, and getting a solid R.O. unit. No machine will make your tank inhabitants happier than frequent, 1-2 gallon water changes. Sure, the skimmer will remove more waste than not having a skimmer, but there is no way to replace the trace elements that are quickly depleted in these small systems other than small, frequent water changes.
Just last week I got an R.O. unit, and I do a 1 gal water change every 3 days now. When I supplement iodine (for xenia) and feed phytoplankton (for everyone), I now do it in the one gallon water change. The corals are opening larger, spreading more, and the inverts and my 2 fish are much more active.
Thats just my 2 cents. Good luck and keep asking questions.

 

[mimic]

Thanks for the help, love this forum - yeah ill def go purchase more snails - and good call on the nas snails ill go pick up a couple 2-morrow.

 

[mimic]

Well i purchased a 6-Stage RO/DI unit, should be here in less then a week.
I also have decided that I am going to purchase the Biocube Nano Skimmer, ive read great stuff on it and its really cheap.
Tommorow I am going to do a 50% water change, and on friday I am going to pick up some more snails, and a peppermint shrimp - I think it would also be wise to purchase a Phosphate and Calcium test kit, since I eventually plan to get some really cool corals.
My order from ***********.com should come in tommorow, I purchased some filtration stuff from seachem, a MJ 1200 pump and powerhead, 2 micron bags, proper PH and a master test kit from API, and various items.
My water is crystal clear already, so I cant even imagine how much clearier it could possibly get with my carbon filtration + skimmer.
Ill keep you guys posted I'd take some pics of my livestock but my camera on phone isnt to great for those "Up close" pics, i'll have to borrow my sister's camera and Ill hook you all up with some cool photos.

 

[new2salt1]

Wow, a man of action!
RO/DI at home is where it's at! Gone are the days of lugging water to/from the LFS!
Yes, a reef kit is essential. For like $25, you will be able to test Calc, Kh, Phos, and Nitrates (I believe, depending on kit). I remember when I first got all of my stuff. I was like the mad freakin scientist!
If you want to be ghetto, u can buy a WalMart digital camera for like $200, and return it within a month. I "tried" to do this, but I fell in love with the camera and never took it back.

 

[mimic]

Well, all parems read 0,
SG: 1.026
temp is about 80
i want to purchase maybe a zenia and/or some blue or red shrooms how long would you guys say untill i am ready for it, bout another month?

 

[poop_head]

I would suggest to think about the xenia. I hear it groes like a weed when established. I've always told myself I will never buy anything that grows like a weed. I would think your tank would be ready for shrooms soon. they are pretty tuff little buggers.

 

[mimic]

I bought some multi-colored polyps, they are zoo'as and the rock they are on have plenty of coraline algae on it hope it spreads.
How long does it usually take for all the polyps to fully open, i brought it home and maybe 30% of them opened, i turned off the lights and soon after they closed which I think is normal since they feed off the light.

 

[mimic]

Well 80% opened up they are very nice colored a baby blue, some vibrant green with orange, i bought it for 60$ at my LFS kind of pricey but it has alot of nice coraline algae on it and probably about 40-60 polpys on it, which are many not open yet and will grow on many of my rocks in my tank, so all in all good buy, my next coral I want is Zenia and or some more zoo'as, possibly some blue or purple mushrooms!!

 

[mimic]

Bought a queen conch and an anemone crab.
also purchased the biocube nano skimmer got it for $43 shipped to my door.
other then that nothing else new just waiting to get some shrooms and or some hammer coral

 

[paintballer768]

Cool. Shrooms will be with you forever if you decide to get them, so make sure you like the color morph. I say that because its tough to kill them. Zoas and xenia are cool, xenia is a pain and zoas are classic and are great all the time.
It takes some corals weeks to open up fully, so give em some time.

 

[subielover]

Any updates?