New tank probs - added snails

bdgenz

bdgenz

New Member
Looks like I might have a small problem.
Started w/30 gal reef tank w/10 gal refuge. Added tap water (lazy, have an RO too) let it run a few days. Added salt let it run a few days. Added sand, 20 lbs of the high dollar live sand in the bag from LFS for a total of 2" in front, 3" in the rear, let it run a few days. Sump has a backpac and bio balls in the refuge (for starters). Maxi 750 and 500 in the tank for additional circulation. Kalk from a chepo doser for top off.
Next, got about 20 lbs of old dead "live" rock, about 20sq inches of green star polyps on a 2lb rock and a xmas tree rock about 2.5X7-2lbs. Added 10 blue legs (2 or 3 didn't make it), 10 scarlets (all made it fine). A left handed hermit made it in the bunch and didn't make it after swapping himself into another shell (BTW a few did replace their shells after adding a handful of empties. Added a green and blue chromis, one cleaner shrimp.
At about 3 days later the diatoms started in. The back glass really got covered well within 1 week.
So I grab 3 Mexican turbos, 3 Astrea, a couple small I don't know whats and a tiger tail cucumber to help stir the sand. The Astreas and the little snails don't seem to eat much. The turbos cleaned all the glass and have now moved to rock for food. Dont seem to bother w/the polyps or xmas rock.
No one has bothered the 1/2" baby star fish or the 1/8" baby astrea hitchhikers in the process! Don't see hermits bothering the Astreas.
I'm thinking there's to many of these big turbos in this tank, return a couple or start feeding snails. Sound about right?
BTW, in the 1.5 weeks the green star polyps have grow and must be loving it! I'm feeding everyone daily and they all look real good, active, yada yada. No spikes yet (don't expect much either). Nitrosomas and nitrobacters (hope I remembered that right) should be plentyful.
Need more rock but want to let things settle down a bit.
Thanks for any input.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
If its been up for 12 days and you have all that in there it tells me you didnt cycle and your parameters are rising due to the massive sudden bioload and you will most likely loose alot of stuff through the cycle "inverts and corals". Not everything will die but some will.
 
itchy

itchy

Member
Are you serious about all this? :scared:
If so get ready to have a huge meltdown....your tank could not have cycled and the ammonia spike alone will wipe out the majority of what is in there. Please do some major research on saltwater setups and what is required!!!
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Originally Posted by bdgenz
. No spikes yet (don't expect much either). Nitrosomas and nitrobacters (hope I remembered that right) should be plentyful.
.
IMO, one of three things will happen, depending in part on how patient you are :)
- You will feed lightly and stock slowly (eg, IMO, NOT at your current rate) and get no ammonia/nitrite spike, with the LS and available LR able to seed the filter etc. This is a viable means of establishing a tank, but requires patience.
- You will overfeed/overstock and the tank will cycle soon.
- The tank will cycle at some point, unexpectedly, in the future if the biological capacity is exceeded by overstocking or overfeeding.
 
bdgenz

bdgenz

New Member
Close Starshark!
#1 - You about hit the nail on the head. Remember, stocking is done. Feeding lightly, daily. No ammonia, without a spike there, there isn't going to be any spike anywhere. Not patience, dedication. A fine line between underfeeding/starvation and overfeeding/huge waste products. Both have less than desirable results.
#2 - Already addressed. This could be a problem if any load increased beyond what the existing bacteria could keep up with.
#3 - Really part of #2. Watch for an ammonia spike, if it happens, back off on the feeding, change some water to bring it back down.
Now back to my problem. This tank is now spotless!!! I'm thinking 2 of the Mexican Turbos should go back, although feeding w/a seaweed supplement may not have to much impact on the bioload.
Thoughts?
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
If you have all the awnsers than why ask? We are offering you "FREE" help if you dont like what we have to say then dont ask.
Also having a 12 day old tank with all that in there will have a massive amonia spike in the future mark my words and you will be out a ton of money.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Hold on there...we aren't actually answering the question he is asking :) And actually, if the tank is fully stocked at this time (no more fish), then I don't necessarily think that there will be trouble with cycling. This method is not commonly used because there is HUGE potential for it to spiral into a bad situation, but it is possible to do it. Enough cured LR/LS to seed the rest...a very slow approach to feeding and stocking. Not good to recommend for most people, but it is feasible to do it and just watch water quality very carefully. I suspect this is someone who is not necessarily new to this field, or a related field.
The actual question is about the snails. Any animals that I feel I can't provide for, I would return. If it is a concern, I would take them back. :yes:
 
bdgenz

bdgenz

New Member
StarShark,
You are a savvy aquarist. What do you think? I'm balancing on a fine line...
My 110 Reef tank has been breeding Frontosas for over 10 years (O.K., perhaps a waste of tank for some). I remove the rock to snake the electric yellow and stuff him in another tank, thinkin he's been feeding on babies and I find a georgous(SP!!!) spotted cat, FAT cat, YEECKS!!!! He's full of frontosa babies! Anyway, Yellow's out, cats out (damn he looks fine) on the way to the the LFS tonight.
ShouldI be the INS and bring the Mexican Turbos (what's up, more glass algea!!!) to the LFS or buy some seaweed????
If I wasn't so soft hearted..........
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Frontosas are beautiful fish when in fine form. :yes: Not a waste :)
Well, give the algae sheets a try. A young tank is still nearly doomed to have various algae blooms now and then as it settles down. See if they will go for it. If you don't overdo it, and keep a close eye on the water quality ready to address any issues if they come up, then it should be OK to try.
 
bdgenz

bdgenz

New Member
Snipe,
Money isn't what it's about. Critters are cool. Free advice? Perhaps. Viewpoint is what I was looking for. Share your insight and learn from others.
This IS really cool to do.
 
bdgenz

bdgenz

New Member
I agree, soft feeding is in order for these hungry monsters. You call them algea sheets, is this seaweed? I gotta tell ya, I never had to feed snails!
Doomed??? These turbos are the algea police. Please!
I'm buying some food w/the credit and watching carefully.
More to come...
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
"Nearly doomed" :D You never know, even with the best of snails....
Yes algae sheets = nori = seaweed. At least I think we are thinking of the same thing. Basically the stuff they wrap sushi in.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
It is about the critters but if your gonna loose all of the critters and a bunch of money in the process count me out.
My mexican turbo can eat an algae sheet by himself so they like it to say the least.
 
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