New tank!

[mojomusky84]

Hey all just wanted to say hello to all here as I am new to the hobby and look forward to hearing all the advice and info as well as share my own(which is limited haha) but this site was def helpful as I set my tank up. Thanks yall!

 

[flower]

Hello, and welcome to the site!
Tell us about your setup, what equipment, and what your planning to keep in the tank and such...

 

[mojomusky84]

Its a simple 10 gal. With 20 lbs live sand and fake coral inserts and filled with premade pacific ocean water. It has a fluval powerfilter at 150 gph. I have a ocellaris clown fish and 2 blue leg hermit crabs.
Thanks for replying!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mojomusky84 http:///t/395047/new-tank#post_3516385
Its a simple 10 gal. With 20 lbs live sand and fake coral inserts and filled with premade pacific ocean water. It has a fluval powerfilter at 150 gph. I have a ocellaris clown fish and 2 blue leg hermit crabs.
Thanks for replying!
Can you post a picture? I'm sure everyone as well as myself on this site, would love to see it.

 

[mojomusky84]

Just added an LED light bar with a blue/white setting for daytime with 2 smaller LEDs in the hood and a moonlight setting for night!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mojomusky84 http:///t/395047/new-tank#post_3516547
Just added an LED light bar with a blue/white setting for daytime with 2 smaller LEDs in the hood and a moonlight setting for night!
Moonlights are awesome, it's a whole different tank at night when the tiny things start to creep out. Serpent stars, and shrimp that I thought were long gone come out of the rocks to play at night.

 

[mojomusky84]

http://i.imgur.com/wYkGx1I.jpg

 

[flower]

Hi,
Not bad, but IMO it looks too empty....LOL, you need some rock in there, or maybe some Caulerpa PROLIFERA...it looks like sea grass and it's great for removing nitrates and phosphates. Just make sure you get the right caulerpa, the feather or grape looking stuff goes sexual and makes the tank water look like milk when it spawns.

 

[beaslbob]

+1 on the caulerpa.
macro algaes will not only add some character to the tank but also consume the fish wastes while returning oxygen and fish food. Plus should something go wrong later the macros will consume any ammonia spike directly helping to prevent dangerous conditions and even tank crashes.
my .02

 

[mojomusky84]

So I did a 10% water change today just to freshen it up a bit, tank reads are good A.M. and P.M.

 

[mojomusky84]

Got a new hood equipped with a reef sun 50/50 zoo med bulb to make my green Florida Ricordea comfortable.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mojomusky84 http:///t/395047/new-tank#post_3517233
Got a new hood equipped with a reef sun 50/50 zoo med bulb to make my green Florida Ricordea comfortable.

I was always told, even in books to not cover a reef tank, it hinders the gas exchange. SW has less oxygen then freshwater. Then they go and sell a hood for a SW tank????

 

[geridoc]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/395047/new-tank#post_3517263

I was always told, even in books to not cover a reef tank, it hinders the gas exchange. SW has less oxygen then freshwater. Then they go and sell a hood for a SW tank????

I never cover my tanks. A glass canopy hinders carbon dioxide elimination, lowering the pH of the water, and holds heat in. Unless you like buying chillers, let the tank top be open (be sure to keep up with evaporation, though). All of my tanks are covered with plastic egg-crate grid, and the lights are above that.

 

[geridoc]

Oh yeah, the egg-crate prevents those jumbers (wrasse, dartfish, gobies, etc.) from carpet surfing.

 

[mojomusky84]

Its actually just a plastic hood with a partial cover over the light, the back is fairly open and I drilled the front out to help with the venting. No problems so far,however thanks for everyone's info always helpful!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mojomusky84 http:///t/395047/new-tank#post_3517462
Its actually just a plastic hood with a partial cover over the light, the back is fairly open and I drilled the front out to help with the venting. No problems so far,however thanks for everyone's info always helpful!
If you go for a T5 unit that is just a light that sits on legs....the tank will be open, and that type of light will make the fish colors pop. The regular fish lights in the hood that you have, really doesn't work well with SW tanks. You need the top completely open, and the surface of the water really agitated (make it look like it's boiling, so you get enough gas exchange) If you do the surface agitation as you should, the plastic top is going to be loaded with salt creep.

 

[mojomusky84]

Added some new rock decor and took out an obstructive decor item also added a hydor nano 240 circulator makes a really nice current and surface movement perked the tank up! Tests have been good including a really good sample test at my buddies work at his water dept. Soooo....awesome.