New to posting and Saltwater tanking...

[wade163]

OMG…good news…so while I was in this store, the guy told me all about feather dusters and stuff, cause some where on the live rock that I hand picked. He showed me that the feather duster were alive and well at the store. So I finally got home like 3 hours later and then like 3 hours later put them in the tank. While at the store, he showed me how to tell if they were alive…(well at least I took it that way). He put his figure by it, and it went inside its tube…so at 1:50 am…I did a partial water change 10% and I was curious if I would do it for me…and it did…it went inside its tube…SO I HAVE LIFE IN MY TANK…I am excited….yes…the lil things excite me. Although all of them didn’t do it, it was only 1 of them that did it. So is it safe to say that those who didn’t run inside their tub are dead??? I didn’t do the other rock…but I may in a few…or maybe just go to bed…
the poster above mentioned slate??? should I take that out if thats what it is?

 

[mudplayerx]

Originally Posted by wade163
the poster above mentioned slate??? should I take that out if thats what it is?
I'd wait until some other people offer opinions before you go soley on my advice

 

[1journeyman]

If the featherduster is "open" and you see the "feathers" it is alive. Live rock is actually very exciting to observe to me as well.
I second Mud's comment. If it is not live rock I'd get it out of your tank.

 

[chano]

Comming from a place that has a lot of slate around. (mountains in PA) That deffinately looks like slate to me. Slate is a layered rock and metal deposits can get between the layers. (think strip mining) This could be disastrous for your tank. There is the possibility of it being fine, that is a risk i personally would not take. As for the tang, Stack some boxes in a walk in closet and close the door thats how your tang will feel. I have three very small clowns at the moment and it is not a good idea they were all introduced at the same time and before that they have all been in the same tank since birth. Even so i am getting another small one (this has been known in some tanks to cause 2 pairs or one school you need to be very carefull on this as introducing a new clown can be dangerous for the fish. It will be in less than a 24 hour period so i am hoping with proper monitoring everything will be ok or my fuge is going to have a couple residents for a couple weeks) But my tanks will be closely monitored and it is very temporary till my 55 is done cycleing. That is better LFS info than i got (i swear to god someone at a LFS actually said this to me today) "there is no such thing as cycling a saltwater tank" This right before they said "if your nitrates are a little higher than what you like (mine are at 7ppm) add a couple of fish that will fix the problem" Needless to say i will not be returning to said LFS.

 

[wade163]

Alright...I took out the dead rock and up dated it with the LIVE rock. I now have just the live rock, and maybe next weekend will get some more...thanks for advice ladies and gents!
I will post a pic later

 

[wade163]

here we go...here are a couple pics...and what is this thing on the second pic...its alive and well...and how can i keep it that way???

 

[dinks]

wow! You are braver than me. I have had my tank for 7 months and still have not put coral in it. I have been poking along. I still have damsels! LOL
Heads up on the damsels. I cycled my tank with a raw shrimp, but was still told my first fish to go in AFTER cycle was damsels, because they are good for beginners. They are still in there and I know I am going to have to take them to the LFS before I can get anything else. They OWN that tank. Sometimes rather amusingly. When I put my hand in there to do something they bump my hand.
So anyway, just a heads up, yes they are HARDY. I call mine the blue devils...lol. I couldn't cycle with a live critter I read it burned their little gills.
Looks like us two newbies will be learning together.
dinks~

 

[wade163]

See thats the problem...I didnt go to the store to get coral. But this thing was on there. I got to hand pick out what rock that I wanted, and with no one standing over my shoulder. So of course I took this one along with some other live rock. I couldnt pass it up....it was 3.99 a pound. So I will see what happens with this lil fella

 

[dinks]

Hey that is awesome. I hope your new aquisition makes it for you
I think I am ready for my first coral, so good luck to both of us
dinks~

 

[wade163]

a toast to the new corals...! Any one have any suggestions on how to maybe keep him alive??? Food, Lighting...I looked some things up on line...

 

[wade163]

Alrighty people…hope this finds you all fine and happy looking at your saltwater tanks. I haven’t posted in a long time been REALLY busy. Let me catch you up to speed…I have had my fish for about 3 weeks now, (2 clowns, 2 green chromsis, 2 crabs, and SUPPOSED to have 2 snails which 1 shell is empty..it was there when I got it home, and the other is fine, feather dusters, a serpent star fish, and a waving hand) EVERYTHING is doing well. I don’t have a filter, but just live rock instead. I have a Alkalinity test kit…and every other day the test comes out where its supposed to be. Just wanted to give yall the update…if you have n e ideas or suggestions let me know!!! Thanks.
The lil thing that looks like a terd in the back is what I THINK is the snail that got out of his shell, and the empty shell...was his home that is NO more!

 

[wade163]

any thoughts...ANYONE??