newbie help please
- Thread starter cav414
- Start date
pegasus
Well-Known Member
I know how wives can be. LOL! I got lucky and my wife let me get a 125G. I convinced her that if I was going to spend money on this hobby, I needed to go big. Bigger is better, because any changes in a large tank take longer to happen than in a small tank. A small tank can turn over in a very short period of time, where changes in a big tank happen gradually. This gives you time to spot any problems and correct them.
We look forward to seeing pictures of your new tank. It takes awhile to get it looking like you want. It can take up to a year to get everything filled in and growing, so be patient. You don't want to fill it full of stuff all at once. Do it slowly and gradually so the system has time to adjust. Mushrooms and ricordeas (I prefer floridas over yumas) are great for beginners. They are photosynthetic, so all they require is light for survival. Supplemental feeding isn't required, but it doesn't hurt. I have spot fed mine tiny bits of chopped Gulf shrimp. Zoanthids and palythoas (zoos and palys) can add a lot of color and variety, and are easy to keep also. I occasionally spot feed mine with Marine Snow. The possibilities are limitless, and no two tanks look the same. You will have to experiment with different things to find what you like. With a little determination and dedication, you will get there.
We look forward to seeing pictures of your new tank. It takes awhile to get it looking like you want. It can take up to a year to get everything filled in and growing, so be patient. You don't want to fill it full of stuff all at once. Do it slowly and gradually so the system has time to adjust. Mushrooms and ricordeas (I prefer floridas over yumas) are great for beginners. They are photosynthetic, so all they require is light for survival. Supplemental feeding isn't required, but it doesn't hurt. I have spot fed mine tiny bits of chopped Gulf shrimp. Zoanthids and palythoas (zoos and palys) can add a lot of color and variety, and are easy to keep also. I occasionally spot feed mine with Marine Snow. The possibilities are limitless, and no two tanks look the same. You will have to experiment with different things to find what you like. With a little determination and dedication, you will get there.
geridoc
Well-Known Member
"I know how wives can be. LOL! I got lucky and my wife let me get a 125G. I convinced her that if I was going to spend money on this hobby, I needed to go big. Bigger is better, because any changes in a large tank take longer to happen than in a small tank. A small tank can turn over in a very short period of time, where changes in a big tank happen gradually. This gives you time to spot any problems and correct them."
Not all wives! Mine started to worry that our 110 gallon system, which was 19 years old, would begin to leak, so we went out shopping for a replacement. She chose our current 220, and insisted that it was an anniversary present to the two of us, saving me from trying to think of a present too. Quite a woman!!
Not all wives! Mine started to worry that our 110 gallon system, which was 19 years old, would begin to leak, so we went out shopping for a replacement. She chose our current 220, and insisted that it was an anniversary present to the two of us, saving me from trying to think of a present too. Quite a woman!!
pegasus
Well-Known Member
You are welcome, cav. I love this stuff, and it's always fun to see others who get as excited as me. When I got my used tank, there wasn't much life other than a few fish and a bunch of rocks. I added 120 lbs of live sand to the little sand that came with it. Then I let it cycle for a month before putting the fish back in. I have a 24G that worked great for holding the fish in until the 125 was ready. Then I only added a couple at a time. I've gradually added other things over the past few months. Here are a few pictures of some of the stuff in my tank:
pegasus
Well-Known Member
Here are a few more. One of the pics has a chocolate chip sea star in it. It no longer lives in the 125G. It ate one of my mushroom frags, and a couple of days later it ate my favorite green ricordea. I tossed it like a frisbee into the kitchen sink, but my wife thought it would be more humane if she put it in the 24G. Lucky sea star...
It's obvious from the pictures that I don't clean the back pane. I intentionally leave the algae there to help the copepod population. The top fish in the first picture is a green mandarin dragonet. Copepods and small amphipods are the only things it will eat. Pods eat detritus and algae, so I want to be sure there is enough. I also have a ocellated dragonet (aka/scooter blenny) which eats the same thing. Sadly, the tomato clown in the first picture died. When I adopted it, it was over 8 years old. He lived with me for several months before his age caught up with him. May not be able to see it too clearly, but his face had turned white. I replaced him with a couple of saddle back clowns. My wife's idea...
It's obvious from the pictures that I don't clean the back pane. I intentionally leave the algae there to help the copepod population. The top fish in the first picture is a green mandarin dragonet. Copepods and small amphipods are the only things it will eat. Pods eat detritus and algae, so I want to be sure there is enough. I also have a ocellated dragonet (aka/scooter blenny) which eats the same thing. Sadly, the tomato clown in the first picture died. When I adopted it, it was over 8 years old. He lived with me for several months before his age caught up with him. May not be able to see it too clearly, but his face had turned white. I replaced him with a couple of saddle back clowns. My wife's idea...
pegasus
Well-Known Member
Hi, pixievixi. It's an old net that I cut up. I'm using it to hold a ricordea to the rock. The ricordea had turned loose of the rock/plug during shipping. I had several thin slabs of coral rock that I had cut with a hacksaw, so I put the ricordea on a slab and loosely covered it with the net material. The rubber bands hold the net in place until the ricordea attaches itself to the rock. This works with whole mushrooms and mushroom frags as well. I still have another ricordea to do. It has a small piece of rock that it's attached to, and this piece of rock is glued to the plug. I will (very carefully) remove the ricordea from the rock and net it to a flat rock. I think they look much better when they're laying out flat, instead of humped up in the middle. Mushrooms too, so I always do the same for them. It usually takes about a week or so before they attach enough to remove the netting.
cav414
Member
Wow, you have a beautiful aquarium. I hope to get mine to look like that I love your shrimp I want to get sexy shrimp. But I gotta get another job so I can afford the stuff I want lol. My tank is looking a lot better now thanks to every ones advice 
. My fish are definitely more aggressive though im having to use a wooden spoon to break them up lol.
. My fish are definitely more aggressive though im having to use a wooden spoon to break them up lol.
pegasus
Well-Known Member
Thanks, cav. It's not nearly complete, but it's getting there. It's not a cheap hobby, but if done right, the rewards are fantastic. Just do what I do and pinch pennies until you can afford another item or two to add. It's better to add things slowly so your system has time to adjust to the increased load. It usually takes a year or more to fully stock a tank, so don't get in a hurry. I believe that trying to do too much at once is a recipe for disaster. I think it's best that you and I have to wait awhile between purchases because it makes us appreciate it more, and work harder to make sure it survives. I typically purchase a couple of items once a month for around $100... which is all I can spend without my wife giving me too much grief. lol! A little patience will pay off in the long run.
pegasus
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by pixievixi http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/20#post_3529587
Hey Pegasus- thanks for sharing that info. great idea! I have hermit crabs and every morning they throw my corals off the rocks. its irritating because my coral frags have yet to attach
You're welcome. I had a problem with hermits doing the same thing, and even snails would crawl into the tray and push them off the rocks. A little irritating... to say the least.
Originally Posted by pixievixi http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/20#post_3529587
Hey Pegasus- thanks for sharing that info. great idea! I have hermit crabs and every morning they throw my corals off the rocks. its irritating because my coral frags have yet to attach
You're welcome. I had a problem with hermits doing the same thing, and even snails would crawl into the tray and push them off the rocks. A little irritating... to say the least.
cav414
Member
I priced the neon green recordia mushrooms the other day ( they look awesome) but they where almost $200 for a small patch good thing it's gonna be a while before I can even think of putting them in my tank lol. Also im having to blow dead spots out of my crushed coral almost every day any tricks to stop getting them?
pegasus
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/20#post_3529593
I priced the neon green recordia mushrooms the other day ( they look awesome) but they where almost $200 for a small patch good thing it's gonna be a while before I can even think of putting them in my tank lol. Also im having to blow dead spots out of my crushed coral almost every day any tricks to stop getting them?
Those are beautiful. The bad part is you don't have to wait. Mushrooms and ricordeas are photosynthetic, meaning they only need light and occasional feeding to survive. I feed mine small pieces of shrimp (med. Gulf @ $4 lb.). Shop around, and you can often find them on sale. The last three cost me $2.99 each plus shipping. Mine are all ricordea florida (Carribean), which tend to be cheaper than ricordea yuma (Pacific) and are easier to keep long-term.
You should aim your powerheads towards those spots. You may even have to resort to rearranging your rocks to allow better flow to those areas. Another idea is to add live sand. You will need to do this in small increments, but gently mixing some into the crushed coral in the deadest spots first would be a good starting point. The reason you would add it gradually is because you don't want to smother the good bacteria that's in the crushed coral. This bacteria will help "seed" the sand, even though real live sand comes packed full of bacteria. Small patches a week apart will give things time to stabilize. This will help with the gunk buildup tremendously, as well as adding to the natural filtration. Someone else may have a better suggestion, but short of stripping the tank and going all live sand, it's the best I can come up with.
Originally Posted by cav414 http:///t/396155/newbie-help-please/20#post_3529593
I priced the neon green recordia mushrooms the other day ( they look awesome) but they where almost $200 for a small patch good thing it's gonna be a while before I can even think of putting them in my tank lol. Also im having to blow dead spots out of my crushed coral almost every day any tricks to stop getting them?
Those are beautiful. The bad part is you don't have to wait. Mushrooms and ricordeas are photosynthetic, meaning they only need light and occasional feeding to survive. I feed mine small pieces of shrimp (med. Gulf @ $4 lb.). Shop around, and you can often find them on sale. The last three cost me $2.99 each plus shipping. Mine are all ricordea florida (Carribean), which tend to be cheaper than ricordea yuma (Pacific) and are easier to keep long-term.
You should aim your powerheads towards those spots. You may even have to resort to rearranging your rocks to allow better flow to those areas. Another idea is to add live sand. You will need to do this in small increments, but gently mixing some into the crushed coral in the deadest spots first would be a good starting point. The reason you would add it gradually is because you don't want to smother the good bacteria that's in the crushed coral. This bacteria will help "seed" the sand, even though real live sand comes packed full of bacteria. Small patches a week apart will give things time to stabilize. This will help with the gunk buildup tremendously, as well as adding to the natural filtration. Someone else may have a better suggestion, but short of stripping the tank and going all live sand, it's the best I can come up with.
flower
Well-Known Member
Hi,
It's called aptasia AKA a glass anemone, a stinging monster (to fish and corals, not you) that spreads like fire. Get some Joes Juice, aptasia X, or a couple of Peppermint shrimp to get rid of it. Whatever you do, do not disturbs it by poking at it. It will release spores and spread everywhere.
It's called aptasia AKA a glass anemone, a stinging monster (to fish and corals, not you) that spreads like fire. Get some Joes Juice, aptasia X, or a couple of Peppermint shrimp to get rid of it. Whatever you do, do not disturbs it by poking at it. It will release spores and spread everywhere.