Newbie...still confused???

nina&noah

nina&noah

Member
Just want to say again... you probably don't want to add damsels. There are several other "starter" fish out there for you to choose from. Just my opinion though. I beg of you to create a stock list so you don't run into compatability issues. It is the one mistake I made in the beginning.
On another note, your tank is really nice. I can't wait to see it with fish!
Did you get your clean up crew yet?
 
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trasler

Guest
ok...here is where i am at yesterday I got my base rock cleaned it really well and placed it n the tank lights have been on since sunday and all levels are still good. yesterday evening I added 12 hermet crabs 2 turbo snails and a clener shrimp. They are all doing well and just tested all my levels and they are all good. ph 8.0 amonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 0 I have a phopaste test but i haven't tested it yet I am not sure where it is suppose to be? Also when i was at the fish store they told me that this weekend if levels stay good it would be ok to add fish and a starter poylp. He had me by iodite so i can start treating my tank with that.... alittle nervous about it...I also bought the test kit for the iodite and tested it and it said 0. I am just letting you know wheree i am on this ....my only question as of now is about the phopate ...where should it be?
 
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trasler

Guest
Originally Posted by premilove
http:///forum/post/3068721
are you using metal halides? show us some pics of your equipment. did you do a water test this morning? if so, what are your results? if your tank is still cycling, id take a nice piece of raw shrimp and put it in your tank..where are you getting the rest of your rock? make sure it is cured..try to get it from an established tank if that is possible. personally, i would stop listening to your lfs they seem to like your money.
lighting is T12 total of 300watts also orded but have not received yet another total of 200watts of led blue and ewhite lighting. Also in reply to the local fish store that everyone keeps telling me to not listen to it is a family friend.....so i don't think they are just after my money...ALSO about the pictures i am still trying to figure it all out as I do i will post more pictures.
 
nina&noah

nina&noah

Member
Phosphate should ideally be at 0. Phosphate won't harm fish, but will kill corals. It is important to test for them before you add corals.
Glad you finally got some critters.
 
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trasler

Guest
ok...The more I keep reading about corals the more scared i get...What is up with the stinging cells and stuff they can shoot out at there pray? Can they sting me when I clean the tank? Do they sting alot or is it rare? Some more than others? Holly cow ...I had an idea of the fish and coral i wanted but now i am not sure..... I would love to eventually have some clown fish and some anemones for them but holly crap i don't want to dye!!! I was reading on saltwaterfish.com and they say they can't be held responsable for any death that may occur... what the heck... Please tell me I am reading it wrong and they won't effect me? Or that it is very rare for them to kill everything that i would like to put in my tank...?
 
brokendeck

brokendeck

Active Member
corals arent to bad. the corals sting isnt to painful at all. Ive been told the only way you can be stung is by having a cut in your hand. Ive never been stung by any corals and I move and pick everything I have up with my bare hand.
 
arvins

arvins

Member
Anemones can decide to go for a walk and walk right into a powerhead, therefore wiping out your tank but you can solve that by covering your powerheads. For the most part I've heard what broken said they can't really hurt you unless you have a cut on your hand already. I move all my corals by hand but if you're worried about it grab a pair of gloves to use anytime your hands in the tank, will ease your mind and keep you from getting stung.
 
kspops

kspops

Member
Hello and welcome to the forums, I have been reading and posting on here for about 6 months while researching the salty side of fish. I have started my 135 gal (tall) about 4 weeks ago. I have been testing for some time and have had the ammonia spike and have started into the Nitrite spike. I started with 140 lbs of homemade and dry rock to start, and added 20 lbs of cured rock to start the seeding.
I know what you are saying about conflicting points of view. My LFS has told me the same thing about damsels, but I went with the Ghost feeding method to start. I just added a couple (bait) shrimp to this thing and will start with a clean up crew this weekend. I did however start a Quarantine tank for the live rock and a couple fish ( 1 clown and a royal gramma) that will be the finned occupants. good luck with the tank and as far as the corals go, they won't kill you. you may get a slight rash, but thats about all. The Saltwater fish and death thing is for the shipping (I believe) issues.
 
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trasler

Guest
Originally Posted by Arvins
http:///forum/post/3070788
Anemones can decide to go for a walk and walk right into a powerhead, therefore wiping out your tank but you can solve that by covering your powerheads. For the most part I've heard what broken said they can't really hurt you unless you have a cut on your hand already. I move all my corals by hand but if you're worried about it grab a pair of gloves to use anytime your hands in the tank, will ease your mind and keep you from getting stung.
How do I cover my power heads and where do I buy the stuff?
 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
Originally Posted by trasler
http:///forum/post/3069227
I looked for a small fan this weekend and couldn't find one under 4 inches...how big is yours and where do u get it?
SWF doesnt sell these but i have one. Ill post an image for you within the next hour. Their very quite and you can put on a timer, keep an eye on when the temp starts to rise and fall and set the fan for those times. They drop like 2-3 degrees Celc..

 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
Ok heres 2 pics of it on my wet/dry, i put it on my wet dry because its cooler under my tank and that will effectively act as a chiller instead of basically blowing hot air across the surface, i would like to apoligize ahead of time if the images are to big on the site, as I have no current knowledge about resizing and all that. they run anywhere from 10-30$ i got mine from a famous auction site. I asked all the local fish places about a tank fan and they looked at me like i was crazy. Ill tank these pictures to them next time i go. Also if your putting it on a sump or a wet/dry a walmart fan will do, i was worried about the moisture and these are made for moisture. Also I started with it on my display tank and it looked a lot cleaner.

 
arvins

arvins

Member
Originally Posted by trasler
http:///forum/post/3071011
How do I cover my power heads and where do I buy the stuff?
I bought covers from a guy in my local reef club that sells em for $2 each but I'm guessing you can just make them that's what he does. Mine are just little bag like things that slide over the powerheads and tighten down with a drawstring, feel like they are made out of pantyhose
.
How old is your tank? If the tank is old enough as in 6months+ the anemone is less like to go walking and settle in faster. If the tank is younger then that, I'd not buy an anemone....
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I bought 2 of those fans...I sent them both back., IMO they had very little power, and the fan I got at Walmart was $8 and 2x as good
 
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