Total NEWBIE!!!!!

puffer32

puffer32

Active Member
Originally Posted by Coolguy818
I don't think the Shrimp molted, I would have seen it by now... Call me crazy but I sit there and stare at the tank for hours. I think its cool, wife thinks i'm crazy.
Here is some clearification. I purchased the LR from the LFS. And transported it in water. The trip was only a 4 mile trip. And you guys are correct. The amount of LR is alot. But the reason for that is the transfer I will be doing in about 2 months.
I've already ordered the tank its being custom built
:cheer: . That tank I will post on a daily basis here. This tank was purchased to learn from and take note of mistakes made.
Lastly I have a service that comes in twice a month to clean all my tanks, from the freshwater Cichlid tank to this one.
Hubby and i spend hrs just watching our tanks to, better then anything on the tv, and more relaxing.
I still think that was a shrimp molt if it was floating in the tank, they hide for quite awhile after molting.
Keep us informed on the new tank, what size is it?
 
kanicky

kanicky

Member
Originally Posted by Coolguy818
I don't think the Shrimp molted, I would have seen it by now... Call me crazy but I sit there and stare at the tank for hours. I think its cool, wife thinks i'm crazy.
When my shrimp molts (which seems like every week!) he hides for a few days. It's so neat to see his molt sitting out in the open, looking exactly like him.
If you don't see your shrimp in another couple of days, then you can start to worry.
Oh, and I agree with the others... Taking complete control of your aquarium makes it more enjoyable and worth-while, but I know there are some people that just do not like to clean :happyfish
 
coolguy818

coolguy818

Member
One of the main reasons I don't think its molt, is because with the exoskeleton, I also found it's anteannas floating around...............
 
coolguy818

coolguy818

Member
He has a lot of room, he's the only fish in there.... But all he does is stay in that corner, I think he's scared of the Powerhead pressure.
 
snaredrum

snaredrum

Member
One thing is its hard to clean the glass. The other is that unless that rock is sitting on a good surface, something could knock it against the glass. I just had a Fire Shrimp going after food knock over a good size frag rock tonight. Tank does look nice tho.
 
coolguy818

coolguy818

Member
Thanks for the positive reinforcement. Everyone is still alive, the brittle stars are eating, the Clown is eating, the shrimp are doing their thing......
Everything seems well I guess. Keeping fingers crossed.
 
myrtle beach

myrtle beach

Member
Wow, I didn't have time to read all the comments, but it looks like too much LR you can do some aquascaping and make some room, if you have the resources you have enough LR there to set up another small tank. You want it to look like a reef with caves, not a pile of weird rocks, no offense. You could always add another powerhead because I doubt your circulation is sufficient.
Your clown could be suffering because your tank is cycling. Once you've killed some fish and snails which may happen your tank will definately begin to cycle and I'd wait a few weeks and test regularly. Take it slower, ask questions about every little thing to avoid murders. If everything lives that's great, best of luck.
Nothing good happens quickly in this hobby.
 
weberian

weberian

Member
Is this really going to be a reef? Because that looks like a standard output fluorescent light to me. Are you currently shopping for lights?
Also, did anyone say anything about your skimmer?
 
coolguy818

coolguy818

Member
I'm aware that my light source is horrible. I ordered a light source from teh LFS should be coming in this week.
I don't have a skimmer........ I have a Skilter 250
 
S

saltfreak4

Guest
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
I'm not saying PPM is wrong its absolutly right. I'm just adding more perspective. it is harder to maintain strict parameters with less water, but where the less water comes from more potential filtration instead of just being a smaller tank, IMO having more rock in this case is good. the reason I would say more rock is good is (true it displaces lots of water) but he also gains the anaerobic filtration from the rock that is going to decrease the amount of nitrates that actually accumulate, by breaking the nitrates down through anaerobic activity. at this point where he has the rock the lowered amount of water volume is going to make it easier to effect the total saturation of nitrate by doing water changes. 5 gal changw on say 15 gallons of water is going to cut the ammount of pollution by 1/3 where if he had 20 gal of water left it would only be 1/4. Also IMO where he has kind of rushed ahead fast the extra filtration may help. If he got lucky and there is little die off it may just be the saving grace (I wouldnt count on it but he may get lucky)
I was actually aiming that comment at someone else, sorry you were standing too close to them
I understand the thinking, but that's where the balance comes into play. The amount you are gaining in anaerobic bacteria, would be far better served by the dillution factor.
 
coolguy818

coolguy818

Member
Skimmer portion runs all day and all night, producing microbubbles. The only down side is that my tank looks cloudy but its really full of microbubbles.
I have alot of nasty green and brown stuff in the receptacle
 
weberian

weberian

Member
If I were you I would search the Equipment forum for "Skilter mod"-ification. It is supposed to cut down the microbubbles I think. For a few more bucks you could get a Prizm skimmer, if you prefer a compact design. I use the Coralife Super skimmer 65 for my 30-gal tank, but if you hung it on lip of your tank, it is a big honkin' piece o' equipment. Sorry for the colorful language; I had two beers just now.
Microbubbles can stick to a fish's slime coat. Not good to have them, according to 99% of what I've heard.
 
coolguy818

coolguy818

Member
Ok After careful monitoring and listening to the online tank guru's. Here is the current stats on my problem tank.
PH - 8.2
Nitrate - 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Temp - 79.9
And I upgraded the light, with Actinic lighting!!!!! :jumping: :cheer: :jumping:
Here are some pics... All criticism is welcome



 
neptunes ghost

neptunes ghost

Member
Originally Posted by saltfreak4
Actually, the Reef master test kit is for saltwater. If it's a master test kit should have ammonia, nitrite, and pH and not the calcium and dkH test, so I am little confused about that, no matter though, you just need to get a test for these.
API offers 2 test kits...API SALTWATER master test kit, which tests for PH, NO2, NO3, and NH3
The other is the REEF master test kit, which tests for CA, KH, Phos, and NO3
 
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