when to start adding thing to the tank

jbrown511

jbrown511

Member
I have a 50 gallon tank with 5o pounds of live rock and 40 pounds of reg and live sand. I had that going for 7 days and then on the 8th day I added 3 clowns 8 snails 4 crabs and one of those wierd looking starfish. I have had the tank now up and running for 13 days. I have the brown algea going now it seems pretty heavy. My levels are as follows
Amonia .1 mgl
nitrate > .3mgl
nitrite 0mgl
ph 7.7
kh 3.5
co2 2
salinity 1.024
My questions
1. The tank gets some morning sun should I protect it from that by covering it for that hour
2. Should I add more snails and crabs maybe a shrimp or too(this site has a reef package) or is that adding too much at one time.
I know patience is the key I just want to make sure i am doing evrything the right way
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated
 
paulcoates

paulcoates

Member
I believe the rule of thumb is one cleaner per gallon. So, theoretically you could have 50 cleaners in there. So reef package would help you with the brown algae (diatoms)
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
You should shade the light, and it would be fine to add a few more snails and hermits. I would go with the Mexican Turbos because they do a really good job at cleaning brown algae.
 
mbrands

mbrands

Member

Originally posted by jbrown511
one of those wierd looking starfish.
Can you be more specific?
Originally posted by jbrown511
on the 8th day I added 3 clowns
Did you research clowns? You won't likely have 3 for long.
Originally posted by jbrown511
Amonia .1 mgl
nitrate > .3mgl
nitrite 0mgl
ph 7.7
kh 3.5
co2 2
salinity 1.024

What test kit(s) are you using? Some are know to give a false positive test for ammonia.
 
jbrown511

jbrown511

Member
tetra test
the guy at the store said clowns were good to put in
it doesn't look like a star fish it has extremly long and skinny legs with spikes the guy at the store said he was friendly
 
mbrands

mbrands

Member
Most clowns will only survive individually or in mated pairs. They might be ok as juveniles, but keep an eye on them.
I use Aquarium Pharemecuticals test kits which gives me a slightly positive ammonia reading when there isn't one. Other users of this board have said the same about their test kits. I don't know mubh about Tetra.
Is the star a brittle star? Look at the ones SWF sells on the left bar and compare.
Sorry I forgot in the last posting, but welcome to the hobby and boards! :D
 
cowfishrule

cowfishrule

Active Member

Originally posted by mbrands
I use Aquarium Pharemecuticals test kits which gives me a slightly positive ammonia reading when there isn't one. Other users of this board have said the same about their test kits. I don't know mubh about Tetra.
i also use aquarium pharm test kits, and mine have said .5 ammonia since day 1..
 
mbrands

mbrands

Member

Originally posted by jbrown511
I don't think so the guy at the store said it was a tame one
Don't always trust the guy from the fish store. Some are extremely knowledgable, others have no idea what they are talking about. I'd suggest doing some research to find out if yours is a green brittle. I've heard they can be mean tankmates.
 
jbrown511

jbrown511

Member
there were several in their that all looked alike and he said this on was okay to put in their I pointed to one I liked and he said those are agrressive and could evntually get big enough to eat other fish. How can I tell the difference
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
They are suppose to be bad ones! They will try and eat your other inverts and some small fish I would try not to get a green one. "I dont even like the color I like the banded ones lol"
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
The green ones are sometimes reffered to as brown "they just look brown" I would take him back and get one that I knew for sure was not a green one. Before you do something like that can you post a pic?
 
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