i have some questions about a tank i bought? (pics)

[iceman0032935]

i just bought a 20 gallon tank that this guy wasnt taking great care of. its got some crabs, chromas, coral banded shrimp, cleaner shrimp, and plants. what can i do t make sure that when i put this stuff in my display tank that there aren't and bad hitchhiker. I'm going to put all but sand and plants in my tank what would be the best thing to do? i did see some type of worm but i couldnt get a pic and i know its been up for at least 2 years. also what do i feed the shrimp and crabs? here's some pics and if you can tell me what the plants are it would be great thanks.

[henry hill]

The Snails and Shrimp will eat whatever you feed your fish. I would uses a good reef dip before putting in your main display.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by iceman0032935
i just bought a 20 gallon tank that this guy wasnt taking great care of. its got some crabs, chromas, coral banded shrimp, cleaner shrimp, and plants. what can i do t make sure that when i put this stuff in my display tank that there aren't and bad hitchhiker. I'm going to put all but sand and plants in my tank what would be the best thing to do? i did see some type of worm but i couldnt get a pic and i know its been up for at least 2 years. also what do i feed the shrimp and crabs? here's some pics and if you can tell me what the plants are it would be great thanks.

that is caulerpa algae having a field day taking over your tank.
this is the result of high phosphates and nitrates in the tank
Its not good to have

I would suggest you set up a small quarantine tank for the all the inverts and fish
Drain the tank--keep one cup of the original sand
Pitch the rest of the old sand and buy new argonite
Take out the live rock and scrub it
Place new sand in the tank--seed it with the cup of the old
Add the scrubbed live rock
and let the tank cycle for 3 weeks

I don't notice any power heads for flow
You might want to buy some korilias--you need a flow of 20-40 times your tank volume in gph
Flow does make a difference with the growth of algae and macro algae like the caulerpa

[Aquarist007]

here is what caulerpa alage is capable of doing:

it is not nice:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...nftt/index.php

[iceman0032935]

what about the live stock? should i put the live rock in a tub with a power head and let it cycle? i was planing on taking the live stock and put them in my display and start this one over for a small reef.

[iceman0032935]

that dont look like whats in the tank could it be something else?

[iceman0032935]

amonia-0
nitrite-0
ph-8.3
nitrate-0

im not sure of salt because i dont want to stick my hydrometer in there im not sure if there is anything bad in the tank and dont want to transfer it to my display?

[iceman0032935]

thanks for the advise capn_hylinur. does anyone else have any input on the matter?

[RichardPryor]

im not sure of salt because i dont want to stick my hydrometer in there

Why not?

[iceman0032935]

i don't want anything transferred to my display

[iceman0032935]

what kind of filter should i put on this tank should i go with a sump and protien skimmer or is there something else i can go with?

[iceman0032935]

morning bump

[BigScott]

i guess i been lucky with it.. i got some on a rock thats kepted trimed back real well by my foxface an LMB..


scott

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by iceman0032935
what kind of filter should i put on this tank should i go with a sump and protien skimmer or is there something else i can go with?

you don't need any other filtration other then the live rock, sand and the protein skimmer.

you might want to consider running a phosban reactor with phosban and or charcoal. this would help with the phosphates and nitrates that are fueling the algae

[iceman0032935]

has anyone had any luck with hang on fuge and skimmers? if so what kind should i go with?

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by iceman0032935
has anyone had any luck with hang on fuge and skimmers? if so what kind should i go with?

I just put a remora on my 30 gal and am happy with it--comes with an intake overflow that hides the pump--great little skimmer

Plenty of time to add the refugium iceman--stick with the protein skimmer live rock and sand for now--that's all the filtration you need

IMO hang on refugiums are too small to hold alot a cheato algae to make a worthwhile difference to the phosphates and nitrates in your tank.

[iceman0032935]

alright thanks again for the info

[Caulerpanator]

Be careful with the Caulerpa when you get rid of it or the water it was growing in. Many species of Caulerpa have the potential to cause tremendous damage to our coastal waters if they escape into the wild.

See
http://www.sccat.net/#aquarists-1e86f1

[Larah]

Originally posted by Caulerpanator
Be careful with the Caulerpa when you get rid of it or the water it was growing in. Many species of Caulerpa have the potential to cause tremendous damage to our coastal waters if they escape into the wild.

See
http://www.sccat.net/#aquarists-1e86f1

unless it can escape into the wild ocean from my garbage can I think we're ok

[Caulerpanator]

We recommend that Caulerpa be frozen in a plastic bag prior to disposal in the trash can.

Tank water should be put in the sink/tub/toilet, not the yard or gutter. A 1-mm piece of Caulerpa taxifolia can sprout a new plant, a likely habit among many other Caulerpa species as well.

Thanks for being conscientious!

[gearbox-xl]

If you are that worried about transfering anything bad from a salinity test either purchase another hydrometer just for that tank and Qtank or invest in a good refractometer that can be cleaned easily (the best option IMO)