New tank???s

cappymrgn · 08/13/2008, 05:45 PM

Hello everyone! I set up my BC29 last Saturday 8/9/8 with saltwater from the LFS, about 15lbs of cured live rock (also from two LFS) along with 20lbs of natures own "live sand." I will try to post pictures, but I am already getting an orangeish/brownish stuff on one of my rocks.

I think its diatoms and I should cut the lights correct?

Also, I have a hitchhiker that I am afraid is aptasia(sp?). I took it back to the LFS and he poked it and said he could tell by the way it retracted that it was not aptasia. I want to trust him, but it looks like all the pictures I have seen so far. I will try to get a pic ASAP.

I know you wont be ablr to help with the aptasia question till I post some pics, but some reassurance about the brownish stuff will help too.

Thanks
Jason

cappymrgn · 08/13/2008, 06:50 PM

1st time posting picks

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...r/P8130001.jpg[/IMG]

Can you tell from this pic?

Does look like diatoms? Its only on the one rock right now
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...r/P8130023.jpg[/IMG]

Rendos · 08/13/2008, 06:56 PM

Looks like aiptasia to me.

Looks like diatoms.

jdmcivicek9 · 08/13/2008, 06:58 PM

agreed and agreed kill the aptasia and let your tank cycle some more!!but your well on your way!!

cappymrgn · 08/14/2008, 02:12 AM

I can get the rock out easily at his point. Should I boil it, microwave it? If I do those things I can put it right back in the tank right?

jdmcivicek9 · 08/14/2008, 08:29 AM

diatoms are part of the cycleing process...if you boil it or whatever youll kill all the beneficial organisms that have started to grow on your rock and therefore basically restarting your cycle because all that stuff has to start growing on your rock again...id just leave it in the tank and eventually it will go away also keep doing bi weekly water changes and use a turkey baster to blast off loose debre off the top of your sand and your rocks to get it into the water column so your skimmer can take it out

Octopus8 · 08/14/2008, 08:58 AM

Looks like Aptasia to me.

If all you have is one aptasia, I would just entomb it with a wad of superglue gel. I found one in my aquarium recently. I simply poked at it to make it retract then I covered the hole he came out of with a bit of superglue gel. Haven't seen it or any others since! About two months ago I had a few aptasia hitchhikers in the middle of some Zoa frags so the superglue wasn't an option. A $3 Peppermint shrimp ate the aptasia within a week. My Orchid Dottyback eventually won the fight and ate the shrimp.

Your cycle isn't finished yet so a peppermint shrimp isn't a good idea at this point.

The diatoms will eventually go away when your system matures. I left my lights on a regular cycle and the diatoms went away as soon as I added a cleanup crew of snails and hermits.

Good luck!

PS you could probably use a little more Live Rock in your aquarium. I have 30 lb. in my 24 gallon Aquapod. One pound of rock per gallon of water is recommended by most reef keepers.

cappymrgn · 08/14/2008, 09:28 AM

Thanks for the replies.
Just to clear things up, I wasnt considering boiling the rock with the diatom only the aptasia. They are on seperate rocks, sorry if I didnt make that clear.

Do you think Im being too paranoid about the one aptasia? cuz I took the rock out of the tank before I went to work.

I was planning on adding more live rock, but was waiting to get to a third LFS. I was hoping to get variety, but not aptasia!

Thanks!

08/13/2008, 05:45 PM	#1
cappymrgn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: south florida Posts: 116	New tank???s Hello everyone! I set up my BC29 last Saturday 8/9/8 with saltwater from the LFS, about 15lbs of cured live rock (also from two LFS) along with 20lbs of natures own "live sand." I will try to post pictures, but I am already getting an orangeish/brownish stuff on one of my rocks. I think its diatoms and I should cut the lights correct? Also, I have a hitchhiker that I am afraid is aptasia(sp?). I took it back to the LFS and he poked it and said he could tell by the way it retracted that it was not aptasia. I want to trust him, but it looks like all the pictures I have seen so far. I will try to get a pic ASAP. I know you wont be ablr to help with the aptasia question till I post some pics, but some reassurance about the brownish stuff will help too. Thanks Jason

08/13/2008, 06:56 PM	#3
Rendos Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 5,380	Looks like aiptasia to me. Looks like diatoms. __________________ Richard Rendos - Founder WTMRAC It can't rain all the time. Current Tank Info: 92 gallon corner bowfront

08/14/2008, 08:58 AM	#7
Octopus8 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 271	Looks like Aptasia to me. If all you have is one aptasia, I would just entomb it with a wad of superglue gel. I found one in my aquarium recently. I simply poked at it to make it retract then I covered the hole he came out of with a bit of superglue gel. Haven't seen it or any others since! About two months ago I had a few aptasia hitchhikers in the middle of some Zoa frags so the superglue wasn't an option. A $3 Peppermint shrimp ate the aptasia within a week. My Orchid Dottyback eventually won the fight and ate the shrimp. Your cycle isn't finished yet so a peppermint shrimp isn't a good idea at this point. The diatoms will eventually go away when your system matures. I left my lights on a regular cycle and the diatoms went away as soon as I added a cleanup crew of snails and hermits. Good luck! PS you could probably use a little more Live Rock in your aquarium. I have 30 lb. in my 24 gallon Aquapod. One pound of rock per gallon of water is recommended by most reef keepers. Last edited by Octopus8; 08/14/2008 at 09:06 AM.

08/13/2008, 06:50 PM	#2
cappymrgn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: south florida Posts: 116	1st time posting picks http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...r/P8130001.jpg[/IMG] Can you tell from this pic? Does look like diatoms? Its only on the one rock right now http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...r/P8130023.jpg[/IMG]

08/13/2008, 06:58 PM	#4
jdmcivicek9 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 39°N, -108°W AKA Somewhere in Colorado Posts: 578	agreed and agreed kill the aptasia and let your tank cycle some more!!but your well on your way!!

08/14/2008, 02:12 AM	#5
cappymrgn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: south florida Posts: 116	I can get the rock out easily at his point. Should I boil it, microwave it? If I do those things I can put it right back in the tank right?

08/14/2008, 08:29 AM	#6
jdmcivicek9 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 39°N, -108°W AKA Somewhere in Colorado Posts: 578	diatoms are part of the cycleing process...if you boil it or whatever youll kill all the beneficial organisms that have started to grow on your rock and therefore basically restarting your cycle because all that stuff has to start growing on your rock again...id just leave it in the tank and eventually it will go away also keep doing bi weekly water changes and use a turkey baster to blast off loose debre off the top of your sand and your rocks to get it into the water column so your skimmer can take it out

08/14/2008, 09:28 AM	#8
cappymrgn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: south florida Posts: 116	Thanks for the replies. Just to clear things up, I wasnt considering boiling the rock with the diatom only the aptasia. They are on seperate rocks, sorry if I didnt make that clear. Do you think Im being too paranoid about the one aptasia? cuz I took the rock out of the tank before I went to work. I was planning on adding more live rock, but was waiting to get to a third LFS. I was hoping to get variety, but not aptasia! Thanks!