new guy with 34g RSM

[BillMahoney]

Hi guys. I just got this 34g RSM130 yesterday. Its been operational the whole time. Only down time was transportation so everything should be fine. I got of for $$300 with stand and live sand about 40-50 lbs. Live rock with lots of coral still on it. Also the testing kit and various other little components. I think I got an amazing deal. Here it is..



Today's levels seem fairly adequate and are as follows:
Temp: 78.5*
SG: 1.025-1.026 ( hydrometer sucks. Need refractometer)
PH: 8.0
Alkalinity: +/- 2.4
Amonia: 0.25 p.p.m. ( with equation and graph I got a reading of 0.058)
Nitrite: 0.1 p.p.m.
Nitrate: 2.5 p.p.m. ( equation with nitrite interference gave me a "true" reading of zero)
Calcium: 450

What do you guys make of that?

I have identified some coral...atleast I believe I have identified them correctly... but clarification would be great.

Ok. In these 2 pictures I have star polyps





Sorry bout the picture quality... I'm doing all this on my Droid. The x wife got my digital camera... I'm gonna try to get it back.

Ok next is some brownish redish stuff that I don't know about... it seemed to have a spider web like silk on it yesterday. But not now... and under it is what appear to be orange zoanthids of some type?



Here I have a feather duster that I saw once yesterday for a couple minutes then went in the tube and I haven't seen him since. How often should I see him? Is. He in a decent location? This is middle left rock ( if looking at first pic)... also above him is a redish purple pad thing... perhaps a Florida ricordea? I dunno.



This aweful photo shows a small solo yellow polyp of some sort in mid left. He seemed more lively yesterday I dunno what he is



These are my shrooms



This is some kind of yellow sponge.



There are also tons of cool little brittle stars and a few star fish.

[BillMahoney]

What should my alkalinity be at? My testing kit shows 1.7-2.8 being normal. Also should I strive for 8.2 Ph? Or is 8.0 perfect? Hopefully the amonoa, nitrates and trites zero out soon. There shouldn't have been much of any die off as the rocks were out of salt water for a total of maybe 2 minutes and that's pushing it.

Oh and here's my new pic... I changed the aqua scape because I didn't like the verticle drop on the right side of the center rock. I think this looks more natural.



I got a bunch brown star polyps growing g too. And different colored Zoas. Sprouting up all around randomly.

I have an emerald crab and a couple hermits and a few starfish. They appear to be be doing well.
Oh and btw. What are these small capsule like clear tubes? I have a couple about a quarter inch long. Like bubbles.

[corbett_n]

alkalinity should be 7-10kh

[James404]

Looks good so far. That brownish reddish stuff in the first pic, does it come off easily if you touch it or blow it with a turkey baster? If it does it could be cyano or maybe its some sort of sponge. Hard to tell....

[BillMahoney]

No it doesn't come off an seems to has small bumps all over it... I think its some kinda. Coral. It seems like it could be a new mat of star polyps but Its brownish not pinkish purple.