Questions from a Newbe

[NJS7x7]

I could make a 100 different posts with all the questions I have, but thought I should condence it instead. For those that don't mind answering some probibly FAQ (been researching just can't find answers) here are a bunch. Any and all answers to any questions are greatly welcome, or just point me the right way to find the information.

About me and my setup.

I am in Washington state, Port Angeles where people apperently do not like fish unless they catch them for dinner lol. In the U.S. Coast Guard and have had aquriams for about 2 years, 1 year with salt.

My Reef Tank:
Age: 1 Year
It is the Red Sea MAX 130D its spec are as follows (looks for copy past...)

Total water volume 130 liters (34 gallons)
Aquarium volume 110 liters (29 gallons)
Lighting 2 x 55W T5 Power Compact
Lighting- 10,000k 55W
Lighting- Actinic 55W
Lighting- Blue LED 4
Circulation Pumps 2 x 550 lph (2 x 146 gph)

With the basic set with skimmer, carbon, heater, etc...

50LB of live rock with a 2-3 inch sand bed. I use only RO water.

Current water specs as of two days ago are 1.023-24 sal, 78 F, <.25 amo, 8.2 PH, 0 Nintrite and 1 Nitrate, alk 3.6 meq/l, mag can't remember but was far above minium level for salalinty in guide.

Livestock:
3 Blue Green Chroimes, 1 Six Line Wrasse, 1 Blue Sailfin Blenny, 1 Coral Banded Shrimp, 2 Pepermint shrimp, handful of hermets, handful of sails
(many of my hermet crabs seemed to have eaten each other)

Coral: (Just got my first corals)
1 Sun Polyp, 1 Starburst colony, 1 button colony, a few small mushrooms.

Ok now that that is out of the way for the questions:

This question is currently in another post on the general, but thought I would ask here too to help others.

What, when, how to feed corals?
I have Pyotofeast, dried mysis, frozen krill shrimp, frozen silversides, forzen brime, forzen meat mix. Dried processed fish and invert food.

What feeding rutine works best for you?
Currently I feed my fish and inverts every other day alternating between the driced basic pellets and the forzen food. Too much too little?

Are my water changes enough?
I try to change 5 gal of water every other month. Probibly too little, but the water quility seems ok with carbon 24/7. I use Red Sea Coral Pro.

Best way to keep bottom clean?
The water stays clean, but my stand is usually covered with a film of algae, or in the far back has black muck that I am finding almost impossible to clean. I had a conch to stuir the sand, but he quickly died long time ago. When I stir the few places that I can reach without disturbing anything the algae quickly grows over and it does not stay nice and white for long.

What corals are the best for beginers?
If my new additions do well I would like to at some point add more. However with a inexperianced keeper and a tight wallet I can not afford to have really anything die on me, and dispite my best efforts and knowledge seeking I know it happens. So what coals are known best to keep up with a newbe's learning curve?

How many fish is too much?
I would also like to add a firefly fish, a jawish, and maybe something else. That would bring the total to 8 fish and someday would like some seastars, anomimes, etc... When is it to much though? Recommended stock sizes?

What are some good, safe inverts I can add?
Such as a good seastar, and others that are coral and fish friendly? I have heard bad things about brittles, I need something that keeps the tank clean, but won't strave or bother everything else.

Any recommdations, good stories, or answers to questions that I should of asked but didn't think of? Thanks again in advance all, and maybe other newbes like me can ask questions here too so we can keep them together.

[neoalchemist74]

Welcom.
A) Of yor corals at this point you only need target feed (turkey baster or similar feeding tube)the sun polyps once daily whatever they will take, mysis or some thing that size or smaller will be great.
B) I feed my fish once a day but sparsely, and I stick to food I know they all like so it all gets eaten.
C) Simply put No. The benefits of frequent water chances are to numerable to mention especeally in a small system such as yours. Not least of all the inevitable death of corals.
D) More water changes, feed less more frequently. You have phosphate if you are not testing for this you need to be.
E) Toadstool leather would be a good choice. A Favia brain would be nice when your ready to maintain Magnesium and calcium and once you are testing for and cotrolling phosphates.
F) Your chromis will get large fast and it seems you bio load is already a little high as far as fish go ( I.E. sand bed algea) Chromis are pigs. You will be pushing it with one more small fish.
G) Brittle star are GREAT. Just stay away from the green serpant stars they are the only ones that will eat fish, but other than that most stars will starve. A tuxedo urchin, emerald crab, uuumm can't think of anything else right now.
Hope this helps.

[NJS7x7]

Thanks for the good info, you said I have a phosphate problem due to the black sludge stuff at the bottem back of my tank, if this is the case how do I go about getting rid of it, since the water changes doesn't get rid of it (its massed in clumps at the bottem) My CUC doesnt seem to want anything with it either.

[NJS7x7]

Oh is there any way to lesson, or get rid of the algae that covers my said. I try to gently stir the few places I can reach without disturbing anything, but it only stays pretty white for a few days before it gets gluned down by green and brown algae again.

[dublo8]

The algae on your sand is normal. It will go away soon with time. Just let it be. it takes a little while and eventually your system will mature. Everything will be working in harmony and taking care of itself for the most part.

[Lynnmw1208]

Adding some nassarius snails could help stir up your sand bed as they burrow in the sand. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...33&pcatid=1133

soft corals are good beginner corals.

[NJS7x7]

I'll have to look into those for sure. Any more good advice out there from anyone?

[tarantula]

+1 from Lynn. From my 8 yrs. in this hobby...water changes...water changes, and research everything before you even think of putting it in your display tank. Quarantine those coral too!

[Jarret]

It would be good to find out what your phosphates are at as previously mentioned. They are one of the leading causes for having algae in your tank.

Your ammonia level is also high. It should be nearly undetectable especially in a tank that is a year old. How old are the test kits you are using?

[thegrun]

Part of the problem with the algae is likely low flow. I would try at a minimum to double your water flow. Adding snails and starfish will help, but I suspect low flow as a main cause. If you have not replaced your lights since you set up the tank that is another cause of algae. Lights shift spectrum over time and that shift in color will cause algae to grow faster. It still surprises me how much the color of my tank changes when I replace the bulbs.

[frozenreefer]

im with thegrun, i think if you up your flow in the tank.

[NJS7x7]

My flow is fine, at times seems almost too much, they really packed powerful pumps in the set.

As for my amo I suspect it may be the test kit, as even under low bio loads it still shows .25 range. I have heard of other experienced keepers say the red sea test kit also showed signs to amo when they knew for a fact there was none. My dip strips while I don't consider them as accurate, also read 0 amo.

My lights are about a year old, so it may be the spectrum. I've had my coals for a week now and they are all so far seem to be doing good. I will prob do another 5gal water change today just to be safe though.

I need to get those snails the detritus is my biggest problem right now. I can't get it with water changes, and there is no room to do a vac without taking everything out.

Much appreciate all the tips guys, and more is always welcome! Maybe I can get pictures up today.

[NJS7x7]

Here are some pictures of my tank, what do you guys think?