My First Reef Tank

Blinkerbee · 01/27/2014, 01:41 PM

Hey guys this is my first attempt at saltwater, which by the way is AWESOME! Loving it. I have a 45g freshie tank up too. I just wanted to put my specs / equipment and let you know what's going on... And of course get your advice. Hopefully this is the right place for this. My tank's been running for 3wks. I believe it's cycled.

Tank: 6g Fluval Edge
Powerhead: Koralia Nano 240
Heater: Tetra HT10 50w
Lighting: stock
Substrate: Fiji Pink Arag-alive sand
Live Rock: Fully cured from LFS (about 5lbs)
Water: Mixed from LFS (bought by the gallon)

Livestock:
1 percula clownfish (recently added)
3 red reef hermit crabs
Many other tiny critters that come out at night...eek!

Questions:
1. My sand is turning brown on top a little, is it diatoms?
2. Have any of you ever seen one hermit evict another and take his shell? This resulted in the homeless one taking the other one's shell- basically a swap. Pics to follow.
3. What do you think of my tank? I know I'll need to upgrade my lighting... That's in the works eventually.
4. Do I need to run the Fluval's HOB filter? It's off right now... And I never run it.

Pics:
One on left forced the other out. The shell-less one jumped in his back for whatever reason

About to secure his new shell after evicting the other.

Full tank shot:

Side View:

Diatoms?

What's this red fragments of stuff?

Sugar Magnolia · 01/27/2014, 01:53 PM

Looks good! Yes, it's perfectly normal for hermits to snatch others shells. You can help by adding a few empty shells for them to try out.

It's likely diatoms on the sand bed. A normal part of the tank cycling process.

Long term, that tank is much too small to house a clown. Consider returning the clown and getting a more appropriatelyy sized fish. There a re some nice small gobies, along with a Randall's pistol shrimp that would do very well in that size tank. Bonus...they're very neat to watch.

Blinkerbee · 01/27/2014, 02:00 PM

Thanks! When he gets a little bigger I will return him for sure. For me starting out the cost of getting a small tank going was doable. Live rock is so expensive!

Blinkerbee · 01/28/2014, 08:18 PM

Help?

FishStoreRob · 01/28/2014, 08:23 PM

Live rock is expensive always, been working at my LFS for a bit and am current manager and ive seen the prices go from 4.99lb to 7.99lb. slow collection is the best way to fix that

FishStoreRob · 01/28/2014, 08:25 PM

and you should def be running the HoB unless you have another filter, but i cant see one in the pics

01/27/2014, 01:41 PM	#1
Blinkerbee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 77	My First Reef Tank Hey guys this is my first attempt at saltwater, which by the way is AWESOME! Loving it. I have a 45g freshie tank up too. I just wanted to put my specs / equipment and let you know what's going on... And of course get your advice. Hopefully this is the right place for this. My tank's been running for 3wks. I believe it's cycled. Tank: 6g Fluval Edge Powerhead: Koralia Nano 240 Heater: Tetra HT10 50w Lighting: stock Substrate: Fiji Pink Arag-alive sand Live Rock: Fully cured from LFS (about 5lbs) Water: Mixed from LFS (bought by the gallon) Livestock: 1 percula clownfish (recently added) 3 red reef hermit crabs Many other tiny critters that come out at night...eek! Questions: 1. My sand is turning brown on top a little, is it diatoms? 2. Have any of you ever seen one hermit evict another and take his shell? This resulted in the homeless one taking the other one's shell- basically a swap. Pics to follow. 3. What do you think of my tank? I know I'll need to upgrade my lighting... That's in the works eventually. 4. Do I need to run the Fluval's HOB filter? It's off right now... And I never run it. Pics: One on left forced the other out. The shell-less one jumped in his back for whatever reason About to secure his new shell after evicting the other. Full tank shot: Side View: Diatoms? What's this red fragments of stuff? Last edited by Blinkerbee; 01/27/2014 at 02:04 PM.

01/27/2014, 01:53 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Looks good! Yes, it's perfectly normal for hermits to snatch others shells. You can help by adding a few empty shells for them to try out. It's likely diatoms on the sand bed. A normal part of the tank cycling process. Long term, that tank is much too small to house a clown. Consider returning the clown and getting a more appropriatelyy sized fish. There a re some nice small gobies, along with a Randall's pistol shrimp that would do very well in that size tank. Bonus...they're very neat to watch. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

01/27/2014, 02:00 PM	#3
Blinkerbee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 77	Thanks! When he gets a little bigger I will return him for sure. For me starting out the cost of getting a small tank going was doable. Live rock is so expensive!

01/28/2014, 08:18 PM	#4
Blinkerbee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 77	Help?

01/28/2014, 08:23 PM	#5
FishStoreRob Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: FL Posts: 31	Live rock is expensive always, been working at my LFS for a bit and am current manager and ive seen the prices go from 4.99lb to 7.99lb. slow collection is the best way to fix that

01/28/2014, 08:25 PM	#6
FishStoreRob Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: FL Posts: 31	and you should def be running the HoB unless you have another filter, but i cant see one in the pics