I'm new here !!

Maclee · 12/28/2015, 08:53 AM

Hi my name is Mack , I'm new too this hobby , I live in Holland near Rotterdam .
I have attached a photo of my aquarium, it's a Juwel rekord 600 , 63 ltr running an bio filter / sponges .. No sump , I have an tunze 6040 power head in..
I started cycling the tank 5 weeks ago , I started with dry rock and live sand , I now also have 2 small pieces live rock in too seed the coralline algae , the tank is almost cycled now .. I've used the Red Sea pro mature which finished 3 weeks ago , I'm now using hs denibac and hs minerals ABCD .
I have just got back from my lFS were I have just ordered my clean up crew , 2 dwarf hermit crabs ,3 turbo snails ,and a pistol shrimp .and a star fish ..
This is my first ever aquarium , so I will probably asking a lot of questions here on RC .... My first question is I would also like too put a fire shrimp in as well .. Is that possible with the pistol shrimp ...???
Oohhhhhh how long should I wait before I put my first corals in??
Any advice or comments welcome over aquarium .... Thanks Mack !!

e048 · 12/28/2015, 11:59 AM

Welcome, first off seems like you're doing well.

When you say starfish do you know what type?

As far as your fire shrimp goes it depends on what kind of pistol shrimp it is. If it's a smaller species it should be fine, but if it's a tiger pistol you may be in trouble. I had a tiger pistol kill peppermints but never touch cleaner or coral banded shrimps.

Best of luck to you

Ron Reefman · 12/29/2015, 07:25 AM

Welcome to the forum and to the addiction!

Take your time. It's an old saying around here, but it's very true, "Nothing good happens quickly in a marine aquarium!"

Getting the tank cycled is a good the first step. You will probably get an algae bloom or a bacteria bloom soon and you don't want corals in the tank if/when those happen. Do easy corals first. I wouldn't try sps until the tank is 6 months old.

Maclee · 12/29/2015, 02:56 PM

Thanks ron ive already had an diatom bloom and have a little green algae growing but iTS been moderate so far and seems to be dying of now my nitrates are coming down nicely now too...2.0 ppm.. I got good all round readings today ammonia 0.1 nitrites 0.1 only my alkalinity stays high at 13 dkh ....calcium 420 .. Magnesium 1380 ...ph stays at 7.9 daytime at night it's upto 8.1

shyerdj · 12/29/2015, 07:14 PM

i agree with Ron. gl+hf!

Keithj32 · 12/29/2015, 07:20 PM

Welcome! Enjoy the vast of knowledge from fellow aquarists on reefers on RC

kmbyrnes · 12/31/2015, 06:47 AM

Welcome and enjoy!

leviburns89 · 12/31/2015, 07:17 AM

Welcome!

If you're not already, and can afford it, I would suggest getting a low range phosphate test. Hanna is easiest from what I've read, but also a premium product so it's pricey.

Keeping an eye on phosphates will help you control algae and avoid serious blooms or takeovers.

Other than that, your parameters seem good!

12/29/2015, 07:25 AM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Welcome to the forum and to the addiction! Take your time. It's an old saying around here, but it's very true, "Nothing good happens quickly in a marine aquarium!" Getting the tank cycled is a good the first step. You will probably get an algae bloom or a bacteria bloom soon and you don't want corals in the tank if/when those happen. Do easy corals first. I wouldn't try sps until the tank is 6 months old. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

12/31/2015, 06:47 AM	#7
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	Welcome and enjoy! __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

12/28/2015, 11:59 AM	#2
e048 Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 598	Welcome, first off seems like you're doing well. When you say starfish do you know what type? As far as your fire shrimp goes it depends on what kind of pistol shrimp it is. If it's a smaller species it should be fine, but if it's a tiger pistol you may be in trouble. I had a tiger pistol kill peppermints but never touch cleaner or coral banded shrimps. Best of luck to you

12/29/2015, 02:56 PM	#4
Maclee Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Rotterdam / netherlands Posts: 9	Thanks ron ive already had an diatom bloom and have a little green algae growing but iTS been moderate so far and seems to be dying of now my nitrates are coming down nicely now too...2.0 ppm.. I got good all round readings today ammonia 0.1 nitrites 0.1 only my alkalinity stays high at 13 dkh ....calcium 420 .. Magnesium 1380 ...ph stays at 7.9 daytime at night it's upto 8.1

12/29/2015, 07:14 PM	#5
shyerdj Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 70	i agree with Ron. gl+hf!

12/29/2015, 07:20 PM	#6
Keithj32 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: San Tan Valley, AZ Posts: 36	Welcome! Enjoy the vast of knowledge from fellow aquarists on reefers on RC

12/31/2015, 07:17 AM	#8
leviburns89 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 652	Welcome! If you're not already, and can afford it, I would suggest getting a low range phosphate test. Hanna is easiest from what I've read, but also a premium product so it's pricey. Keeping an eye on phosphates will help you control algae and avoid serious blooms or takeovers. Other than that, your parameters seem good!