Specific equipment questions regarding my new 45 gal reef tank. - Page 3

dtapke · 08/22/2018, 12:22 PM

Yeah i certainly get that, Doesn't seem to matter, but if you want the other option is just dosing daily fish food.

Personally i think that's a great option as it gets people more used to daily monitoring/maintenance of their tank. Lots of folks love the shrimp because you can just toss a shrimp in there and walk away for a few weeks.

Last, I'm pretty sure here in Central WI, I may have two options for shrimp lol!

best advice i can give is to not cheap out on things, spending a few extra bucks on higher *quality* tests are worthwhile. lots of folks love the Hanna meters but at $50 a piece they're a bit pricey, I think the red sea tests are pretty great, perhaps as you run out of a quality test, buy a hanna meter to replace it if you want to go that route.

I'm pretty sure BRS did a video on different tests and compared to Lab quality tests, I'll see if i can find it quick and link

dtapke · 08/22/2018, 12:24 PM

https://youtu.be/E6xyaHo91S0

you'll note they don't even touch on the API tests...

hkgar · 08/22/2018, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColbyWade

The fish store I like to go to was out of the api master saltwater test kits when I went to get a heater yesterday. Today after working went to the knee that is a little closer to my house to pick one up. Anyways they were out and wanted to sell me the red sea version that is apparently much more accurate. It was a lot more expensive too, but they were out.
They guy was trying g to get me to get a small clown fish in order to get ammonia. He said he put all his fish in his after two days. He really didnt make sense with what he was saying. He also tried to sell me some liquid that speeds up the cycle. Then a ai hydra for more than 50 bucks more than anyone else has it.

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There is a place for your LFS, but being of Scottish descent I buy my test kits online. Check out Bulk reef supply.

ColbyWade · 08/23/2018, 05:39 PM

Can anyone help me identify some of these growths? Is it all ok? Any red flags?

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lpsouth1978 · 08/23/2018, 05:44 PM

Mostly looks like sponges and nothing to worry about. There is some hair algae right next to some bub bbn le algae in one of these shots though. Try removing it as carefully as possible without popping the bubbles. If they pop, it can spread spores and grow all over It's not a huge issue, just stay on top of it and you will be fine. I have also found emerald crabs to be very effective against bubble algae.

ColbyWade · 08/23/2018, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpsouth1978

Mostly looks like sponges and nothing to worry about. There is some hair algae right next to some bub bbn le algae in one of these shots though. Try removing it as carefully as possible without popping the bubbles. If they pop, it can spread spores and grow all over It's not a huge issue, just stay on top of it and you will be fine. I have also found emerald crabs to be very effective against bubble algae.

How tf do I remove it without actually taking the whole rock out? Especially "carefully"?

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lpsouth1978 · 08/23/2018, 05:53 PM

Get creative. It usually comes off the rock fairly easy. Find a blunt object and try to get under it and pry it off. Or get an emerald crab. He will make short work of them.

It is an algae like any other, it needs nutrients to survive and grow. Eliminate the source and it won't be able to spread. Unfortunately, this is part of the process when having a tank, esp when using live rock. It really is not a big issue and a normal part of reefing.

ColbyWade · 08/23/2018, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpsouth1978

Get creative. It usually comes off the rock fairly easy. Find a blunt object and try to get under it and pry it off. Or get an emerald crab. He will make short work of them.

It is an algae like any other, it needs nutrients to survive and grow. Eliminate the source and it won't be able to spread. Unfortunately, this is part of the process when having a tank, esp when using live rock. It really is not a big issue and a normal part of reefing.

Is it fine to leave it until my cycle is complete? I cant add the crab until then anyways right?

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Uncle99 · 08/23/2018, 06:22 PM

1 small sea type shrimp will do fine, it just going to decompose.

lpsouth1978 · 08/23/2018, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColbyWade

Is it fine to leave it until my cycle is complete? I cant add the crab until then anyways right?

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Yes, you wand to wait for your cycle to complete before adding anything to your tank. It looks like you used REAL live rock, so it is to be expected that you will have some of these types of things on it at this point. IME, a lot of the algae, sponges, on other life that came on the rock will not survive in the tank long term, but those that do are mostly beneficial.

ColbyWade · 08/23/2018, 10:03 PM

All my rock is fiji live rock. About half was just curing in their tub. The rest was out of a big display tank that they had to break down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpsouth1978

Yes, you wand to wait for your cycle to complete before adding anything to your tank. It looks like you used REAL live rock, so it is to be expected that you will have some of these types of things on it at this point. IME, a lot of the algae, sponges, on other life that came on the rock will not survive in the tank long term, but those that do are mostly beneficial.

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Rover88 · 08/24/2018, 11:30 AM

Take the rock with the bubble algae on it out of the tank completely, hold it over a sink, and just get it off. Papertowel, screwdriver, whatever you need to wedge it out. If they pop, just rinse it with some tank water down the drain (Don't use tap water), and there you go. Unless its a huge piece its not like your tank is terribly established, shouldn't be hard to just pick it up!

Most of the growths you took pictures of are sponges of varying kinds.

The rock has hair algae on it (The green stuff), and maybe some cyano bacteria as well? I don't see anything thats a big red flag, but it can be hard on the wider shots to really make out whats there.

ColbyWade · 08/24/2018, 05:41 PM

Ammonia tested at .25 ppm
Nitrite was 0
Nitrate was between 5 or 10 ppm.

Am I even getting close?

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Rover88 · 08/24/2018, 05:49 PM

If you are seeing ammonia, thats a nope. You are in stage 1.

You will see nitrite rise, then nitrate rise.

When your ammonia and nitrite are zero you are done.

Since you've seen ammonia, just keep testing til you don't anymore. Then you are done. Might take a week, might take a month.

ColbyWade · 08/24/2018, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover88

If you are seeing ammonia, thats a nope. You are in stage 1.

You will see nitrite rise, then nitrate rise.

When your ammonia and nitrite are zero you are done.

Since you've seen ammonia, just keep testing til you don't anymore. Then you are done. Might take a week, might take a month.

I'm sure you "reefers" (which I know I am one too, not pointing a finger) get this a lot, but GD I am so ready to add critters to my tank.

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Uncle99 · 08/24/2018, 05:58 PM

Resist resist resist.....do it right the first time or spend tons of time and money to fix it.

ColbyWade · 08/24/2018, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle99

Resist resist resist.....do it right the first time or spend tons of time and money to fix it.

I'm resisting, but this is taking longer than Christmas did when I was a kid.

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Rover88 · 08/24/2018, 06:29 PM

Yeah.

I only started last year Colby. Rooting around on this forum for hours a day has been a wealth of knowledge. However, experience you can't get from someone else. I wish I did things different at the start I didn't do because I rushed, and I regretted it.

You'll do the same thing. :P But you'll learn from it.

ColbyWade · 08/24/2018, 09:32 PM

Anything specific you are referring to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover88

Yeah.

I only started last year Colby. Rooting around on this forum for hours a day has been a wealth of knowledge. However, experience you can't get from someone else. I wish I did things different at the start I didn't do because I rushed, and I regretted it.

You'll do the same thing.

But you'll learn from it.

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Rover88 · 08/25/2018, 07:36 AM

Quarantining.

Taking more time getting quality rocks then rushing with the old ones that were sold to me with the tank.

Waiting longer to add livestock to the tank instead of putting in too much at once.

Buying cheap products/equipment and then getting irked by how shoddy they are and needing to rebuy the stuff I should have gotten the first time.

hkgar · 08/25/2018, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColbyWade

I'm resisting, but this is taking longer than Christmas did when I was a kid.

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There are two VERY important rules to reefing, and the sooner you memorize these rules the better reefer you will become.

1. Take things slow! Nothing good happens in reefs when done to quick
2. Go slower than you think rule 1 meant.

krs1102 · 08/25/2018, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColbyWade

I'm resisting, but this is taking longer than Christmas did when I was a kid.

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We are a year plus into this hobby and my wife is constantly telling me that if she really knew what we were getting into back when we were getting started, she might have made a different decision. Part of that is the length of time for this (part is the $$ too- ugh).

Then again, it is a definite learning process for my kids (us too!)- it REALLY teaches them patience! And I feel like, by going slowly, there is always something to be excited about because there is always something new.

ColbyWade · 08/25/2018, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krs1102

We are a year plus into this hobby and my wife is constantly telling me that if she really knew what we were getting into back when we were getting started, she might have made a different decision. Part of that is the length of time for this (part is the $$ too- ugh).

Then again, it is a definite learning process for my kids (us too!)- it REALLY teaches them patience! And I feel like, by going slowly, there is always something to be excited about because there is always something new.

I would agree with both points. I have spend a lot more up to this point than I thought I would have. Also i feel like there is always something to be excited for. Trying to plan out what items I'm going to go pick up after each paycheck.

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ColbyWade · 08/30/2018, 11:25 AM

Whelp my ammonia has been testing zero for almost a week now, and out of 10 hermit crabs, 9 are still going strong. I'm getting my lights and a couple clowns on Saturday. I'm going to get a shrimp too assuming my tank can handle it.

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Rover88 · 08/30/2018, 11:35 AM

A shrimp isn't a very big bioload.

How are your nitrites?

08/23/2018, 05:44 PM	#55
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	Mostly looks like sponges and nothing to worry about. There is some hair algae right next to some bub bbn le algae in one of these shots though. Try removing it as carefully as possible without popping the bubbles. If they pop, it can spread spores and grow all over It's not a huge issue, just stay on top of it and you will be fine. I have also found emerald crabs to be very effective against bubble algae. __________________ Current tank: 40B work in progress w/20L sump

08/23/2018, 05:53 PM	#57
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	Get creative. It usually comes off the rock fairly easy. Find a blunt object and try to get under it and pry it off. Or get an emerald crab. He will make short work of them. It is an algae like any other, it needs nutrients to survive and grow. Eliminate the source and it won't be able to spread. Unfortunately, this is part of the process when having a tank, esp when using live rock. It really is not a big issue and a normal part of reefing. __________________ Current tank: 40B work in progress w/20L sump

08/22/2018, 12:22 PM	#51
dtapke Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 105	Yeah i certainly get that, Doesn't seem to matter, but if you want the other option is just dosing daily fish food. Personally i think that's a great option as it gets people more used to daily monitoring/maintenance of their tank. Lots of folks love the shrimp because you can just toss a shrimp in there and walk away for a few weeks. Last, I'm pretty sure here in Central WI, I may have two options for shrimp lol! best advice i can give is to not cheap out on things, spending a few extra bucks on higher quality tests are worthwhile. lots of folks love the Hanna meters but at $50 a piece they're a bit pricey, I think the red sea tests are pretty great, perhaps as you run out of a quality test, buy a hanna meter to replace it if you want to go that route. I'm pretty sure BRS did a video on different tests and compared to Lab quality tests, I'll see if i can find it quick and link

08/22/2018, 12:24 PM	#52
dtapke Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 105	https://youtu.be/E6xyaHo91S0 you'll note they don't even touch on the API tests...

08/23/2018, 05:39 PM	#54
ColbyWade Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Fort Worth Tx Posts: 52	Can anyone help me identify some of these growths? Is it all ok? Any red flags? Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08/23/2018, 06:22 PM	#59
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	1 small sea type shrimp will do fine, it just going to decompose.

08/24/2018, 11:30 AM	#62
Rover88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 590	Take the rock with the bubble algae on it out of the tank completely, hold it over a sink, and just get it off. Papertowel, screwdriver, whatever you need to wedge it out. If they pop, just rinse it with some tank water down the drain (Don't use tap water), and there you go. Unless its a huge piece its not like your tank is terribly established, shouldn't be hard to just pick it up! Most of the growths you took pictures of are sponges of varying kinds. The rock has hair algae on it (The green stuff), and maybe some cyano bacteria as well? I don't see anything thats a big red flag, but it can be hard on the wider shots to really make out whats there.

08/24/2018, 05:41 PM	#63
ColbyWade Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Fort Worth Tx Posts: 52	Ammonia tested at .25 ppm Nitrite was 0 Nitrate was between 5 or 10 ppm. Am I even getting close? Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08/24/2018, 05:49 PM	#64
Rover88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 590	If you are seeing ammonia, thats a nope. You are in stage 1. You will see nitrite rise, then nitrate rise. When your ammonia and nitrite are zero you are done. Since you've seen ammonia, just keep testing til you don't anymore. Then you are done. Might take a week, might take a month.

08/24/2018, 05:58 PM	#66
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Resist resist resist.....do it right the first time or spend tons of time and money to fix it.

08/24/2018, 06:29 PM	#68
Rover88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 590	Yeah. I only started last year Colby. Rooting around on this forum for hours a day has been a wealth of knowledge. However, experience you can't get from someone else. I wish I did things different at the start I didn't do because I rushed, and I regretted it. You'll do the same thing. :P But you'll learn from it.

08/25/2018, 07:36 AM	#70
Rover88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 590	Quarantining. Taking more time getting quality rocks then rushing with the old ones that were sold to me with the tank. Waiting longer to add livestock to the tank instead of putting in too much at once. Buying cheap products/equipment and then getting irked by how shoddy they are and needing to rebuy the stuff I should have gotten the first time.

08/30/2018, 11:25 AM	#74
ColbyWade Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Fort Worth Tx Posts: 52	Whelp my ammonia has been testing zero for almost a week now, and out of 10 hermit crabs, 9 are still going strong. I'm getting my lights and a couple clowns on Saturday. I'm going to get a shrimp too assuming my tank can handle it. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08/30/2018, 11:35 AM	#75
Rover88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 590	A shrimp isn't a very big bioload. How are your nitrites?