First Timer

[Coal]

Hi Everyone, First time on Reef Central.

Was browsing the net and came across this page. Looks great! I just started with salt water not to long ago. I'll bring everyone up to speed. Set up the tank probably about a month ago. I picked up a 55 gallon sw kit to get into the hobby. I had experience with FW from my 40 gal cichlid tank and me and my husband decided to swap over to SW. I never got a spike while my tank was cycling so decided to start with a few hardy fish. I picked up some clowns and they have since been doing fine. Since then I have added to my tank with 12 turbo snails, 1 scooter blenny and 1 regal blue hippo tang. My Tank is really starting to come together now. One thing I have noticed from other aquarists is that a sw tank is never done, so i guess this here is the beginning of the end for me. Well atleast I found others in my situation.

[lobsterchick006]

Welcome to the forum, we look forward to hearing more about your tank and your progresses


--Karen
Free Aquarium Magazine Subscriptions: Tropical Fish Hobyist, Aquarium Fish, and many others

[sir_dudeguy]

a couple things tho....

1..you prolly went a bit overkill on the turbos...i've read that 1 per every 25 gallons is enough..but that could have been wrong...but 12 is way more than enough imo.

2. you did go too fast as far as adding fish. and that blue tang is gonna have to come out for sure..even if its only 2 inches long...it will outgrow that tank. plus they need tons of swimming room.

but other than those 2 things it all seems fine. you prolly didnt see a cycle because you used cured live rock i'm guessing?

and no, saltwater tanks never are finished imo lol. Always adding/removing corals and rock and stuff.

[Coal]

Hey sir dude guy.

I know about the blue tang. Little darling is gonna outgrow my tank, thats ok. I'll keep him for now and then cry for a week when he grows. Gotta love the lfs and my ability to say "what your wrong! oh but he's so cute, ok bag him up"

for the Turbo snails, I am pretty sure thats the right amount (not to go against you or anything) I have read online that a good amount is 12 for a 55 gal. the LFS said (now this is good) i could have anywhere from 12 - 50 *uhm... no, lets not and say we did ok*

Also, I have been going pretty slow with adding fish. I take about a week's time inbetween adding anything aswell as test my water beforehand. I want to make sure that my water paramaters are inline before i spend $.

Lastly, your right about the LR. I wasn't aware not to add it while the tank is cycling. Because i didn't get a cycle would this later harm my tank?

[SeanySean]

I had 20 in my 55 and there were still room for more, yet I only have 4 in this tank and you really can tell, soon to be getting another 40 or so

[sir_dudeguy]

a weeks time in between the next fish isnt really taking it slow tho...most people say around 3 weeks is about right.

but no the cured rock wont harm the tank at all in any way. IMO and many others, its is the BEST way to cycle a tank...because cured live rock is already cycled. Its not the water you're cycleing...its the bacteria on the rock that breaks down the stuff in the water. since the rock is already cycled, you wont see any cycle unless there is a little bit of die off, at which point it would make a minor spike.

w/cured live rock, you can start adding stuff about a week after you add the rock imo...you wont really see a cycle, but the week gives you time to make sure there wont be one.

i'm gonna look around on those turbos...i'm almost positive that i read 1/25 gallons.

also, imo...dont take the tang back...just get a bigger tank

mike

[Coal]

lol yeah 4 in a 200g is not really cutting it.

Funniest thing, i noticed a feather duster on one of my snails yesterday. Atleast i think it was a feather duster.

[sir_dudeguy]

lol ya its always funny to see what grows on their shells. one person had some xenia growing on one a while ago.

[Coal]

lol, you are probably right on the tang. So far i am loving saltwater and my husband wants to grab the 265 gal he saw at the store. I told him we are going to need a bigger house.

Let me know on the snails cuz I have read so many contradictory things online, and you can never trust the LFS.

Yeah i guess you are right, i can't really say i am taking it slow with adding new fish once a week. thats kinda taking it slow in the fast lane

[Coal]

do you think the feather dusters will die?

[Teeka]

I have a 120 gallon and I have 30 turbos in there. I don't think it is too many. Between all the rock and glass. I glass still gets plenty of stuff growing on it.

[SeanySean]

sometimes the feather dusters will die, sometimes not, I had a red feather on a crab but that did not stay long, but then again, crabs are far more active in falling and sqeezing in rocks etc

[Coal]

would the feather dusters ever leave the crab? Maybe sit on some lr?

[sir_dudeguy]

ya the feather duster may or may not die..prolly depends on if the snail bangs it on rocks and stuff (which turbos are pretty dang clumsy so i'd say theres a good chance of it lol)

still havent found anything on the turbos tho...

[SeanySean]

i know the bigger ones can do that, but I am not sure of the smaller ones, but I imagine it is the same process, if he is on some coraline, maybe you could use a razor blade and cut him off and place him in a crevis on some LR

[Coal]

I could get my husband to try that. (this is so girly but turbos are gross, i'm not touching them!)

Would the feather dusters even live because i don't have the best lighting. I purchased a starter kit and it came with 2 lights. 1 actinic and 1 white.

[Coal]

I could get my husband to try that. (this is so girly but turbos are gross, i'm not touching them!)

Would the feather dusters even live because i don't have the best lighting. I purchased a starter kit and it came with 2 lights. 1 actinic and 1 white.

[SeanySean]

Those feather dusters do not need great lighting, the biggest ones in my tank all grow under the overhangs in rocks etc or on the glass behind the rocks where very little light gets so it should be fine, they get their energy from filtering your water and do not rely on light

[Coal]

Thanks, This is awsome! I am a little excited

[SeanySean]

Originally posted by Coal
Thanks, This is awsome! I am a little excited

I bet... I remember when I first started my 55G and all I had were a couple of feathers, and I still looked at them for hours scanning every mm of LR to try and find more stuff....

soon, you will run out of time in a day as there will be so much stuff to look at

Just remember to be very patient with your tank as I know how frustrating it can be when you have nothing in there. I used to go to the LFS every day and just watch their fish

[Coal]

seanysean, thats hillarious. Me and my husband should work at the lfs, we are there more than they are.

Yeah this is pretty exciting. I am actually even thinking of leaving work early today because my boss isn't in just so i can go and watch my new fish. (<--- dorcus monbranus)

i am gonna get my husband to try and take off the feather duster tonight. He probably won't and even if he does, you try finding the snail again.

[angelsj247]

To Reef Central

[SeanySean]

Did you find the snail yet?

I know what you mean about work and fish keeping, I think unless you work in a LFS you are going to take time off, I have taken so much time off from certain contracts you just would not believe, funnily enough always around pay day!!!!
I think it would be unfair on my fish and would make a bad host out of me if I did not cater for all their requirements, making sure that they settle in ok. They have found a new home, not being bullied on their first day, lol