First SW Tank....

[DarthPaul]

Hello all!

 

I am a new member to WAMAS and new to the SW hobby as well. Although new to SW I have plenty of experience in FW/ highgrowth planted tanks. currently breeding Honglsloi II Apistos...but on to the SW talk

 

Being new to the SW end of the hobby I chose to start somewhat small...I purchased the 24G AquaPod from Current. I know that the bigger the you go the more leeway you tend to have when problems arrive .......but I am used to normal water changes and proper care of water quality etc. and would rather start small and learn the in-&-outs before dumping the $1000000000s....into my dream set-up for my first tank. I do think I am spending my money wisely in the fact that other thanthe sand I will be able to use all my equipment I have/purchased for this first tank on any tank I plan on getting in the future.

 

Some tid bits about the tank:

24g Aquapod

standard PC lighting(32w reg/32w all acitnic)(DIY upgrade in future for more light)

Upgraded return pump to maxijet 1200, Stock pump is being used in tank for extra flow

(may have to ditch the stock pump cause it apparently getspretty warm and can throw my tempsup)

Stealth heater in sump (will be gone with light upgrade(DIY)..no need to heat)

1 Bag of Live Sand (3pd bag?) about 2-3 inch sand bed. Sugar sized argonite.

22pds Live Rock (11pds Aquarium One-Prem Fiji, 11pds Tropical Fish World Prem Fiji -tank cured) :wink:

Removed all filter media and 1/4 full 1st/overflow chamber of LR rubble-chunks(plan on light for refug)

Instant Ocean Salt, Tests= Api (Amm, Nitrate, Nitrite, KH, GH(fw only really), Phos) Seachem=(Calcium Pro set, Alk, Marine PH).

 

Tank has been up and running with LR/LS for 1 week and a few days..saw the normal test spikes and the levels on all params (amm, Nitrate, trites, salinityetc...) have been dropping rapidly the past few days. YEAH! Will continue to check them reguarly but think having plenty of LR/LS has just basically rapid cycled the tank. If levels go to 0 and check out for a few days I will drop in my Clean-up Crew and monitor if any spikes re-occur.

 

Current params:

Amm= 0.25ppm(mg/L)

Nitrate= 5.0ppm

Nitrite= 0.25ppm

Phos= 0.5ppm

Alk= 8 meg/L (too high?)

Calc= 250mg/L

Salinity= 1.024

Ph= 8.2

 

Plan to start with medium light softies, zoas, anenomes, etc....and eventually move to some higher light species along with a lighting upgrade. Would like to keep stock hood look and get at least a 70w HQI MH in there with DIY plans...heat will be the biggest issue of course. If I cannot keep the temps down with fan increase I will look at a chiller option( Some nano ones for $100 or so). Fish wise I would like a Clown Pair mixed with a goby and a blenny combo most likely...along with my clean up crew and a shrimp/starfish or two. That would be it...dont want to overstock...weekly-bi weekly water changes should keep up

 

Please feel free to chime in and provide any recommendations/comments on my current set up...I do believe you can never know enough and I know the members on this site are packed with hands on experience that can only be learned in the game. So any feedback is appreciated to me ...good or bad.

 

Also...currently looking for frags/critters to get me started....hit me up with an email/pm if looking to sell/donate :wink: any good starter frags to get me going. I really like Yellows, bright greens, purple/blues so especially if you have some of these colors. I paid my membership so I will be hitting up the classified section as well. Take a look at the tank as of now....

 

 

attachment error....

[magnetic1]

Welcome...

 

Ive got some GreenStarPolyps and Kenya Tree you can have free

 

Where are you located? (might want to put that into your profile)

Edited February 18, 2008 by magnetic1

[Brian Ward]

Take a look around www.nanotuners.com for diy kits/supplies, etc. Sounds like you're on your way. I also have a small kenya colony to get rid of, pulsing xenia, and some hairy mushrooms (I think that's what they are anyway). If you're interested, you can certainly come get them.

 

 

 

Alk sounds high, calcium is a bit low. If you dose some calcium to boost it, that will pull your alk back down. Here's a website for aquarium chemistry:

 

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

 

 

Def don't put anything in until ammonia and nitrite are gone.

[newfish]

Although I did not listen to this advise when I started it is highly recommended to hold off on the anemone until your tank has been established for a few months or so. If they die or get sucked into the powerhead it can cause big problems with the tank. I am also new to the hobby and it is a scary process when the anemone doesnt look too good or even when it is moving around making eveything fall off the LR.

 

Here is a good site that I found about anemones. http://www.carlosreef.com/AnemoneFAQ.pdf

 

Hope this helps.

[gastone]

Paul,

 

looks good. I wish I had the patience to take my time when I started. Glad you've done your research beforehand.

 

The spring meeting is in the beginning of April. You will be able to find plenty of nice stuff by then and I'm sure your tank will be ready for it.

 

Garrett.

Edited February 19, 2008 by gastone

[DarthPaul]

Good info on the Anen's......alot of info I had not heard/read. It would be a while before I get to putting one in my tank. As a matter of fact I dont plan on having anything other than a few crabs/snails until the end of march at the earliest. Even then I will be taking it slow and slowly stocking my tank with thought on placement and growth so I can manage it efficiently without getting over my head with maintaining it.

 

I also have a feeling that by the time I am ready for one in my current tank......I will have a much larger one ready in the wings. So the Anenm is for my next tank

 

What I really need to do now is research which corals I want to keep that I will not get tired of....

(ie. Kenya Tree, Xenia, mushrooms) seem to be the majority of the corals that most reefers are trying to get rid of either because they are overgrowing the tank or just losing interest....at least that is what I have been observing in my research.....

 

Any suggestions on nice corals I should consider that are typically known to have a long term enjoyment factor? Nothing to difficult....but also keeping with the above feelings?

 

I did see a cool little "pistol shrimp" (I think thats what it was) that had hosted a Goby in the Aquarium One Biocube display....very cool...and something I would surely get enjoyment out of..so that goes on my list too.

[gmubeach]

If possible you should take a look at similar tanks ... I started off where you did and I ended up with a monstrosity! I ripped the lighting fixture out and put in a 250 watt mh with 2 65 watt compact florcents ... I added a hang on refuguim... a chiller... anyway it will grow some amazing things! and you can always use it as a frag tank for your bigger tank .... anyway zooanthids are cool and so are palys they will keep in most lighting and look good for a while... I also like mushrooms and florida ricrodia! I stayed faw away from the anemonie and got my clowns to host in a fuzzy mushroom they will also host in pulsing xenia and a few other things if your not heart set on an anemie... they are extremly hard to keep and if they die it will wipe out your entire tank... 24 gallons just isn't the right size for them:O) ... I like peppermint shirmp and skunk cleaner shirmp.. I also have a big feather duster.... anyway I need to take some more photos to show off the new acropora from the wamas meeting... anyway there are alot of us with smaller tanks and given the proper eqiupment the only thing limiting you is space!

[jason the filter freak]

Great looking aquascaping! Welcome to the club!

[lanman]

.

.

.

Tank has been up and running with LR/LS for 1 week and a few days..saw the normal test spikes and the levels on all params (amm, Nitrate, trites, salinityetc...) have been dropping rapidly the past few days. YEAH! Will continue to check them reguarly but think having plenty of LR/LS has just basically rapid cycled the tank. If levels go to 0 and check out for a few days I will drop in my Clean-up Crew and monitor if any spikes re-occur.

 

Current params:

Amm= 0.25ppm(mg/L)

Nitrate= 5.0ppm

Nitrite= 0.25ppm

Phos= 0.5ppm

Alk= 8 meg/L (too high?)

Calc= 250mg/L

Salinity= 1.024

Ph= 8.2

 

Plan to start with medium light softies, zoas, anenomes, etc....and eventually move to some higher light species along with a lighting upgrade. Would like to keep stock hood look and get at least a 70w HQI MH in there with DIY plans...heat will be the biggest issue of course. If I cannot keep the temps down with fan increase I will look at a chiller option( Some nano ones for $100 or so). Fish wise I would like a Clown Pair mixed with a goby and a blenny combo most likely...along with my clean up crew and a shrimp/starfish or two. That would be it...dont want to overstock...weekly-bi weekly water changes should keep up

 

Please feel free to chime in and provide any recommendations/comments on my current set up...I do believe you can never know enough and I know the members on this site are packed with hands on experience that can only be learned in the game. So any feedback is appreciated to me ...good or bad.

 

 

Yes... that is very high. To convert meq/L to dKH - multiply by 2.8. 8 x 2.8 = 22.4 dKH

 

Target Alkalinity - 2.5-4 meq/L, 7-11 dKH

 

bob

 

What I really need to do now is research which corals I want to keep that I will not get tired of....

(ie. Kenya Tree, Xenia, mushrooms) seem to be the majority of the corals that most reefers are trying to get rid of either because they are overgrowing the tank or just losing interest....at least that is what I have been observing in my research.....

 

Any suggestions on nice corals I should consider that are typically known to have a long term enjoyment factor? Nothing to difficult....but also keeping with the above feelings?

 

I did see a cool little "pistol shrimp" (I think thats what it was) that had hosted a Goby in the Aquarium One Biocube display....very cool...and something I would surely get enjoyment out of..so that goes on my list too.

 

I have a Yashia goby and pistol shrimp pair in my 240. Love that little fish!

 

As far as corals - Kenya tree coral is very nice looking. Xenia comes in many colors and patterns, and is beautiful as well. Both grow rapidly under good conditions - and that's why people are always 'pruning' them. Green Star Polyps - easy to keep, grow very well, absolutely stunning. But if they're happy in your tank, they will spread to any bit of rock they can touch. Best kept on an 'island' away from the main rockscape. Mushrooms - hundreds of choices in size, color, texture; they spread out to cover their rock, and drop a few into the water current to grow elsewhere. Look at Zotzer's tank thread and tell me you wouldn't love to have that mushroom rock - it's awesome. So grow what pleases you visually - if you decide pruning it is too much; you can always give the colony away. Many people love zoanthids, by the way - and because you can get thousands of varieties, boredom is unlikely.

 

bob

[magnetic1]

Yes... that is very high. To convert meq/L to dKH - multiply by 2.8. 8 x 2.8 = 22.4 dKH

 

Target Alkalinity - 2.5-4 meq/L, 7-11 dKH

 

bob

I have a Yashia goby and pistol shrimp pair in my 240. Love that little fish!

 

As far as corals - Kenya tree coral is very nice looking. Xenia comes in many colors and patterns, and is beautiful as well. Both grow rapidly under good conditions - and that's why people are always 'pruning' them. Green Star Polyps - easy to keep, grow very well, absolutely stunning. But if they're happy in your tank, they will spread to any bit of rock they can touch. Best kept on an 'island' away from the main rockscape. Mushrooms - hundreds of choices in size, color, texture; they spread out to cover their rock, and drop a few into the water current to grow elsewhere. Look at Zotzer's tank thread and tell me you wouldn't love to have that mushroom rock - it's awesome. So grow what pleases you visually - if you decide pruning it is too much; you can always give the colony away. Many people love zoanthids, by the way - and because you can get thousands of varieties, boredom is unlikely.

 

bob

 

Since you are just starting off I wouldnt worry too much about being picky on corals. Just test the waters out and practice before you start getting more expensive and harder to keep corals.

 

Like lanman said, if you are doing well, these "easy" corals will grow well, you can even practice fragging, etc.

 

I still have one GSP frag and one Kenya tree frag avail if you want them.

[gmubeach]

yep:) I agree and if you want you can do some higher end softies that look cool:) just fix the water pramaters get the right test kits... anyway Never asume watre from your local fish store is ok:) I accidently purchased saltwater lost the recept and the guy gave me d/o fresh:O) anyway went to do my water change and low and behold my salt dropped and my xenia frags didn't look so good... new something was wrong went back to the fish store tested my water and found out I had been adding fresh! I paniced and dropped in a load of salt... bad move I put in too much that I didn't make it leathal, but it was at like 1.027 anyway it wasn't such a big deal didn't loose anything, but now I always test or taste my water if no hydrometer/refractormeter is available.. to make sure its what I want... saves me a world of hurt:)

[jason the filter freak]

I always taste my water if no hydrometer/refractormeter is available

There's a dedicated reefer right there. Welcome to the darkside paul

[gmubeach]

Its not like you carry a hydrometer or a refractor when going to the local fish store or some other peoples homes:) Its a world of hurt if you mix the two up and its not going to kill you to have a little salt in your mouth.... as for the amount of salt you can't judge that by taste..the palates are significalty diffrent, but unless you have a buffer solution your kind of well out of luck.... funny funny:) Maybe at the next wamas meeting we can blind fold people and see if anyone can actually taste a salinity value:)