My new 34 gal. Reef

[DC_Reef]

Hello,

 

I've been in and out of the reef hobby for the past 5 years. I recently got back into the hobby and chose a 34 gallon Current USA Solana Reef Tank with the 150 watt HQI Pendant.

 

Specs:

http://www.current-usa.com/solana.html

 

Current inhabitants (all purchased from Sea Save in Glen Burine, MD):

-12 lbs. live rock - Amazing stuff from Sea Save

-20 lbs. Aragonite

-A pair of mated percs from the Solomon's Island

-Various button corals, anemones, and sponges

 

Pics here:

http://dmb.smugmug.com/Pets/ReefTank/

 

If you can identify anything in the pics, please post in the comments.

 

I am trying to be patient and slowly stock my tank. I think the live rock + 2 fish is enough bio-load to get the cycle going. My buddies brought over a nice filter media full of critters and copepods from his 150 gallon reef last night to help jump start my tank. I plan to wait about 6 weeks before adding any more substantial livestock.

 

If anyone has any frags they think would thrive in my tank, please PM me

 

I am about to do a water test, and will post the parameters here.

 

 

 

 

Best,

Dan

[El Camaron]

Welcome to WAMAS, great looking tank by the way. i see some aiptasia for sure, maybe get a peppermint shrimp to eat some of those, other than that i like the rock work.

[DC_Reef]

Parameters:

 

SG 1.022

pH 8

Ammonia 0.5

Nitrites 0

Nitrates 5

Temp. (F) 79

[Reefoholic]

The tank looks really nice. Looking at the test results, you have already started the cycle at a good spot.

I can't wait to see the tank in couple of months.

 

M.

[Coral Hind]

Welcome to WAMAS!

 

My only suggestion is to slowly raise the SG to at least 1.024

[Jon Lazar]

I love all the sponges and other growth on the LR...really looks interesting. I agree that you are going to have to do something about that aiptasia though or all of a sudden it will be out of control.

 

I would also resist the urge to blaze that MH light for quite a while. I don't see any photosynthetic corals, so there's no reason for bright lights (or really any lights). You'll just grow algae. This is also why I would not add corals for a couple of months. You add corals, then you have to light the tank. Then algae grows, and you need to add more herbivores. Then all of sudden the bioload is too high, water quality decreases, algae grows over everything, and things are out of control.

 

Your pictures are good too, but you could make them even better by using a smaller aperature/slower shutter speed and make the whole tank appear in sharp focus.

 

Keep us posted! Show off your equipment too.

 

Jon

[jason the filter freak]

welcome to wamas, nice solana

[DC_Reef]

Does anyone have a peppermint shrimp that they can loan me to eat up the aiptasia? I would consider buying one, but I think it's cruel to throw one in there then have them starve after they gobble up all the aiptasia then have nothing left to eat.

 

Thanks,

Dan

[reefhunter]

I dont think they exclusively eat aptasia. I think after the aptasia is gone they will eat fish food...

[DC_Reef]

Everyone who didn't try to immediately criticize my tank: Thanks for the welcome to WAMAS

 

The Camaron: You should do some more research before making claims that my tank is infested with "aiptasia for sure". Try counting the tentacles for one.

 

This is atlantic live rock, aptasia is not native, nor does any creature on my rock resemble "aiptasia for sure"

 

Curlyque maybe:

 

 

 

This is what aiptasia actually looks like:

 

Welcome to WAMAS, great looking tank by the way. i see some aiptasia for sure, maybe get a peppermint shrimp to eat some of those, other than that i like the rock work.

[steveoutlaw]

Whoa, slow down. Nobody is criticizing your tank. You asked for identifications and you got some answers. Just because it's atlantic live rock doesn't mean the guy plucked it out of the atlantic the day you bought it. Aptaisia spreads like mad and could have infested the rock in a previous tank or in a holding bin. People are trying to help you out based on the picture provided (which didn't portray the anemone very well.....I thought they were aptaisia too) so don't take anything personal.

 

Those could also be Majanon anemones.....which are also pests. Maybe someone who has dealt with them before and gotten a close up view could chime in.

 

Oh, and welcome to WAMAS.

Edited November 9, 2009 by steveoutlaw

[Amuze]

Haha. This...

 

If you can identify anything in the pics, please post in the comments.

 

 

 

 

Best,

Dan

 

 

and this

 

Does anyone have a peppermint shrimp that they can loan me to eat up the aiptasia? I would consider buying one, but I think it's cruel to throw one in there then have them starve after they gobble up all the aiptasia then have nothing left to eat.

 

Thanks,

Dan

 

To this.

 

Everyone who didn't try to immediately criticize my tank: Thanks for the welcome to WAMAS

 

The Camaron: You should do some more research before making claims that my tank is infested with "aiptasia for sure". Try counting the tentacles for one.

 

This is atlantic live rock, aptasia is not native, nor does any creature on my rock resemble "aiptasia for sure"

 

[El Camaron]

wow man are you serious, well i retract my welcome to you and maybe you should do your research before you start asking questions that a so caller semi experienced 5 year reefer should already know.

Edited November 9, 2009 by El Camaron

[rocko918]

wow man are you serious, well i retract my welcome to you and maybe you should do your research before you start asking questions that a so caller semi experienced 5 year reefer should already know.

 

+1

[extreme_tooth_decay]

Come on guys, it's not that bad.

 

Obviously what happened is he went to Sea Save (remember? LINK), and their attitude rubbed off on him. It is a temporary condition, he will be fine after his next molt.

Edited November 9, 2009 by extreme_tooth_decay

[treesprite]

Hi, welcome to Wamas.

 

My concern is the SG being only 1.022 - fish are fine with that, but corals and some other critters need the higher SG (when I had FO I had my SG at 1.020, now I do 1.025).

 

Peppermint shrimp will help keep the tank clean regardless of whether or not there is aiptasia - some don't even like to eat aiptasia, so I'll suggest getting absolute confirmation about the anemone species before getting any peppermint shrimp. The shrimp would do better with higher SG also, so if you get them, might be a good idea to wait until the SG is raised.

 

Looking forward to seeing updates as you make progress.

[Jan]

Hi Dan,

Hmm, those nems looked like aiptasia in those first pics. They look to be some sort of condylactis in the next pics. Who knew? Your SG is low. I don't know if you have this or not but if you don't it's a really good reference,.

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

 

Everyone was only trying to help. No one knows how much knowledge anyone new to post has so it's really nice that everyone trys to share their knowledge and give advice with new folks. I think it makes a person feel welcomed and that they are in the right place for the support they're looking for. There was no critizism. Just some sound advice. Emails and such can be difficult becasue you can't see or hear the person. I assure you that everyone that made a comment was sincere in welcoming you and they were only trying to help. WAMAS is a wonderful community filled with people who have a plethora of knowledge that they enjoy sharing. You wont find a better support network for your hobby in the DC area.

 

Welcome to WAMAS!

Edited November 9, 2009 by Jan

[Jan]

ROFLMAO.....choked on my coffee! THERE"S COFFEE ALL OVER MY HUSBANDS DESK NOW!! Hahahahahahaha

 

Come on guys, it's not that bad.

 

Obviously what happened is he went to Sea Save (remember? LINK), and their attitude rubbed off on him. It is a temporary condition, he will be fine after his next molt.

[Coral Hind]

I am not criticizing, just educating.

 

Curlique Anemone can be called "aiptasia since it is a member of the Aiptasiidae family. Just because it has a cute name doesn't mean it is not as much of a pest as the Glass or Rock Anemone which people more commonly call "aiptasia". I would not keep any of it in my tank.

 

 

 

 

This is a Phyllangia americana.

Edited November 9, 2009 by Coral Hind