saltwater newbie attempting a 55 gallon reef
- Thread starter BTB0923
- Start date
I've been testing my tank the past few nights and all parameters are good with the exception of calcium (stuck at 380 ppm) and temp (stuck at 81). I've started dosing with Brightwell's 2 part alkalinity calcium supplements and I'm hoping to get my calcium up quickly as I think I've spotted at least three polyps on my liverock that I'm hoping will thrive and multiply. As for the temp, I think I'm going to have to get one of those fans that clamps on for my sump and hope I get good results. Any other suggestions for getting temp down without spending a small fortune on a chiller??
I was expecting to have copepods in my sump by now because the chaeto I got with my CuC was supposed to be seeded with them. How long does it usually take before they start to thrive?? Anything I can do to encourage them??
I went to a lfs that I had never been to before today and I was very impressed. So impressed in fact that I had to buy about 16 lbs more liverock and an ocellaris clown
. That brings me to around 55 lbs so I think I'm done putting liverock in the tank. I broke one of the rules I initially intended to follow by leaning a couple rocks against the back glass (not the full weight, just kind of as a counterbalance for steadiness). I've seen it done before but is it something I should be avoiding??
Here are pics. Please give your opinion on the aquascaping, it could still be subject to change....
I was expecting to have copepods in my sump by now because the chaeto I got with my CuC was supposed to be seeded with them. How long does it usually take before they start to thrive?? Anything I can do to encourage them??
I went to a lfs that I had never been to before today and I was very impressed. So impressed in fact that I had to buy about 16 lbs more liverock and an ocellaris clown
. That brings me to around 55 lbs so I think I'm done putting liverock in the tank. I broke one of the rules I initially intended to follow by leaning a couple rocks against the back glass (not the full weight, just kind of as a counterbalance for steadiness). I've seen it done before but is it something I should be avoiding??Here are pics. Please give your opinion on the aquascaping, it could still be subject to change....
BTB0923;3380843; said:I've been testing my tank the past few nights and all parameters are good with the exception of calcium (stuck at 380 ppm) and temp (stuck at 81). I've started dosing with Brightwell's 2 part alkalinity calcium supplements and I'm hoping to get my calcium up quickly as I think I've spotted at least three polyps on my liverock that I'm hoping will thrive and multiply. As for the temp, I think I'm going to have to get one of those fans that clamps on for my sump and hope I get good results. Any other suggestions for getting temp down without spending a small fortune on a chiller?? a clamp on fan should cool down about 2 degrees 80F to 78 F is fine for temp.
I was expecting to have copepods in my sump by now because the chaeto I got with my CuC was supposed to be seeded with them. How long does it usually take before they start to thrive?? If you feed the tank Phyto-Feast from Reef Nutrition every other day it should feed them and explode there reproduction that's what I use to culture my Copepod's. Anything I can do to encourage them?? You can even buy Live Tigger Pods from reef-nutrition as well to seed them.
I went to a lfs that I had never been to before today and I was very impressed. So impressed in fact that I had to buy about 16 lbs more liverock and an ocellaris clown
Here are pics. Please give your opinion on the aquascaping, it could still be subject to change....
MR.REEF24
P.S. aqua-scaping look's good maybe make a cave or 2 for the fish when they are introduced to have a place to retreat to.
I would like to put an anemone in the tank for the clownfish to hang out in, but from what I understand its not really a good idea to put anemones in reef tanks. Why is that? Anybody know of any anemones that might be an exception to the rule?
Red mangroves showed up in the mail today. I put them in my sump with the root end down in the sand temporarily cuz I was on lunch from work and didn't have time to rig up something to suspend them. Is using a piece of styrofoam ok? Do they really have to be suspended in the water or can I just leave them sitting in the sand like in the pictures below? Any other suggestions on how to do it would be appreciated.
anemones like to move about, they also pack a nasty sting. so they can injure corals as they walk. thats why theyre generally not good in reef tanks.
I'm pretty sure I've found a 2" long aiptasia on one of my new pieces of liverock 
I'll post pics later to confirm thats what it actually is.
Aiptasia is a form of anemone, right? Are they mobile?
I'll post pics later to confirm thats what it actually is.Aiptasia is a form of anemone, right? Are they mobile?
BTB0923;3382721; said:I'm pretty sure I've found a 2" long aiptasia on one of my new pieces of liverock
Aiptasia is a form of anemone, right? Are they mobile? yup all nems are
nice clown.. the mangrooves can stay in the sand like that.. how do you think they root in the wild? lol
BIGgourami;3383040; said:
I thought they rooted in mud in the wild, not sand. Wasn't sure if sand is ok or not......I'll leave em the way they are though for now.
