View Full Version : First Marine Tank
Hello There,
Been scouring this site for the last ten weeks and seen some truly remarkable tank set ups - some of which I must say go beyond the usual bounds of sanity!!
I would like some feedback (positive or negative) with regards to my setup (I'll take it like a man).
Technical Stuff
I went for a 1.5mtr x .50mtr x .50mtr tank - no room for sump system, Deltec MCE 600, Eheim Wet & dry Bio filter, Eheim Eco polishing filter, Deltec auto top up, Vectan UV 15 steriliser, 3 T5 and 1 Aqua blue all on timers, 8 Aquaclear power heads (it a torent in there)
Live Stuff
Unknown quantity of live rock
Various corals
Pink Malu Nem
Green Carpet Nem
8 Green Chromis
Regal Angel
Bi-colour Angel
Coral beauty
Blue Cheek Goby
Scooter Blennie
Two Pairs of Clown Fish
Cleaner Wrasse
Boxer Shrimp
2 Cleaner Shrimps
2 Blood Shrimp
Turbo snails
A few pics
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/PICT0008%20(2).JPG
Looks like a really nice set up the only bit of advice a can give is take it slow you have stocked a lot with in 10 weeks IMO apart from this everything looks great :thumbsup:
HTH
Baden :cheers:
Looks nice but you have an extremely ambitious stocking list, an awful lot after just 10 weeks.
Anemones are notoriously difficult, especially in a new tank.
Two pairs of clowns may cause problems and angels do not always make good tankmates. I hope you prove me wrong but please monitor your water quality closely or you could soon have big problems.
Sorry to sound so negative.
Paul
That is an incredible amount of stock in 10 weeks!
Most people don't advise a nem until the tank is over 12 months old!
How long was your cycle and has everything been stable since?
Good luck
No problem with clowns at moment, have a pair of Coral Sea clowns and a Black/White pair (not sure of name). They all stay together and congregrate around a power head at night, Coral Sea clowns now beginning to take residence in the Malu. Did lose one of the latter initially - Wasn't happy from day 1 and finally pegged it, LFS replaced him and the two are inseperable.
No problems with the Angels, Coral and Bi-colour were a little aggitated at first but settled down within a day, Regal went in with no trouble and hasn't botheredeither angel. Anemones good, opening at all times and feeding on cockle once a week. Tank has actually been running for about 12-13 weeks.
Is it OK to change 5% water each week as opposed to 10% every two?
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/PICT0009%20(2).JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Regal%20Angel.jpg
whats that coral in the picture above the picture of the regal angel ?
really like it.
JasandJules
16-08-05, 11:32
Woah, slow down there......
Hello There,
Thats a Green Carpet Anemonie
Lucky Eddie
16-08-05, 12:38
Cracking Regal tho' !
I see its an adult.............what size is it ????????
Stunning tank and that Regal Angel :wub:
Just slow down your stocking a bit ;)
Elliott
like the look ad colour of it so did some research on the internet but don't think ill be looking out for one after reading this. has put me off it.
carpet anemone info link (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=615)
chronic2005
16-08-05, 16:57
nice tank great range of colours, my opion on anemones is that they are alot hardyeir (spelling) than people make out. all his stock looks happy so i would not be worried about stocking to fast, my view anyways.
thanks
all his stock looks happy so i would not be worried about stocking to fast, my view anyways.
Great advice, NOT.
The carpet anemone does not look well, the mouth should be tightly shut, a gaping mouth like the one in the picture is a sign of poor health.
Originally posted by pavlo@Aug 16 2005, 17:20
all his stock looks happy so i would not be worried about stocking to fast, my view anyways.
Great advice, NOT.
The carpet anemone does not look well, the mouth should be tightly shut, a gaping mouth like the one in the picture is a sign of poor health.
Well I know I am new to all this marine (had tropical for many years) but a link posted on this topic -
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=615 (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=615)
has the following statement :- When healthy, it will be very sticky. If it is able to grasp something (or someone), it is very difficult to convince it to let go without damaging it. Mine is as above, very sticky and feeding well on cockle - doesnt sound in a poor state to me.
I understand I have stocked a little too fast and need to monitor water quality regularly, Is there anything else other than regular water changes that I can do to keep possible disaster at bay.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Aquarium.jpg
All advice recieved gratefully.
:thanx:
withoutabix2002
17-08-05, 11:51
just wondering if u brought all the stock from the same shop????
please dont actually name the shop though lol
instantsquid
17-08-05, 13:02
Hi there,
Good looking tank for 10 weeks! Well done!
Quick question - in your first picture, what is that coral just under the blue cheek gobie?
Ian :thumbsup:
Just a quick note....be very careful with your carpet anenome. I used to have a green and a blue which rapidly grew to over 1ft in diameter and then took a real liking to my fish!!!
Originally posted by carl@Aug 17 2005, 12:11
Just a quick note....be very careful with your carpet anenome. I used to have a green and a blue which rapidly grew to over 1ft in diameter and then took a real liking to my fish!!!
Thanks for the warning Carl, I'll be sure to keep an eye on him, mind you sounds like I could lose a fish or two, seems I may have overstocked a little too soon.
I've bought a chiller to install this weekend to try and keep temp constant as I am having fluctuations during day and night and have a fan on top of tank to help control (unsightly), so I hope chiller will sort this problem out.
Originally posted by instantsquid@Aug 17 2005, 12:02
Hi there,
Good looking tank for 10 weeks! Well done!
Quick question - in your first picture, what is that coral just under the blue cheek gobie?
Ian :thumbsup:
Hello There,
Sorry, but I am unsure of name of coral but it is stunning, I'll try and get a better picture and post it to see if someone can put a name to it.
your tank looks really good. all the corals and fish look happy. keep up the good work. :thumbsup:
the coral in the picture is a Lobophyum spp. it is one of the leather corals.
What is the blue cheek goby eating ? They are very hard to feed and I would suggest keeping a very close eye on it, i will be very surprised if it lives for anymore than 4/5 weeks in such a new set up. Too many fish far too quickly, hope the regal does well as it is a lovely fish but i have my doubts :(
Originally posted by GaryM@Aug 20 2005, 22:21
What is the blue cheek goby eating ? They are very hard to feed and I would suggest keeping a very close eye on it, i will be very surprised if it lives for anymore than 4/5 weeks in such a new set up. Too many fish far too quickly, hope the regal does well as it is a lovely fish but i have my doubts :(
Apart from eating sand, he feeds well on flake and brine shrimp soaked in Zoecon, never had any problem getting him to feed from day 1 and be surprised as he has been in tank for over 7 weeks.
One thing I have noticed since taking on Marine is that there is no set rule as to what you can and cannot do. Some people are unable to keep anemones in a mature set up that has cost thousands with the best of everything, others can keep one in a puddle (not quite but you know what I mean) I have read several threads that the books say are not possible - those books that contradict each other every other paragraph by the way.
Each fish, invert and coral has there own personality, likes and dislikes that doesn't always follow the norm, in other words I think luck has something to do with it. For example, on this thread I have read not to keep clownfish pairs in same tank (asking for trouble), I have a 5x2x2 tank with Coral Sea Clowns and Black/White clowns in - they swim happily together very rarely leaving each others company with no disputes. thats not to say that one day all hell will break lose between them -you just don't know.
Call me foolish, stupid or a newbie but I think a lot of things are possible if you are willing to try. I have very good advice from my LFS, people who have been in this trade for 30+ years.
No doubt I will probably bear the wrath of some members for my comments but thats how I see it. Undoubtedly, one day I will have a problem with my tank and someone will put it down to overstocking or inexperience and they may well be right but one thing is for sure - If that day comes I will brush myself off and get straight back to rebuilding my little paradise in a bowl.
instantsquid
21-08-05, 08:31
Hi mate,
On the whole I tend to agree with you - the creatures we keep in our tanks never seem to have read the same books as we have! :thumbsup: For example, I have a Cleaner Wrasse and a Copperband Butterfly - both are "supposed" to be difficult feeders in captivity, yet mine are greedy little guys that eat as much of what goes in the tank as anything else!
And having a good LFS on hand is a great asset - too many shops simply want to sell you stock, not really caring whether it will survive or not. If I was told by a shop that something I wanted to buy wasn't suitable for my tank, they'd earn my respect far more so than if they just encouraged me to buy whatever took my fancy that week!
Your tank looks good at the moment - I think as long as you maintain whatever routines you've adopted (water changes, parameter checking, etc.) and quickly address any potential issues, there is no reason why it shouldn't thrive!
Don't let the odd negative comment put you off Ultimate Reef - most people are here to help and I'm sure members would rather have another reefer on board who is new and wants to learn, than just scare them off and have them continue what they were doing anyway, without the benefit of advice from some very experienced guys!
All the best,
Ian :thumbsup:
Thanks for that Ian, brightened up my Sunday morning and proves there are people out there who realise that not all is black and white.
I monitor water quality every two days and have LFS check it once a month in case I have missed something (Newbie). All parameters are excellent. There is over £500 of live rock in there and two filters running, mayby this helps, never had any parameters on water quality go silly and change 25ltrs every Sunday using RO water, Red Sea salt and PH buffer.
:thanx: Regards
A few Pics
Aquarium during cycling
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Aquarium%20Start.jpg
First attempt of night photography using cling film over camera lens
Pink Malu under Blue Lighting
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Malu%20at%20night.jpg
As tank is Now
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/PICT0008%20(1).JPG
:huh: Well they said it may happen - I don't think I was feeding my Carpet Nem enough and two Coral Clowns and one Green Chromis went walkabout, can only surmise that the Nem had them for snacks as there are no bodies or parts of seen for several days. So big question - get rid of Nem or stick with him - well I decided to give him another chance and am feeding him daily on Lance fish and cockle. Two weeks have passed and all fish present and correct but a watchful eye and axe are monitoring his activities.
Added chiller to set up and keeping temp within half a degree of set temp, very pleased with chiller exept for heat it generates (its like the Caribean in the kitchen) so need to fit an extracor fan or place outside in waterproof cabinet.
All fish, corals and inverts are in great shape, have added a Pulsing Xenia and some Mushroom colonys. blue Cheek Goby still feeding well and Green Carpet Nem obviously well and hopefully not so hungry.
Will try and post some pics later when lights come on.
A few updated pics
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Green%20Nem.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Blue%20Starfish.JPG
An ID of this Hard Coral Please
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Hard%20Coral.JPG
An ID of this coral please
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/White%20Coral.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Mushroom.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Polyp.JPG
Left Side
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Tank-left%20side.JPG
Right Side
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Tank%20-%20Right%20Side.JPG
Nice pics. The coral is a torch coral.
mariusz621
13-09-05, 00:30
I would not feed anemone daily. That will not stop it from catching fish.
I would install night blue led light. That would prevent fish from panicking when main lights are switched off.
Thanks for that Marius, that makes sense because I have blue lights installed but one night they failed to come on and when I went over to rectify some minutes later, I found one of my Black/White clowns in his clutches but he managed to break free before I needed to intervene.
I'll start cutting back on his feeding and monitor situation but he his on his last warning. :thanx:
The Escaped Ape
13-09-05, 07:50
Originally posted by mariusz621@Sep 12 2005, 23:30
I would not feed anemone daily. That will not stop it from catching fish.
I would install night blue led light. That would prevent fish from panicking when main lights are switched off.
I'd second both these points. Just for emphasis:
- Feeding every day might give you water quality issues in a while.
- An added advantage of the moonlight is that it might stop your fish blundering into the carpet at night.
My only question with your set up (apart from the fast stocking - which is inadvisable, but you're at least being very vigilant with the water tests etc), is the use of filters (the wet and dry in particular, not sure about the polisher). Some would say these could later become a bit of a nitrate factory and more and more people are relying on live rock and excellent skimming, rather than man-made biological filters.
Not a mistake, just to be aware and to keep an eye on it in the mid-term...
Thanks for you advice Burntom, since fitting the chiller the Eheim polishing filter was not man enough for the job so replaced with a Fluval 404 simply for the quantity it could pump. This filter came with filter media and charcoal which I fitted, my nitrate levels went up to 50ppm and I have put this down to the charcoal probably being low grade. I have since removed the charcoal and replaced with one level of bio balls from the Eheim and one level of sponge to try and clear water of particles. I am going to change 50Ltrs tonight and monitor nitrate levels over the next few days hoping to see a return to normal.
The Escaped Ape
14-09-05, 08:47
Originally posted by Lavajava@Sep 13 2005, 16:41
Thanks for you advice Burntom, since fitting the chiller the Eheim polishing filter was not man enough for the job so replaced with a Fluval 404 simply for the quantity it could pump. This filter came with filter media and charcoal which I fitted, my nitrate levels went up to 50ppm and I have put this down to the charcoal probably being low grade. I have since removed the charcoal and replaced with one level of bio balls from the Eheim and one level of sponge to try and clear water of particles. I am going to change 50Ltrs tonight and monitor nitrate levels over the next few days hoping to see a return to normal.
What size tank is your skimmer rated for? If it's big enough (best is rated rather larger than the tank volume), I'd recommend taking out all artificial "filtration". Most reef tanks in the States don't have filters in the sense you'd be familiar with from freshwater tanks (being based overseas I'm not sure of the situation back home - I've only recently discovered UR). Most people would call them (and in particular bio-balls) nitrate factories.
I'd also advise you cut back the feeding of the anemone to maybe 2-3 times a week (and be careful not to overfeed the fish - no more than they can eat in 2-3 minutes), begin to take out the bio-balls in stages (maybe a quarter at a time) and rely on the live rock/sand bed to provide you with the filtration you need, with the skimmer removing the remaining nutrients.
The easiest way to get those nitrates down in the short term (and keeping it down in the long run with a reasonably heavy bioload), is, I'm afraid, to do what you're doing and keep up with water changes. Good luck!
PS: Sponge has the capability of leaching nitrates back into your tank quite quickly as well. To give you an example from my tank:
I have filter wool over my overflow opening into the sump. If I don't change this (and run it through the washing machine - without detergent) every 3 days, the waste it traps quite quickly begins to break down and produce nitrates - that's the major risk with mechanical filtration like this.
My skimer is the Deltec MCE600, well capable of serviceing my tank size. So you think I should remove the sponges from my filters and slowly remove the Bio balls over a period of time?
What will act as a biological filter? and will I get unclear water as without sponges I'll have nothing to remove the particles? :unsure:
Managed to plumb chiller into cupboard in kitchen only problem being lack of airflow in the confines of the cupboard.
Thought about putting chiller outside but this was a logistical nightmare so went for the easy option of fitting an extractor fan on outside wall.
Started by drilling 6" hole inside cupboard (lucky I'm small)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Chiller%201.JPG
Then fitted extractor fan run on a Habistat controller.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Chiller%202.JPG
And the almost finished cupboard with just tidying up of wiring and hoses.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Chiller%203.JPG
A few more piccies......
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/YlwTang.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/BiColour.JPG
Blue Cheek Goby still alive and eating well
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Blue%20Cheek.JPG
Bubble Tip Nem - hopefully new home for clowns
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Bubble%20Tip.JPG
Black/White, Ocellaris and Percula Clown fishes together (no aggression yet!!!!)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/4Clowns.JPG
Haven't you seen the film - LET ME GO
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Clown%20face.JPG
Fighter Wrasse?
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Fighter.JPG
Stunning Coral - unsure of name
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Purple%20Coral.JPG
A cute Goby
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/SunGoby.JPG
The three fingered starfish
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/3FStarfish.JPG
Cleaner Shrimp
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Shrimp.JPG
chronic2005
09-10-05, 13:15
Hi
cannot believe i havent looked at this thread more often. Anyway, your tanks stunning mate, really joy to look :bow: .
Pavlo, it didnt consider my post advice " all his stock looks happy so i would not be worried about stocking to fast " this is mearly saying that everything looks ok, so why worry that you have stocked fast. No reason, sure the anemone didnt look that good, but that may have happended a year down the line.
:thumbsup:
Anyway, tanks great. And best of luck with it :wub:
Thanks Chronic for the reply/praise, the Green Carpet Nem has never in my opinion or that of my LFS to have been in bad condition (seen a model on a bad hair day!!!!!). I am taking him back to LFS today as I am afraid that my new pair of clowns may take a liking to him and his appetite at the moment has not wained for fresh fish.
I am hoping for LFS to be able to keep him for me as my new setup (5x18x24 with(36" sump) is going to be fish only and would like him to go in there as fish will be of the larger size and hopefully not as easy to snare.
If you or any other member has any advice on this please type away, I'm on a steep learning curve here any willing to listen.
By the way all water parameters are excellent bar for Nitrates about 20ish, all corals have new growth.
trying to get a picture of one of my latest inhabitants - a Medusa worm - simply awesome to watch. I now know where they got the idea for the creature in Tremors.
karen1bernese
09-10-05, 18:26
Very nice tank.Everyones advise and experiences are different and i say go with whatever works for you and your tank seems to be working just fine!!!I have had fish only for around 9 years,went into inverts about 3 months ago.I thought i had better do some water tests as i havent done 1 in about 3 years!!They are all fine but i have never tested nitrate.I havent lost anything (yet) but its probobly sky high if i was to test it as i have only got a box trickle filter running it (no other gadgets at all). Best of luck with everything however you choose to do it. :dance:
Just purchased a Canon 350D Digital Camera so tried it out.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/NightClown1.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Nighclown2.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_0107.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Regal.jpg
Pictures of the new arrivals........
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Medusa%20Worm.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Medusa%20Worm%202.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Meduas%20Worm%203.JPG
Probably the only picture I would ever get
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Reef%20Lobster.jpg
Not Sure but not torch coral
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Torch%20Coral.JPG
Not Sure what this one is either
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_0067.JPG
And my old mate
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_0028.JPG
Ian Davies
17-10-05, 07:10
"Stunning Coral - Unsure of its name" B)
Think its a cespitularia
Gavin Smith
17-10-05, 07:23
"Not Sure what this one is either" is a Goniopora.
Gavin
Originally posted by Lavajava@Oct 16 2005, 22:56
Pictures of the new arrivals........
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Medusa%20Worm.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Medusa%20Worm%202.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Meduas%20Worm%203.JPG
Probably the only picture I would ever get
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Reef%20Lobster.jpg
Not Sure but not torch coral
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Torch%20Coral.JPG
Not Sure what this one is either
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_0067.JPG
And my old mate
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_0028.JPG
Very nice reef tank :dance: , well done. I've got a reef set up that's been up since end of June 2005.
Got a few flames from UR peeple for doing so, but hey what do you know, you're another guy who has done it quick and done it well.
Perhaps this is yet another example of: YES IT CAN BE DONE QUICK!
Keep up the good work, your tank looks super nice!
Tony B :thumbsup:
Personally I think it looks OK - superficially. If its all still happy after 6 months I'd be more impressed.
May I suggest researching at least the common names of some of your livestock before buying?
Does it make a difference if I know the common names?
HI Lav
Some real nice stock you have there - bit fast but nice
I think Clippo is saying to do a bit of reasearch on the Livestock before you buy it, just to make sure you can accomadate there/its needs.
:thumbsup:
Originally posted by Lavajava+Aug 16 2005, 22:27--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Lavajava @ Aug 16 2005, 22:27)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-pavlo@Aug 16 2005, 17:20
all his stock looks happy so i would not be worried about stocking to fast, my view anyways.
Great advice, NOT.
The carpet anemone does not look well, the mouth should be tightly shut, a gaping mouth like the one in the picture is a sign of poor health.
Well I know I am new to all this marine (had tropical for many years) but a link posted on this topic -
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=615 (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=615)
has the following statement :- When healthy, it will be very sticky. If it is able to grasp something (or someone), it is very difficult to convince it to let go without damaging it. Mine is as above, very sticky and feeding well on cockle - doesnt sound in a poor state to me.
I understand I have stocked a little too fast and need to monitor water quality regularly, Is there anything else other than regular water changes that I can do to keep possible disaster at bay.
All advice recieved gratefully.
:thanx: [/b][/quote]
Just to add
I would take most info from LA with a pinch of salt - remember they are trying to sell goods- where as the peeps on here only have your livestocks interest at heart
Del
Also - I dont know much about Regals but arnt they one of the HARDER LARGE ANGELS to keep ???
:thumbsup:
My LFS has refused to sell me certain specimens due to incompatibility with what I already have stocked. They have been to my house and viewed tank and I can honestly say I trust them 110% not to sell me anything I should not have.
My other LFS has offered to sell me several specimens that even I know as a newbie to be not wanted in my present setup (ie Yellow & Powder Blue tangs in a six week set up!!).
I understand what you are saying and believe it to be true with one of my LFS but not the one I use.
Your tank, your money. But I wouldn't keep buying coral after coral without at least knowing what they were.
You can expect people to be a little uptight, this thread is like a red flag to a bull I'm afraid.
I'm sorry if I have upset a few people but I didn't set out too. If I see a nice coral in my LFS and have a place it will look good then I will buy it. I dont see why anyone should take offence because I dont know its name. My LFS tell me the name but if i don't write it down I do forget (have a lot on my mind).
Found Nemo, what now?
17-10-05, 23:44
Originally posted by Lavajava@Oct 17 2005, 21:46
I dont know its name. My LFS tell me the name but if i don't write it down I do forget (have a lot on my mind).
As long as you remember what they are called long enough to know how much light/flow they need and what to feed them and how often (guidelines anyway) and one thing no-one has said yet, is READ! Or at leats cross reference on the web, you made it this far, try WetWebMedia or such like - hell, even Google!
Not knowing a Gonipora (Flowerpot) or where to place it could lose you surrounding coral/nems! Ours has a reach of almost 10inches now and IS stinging neighbours!
Your tank DOES look good, corals maybe a little plonked in places, but some of mine are too. One thing to remember is growth! Growth from your existing corals/fish/nems and also from things that might be on your live rock! That's half the fun! Sit back and watch it grow, watch the freebies emerge from that £500 of live rock THEN enjoy finding out what unusual things have appeared, cross reference books/web/ask a local reefkeeper/LFS or post here to find out, rather than buy what takes your fancy - it's easy, we all do it.
enjoy your reef, grab a chair, visit the fridge, open the beer and relax! If you have a lot on your mind, don't let your tank stress you too, it's meant to be relaxing watching it!!
:thumbsup:
Good luck if you decide to go even bigger & sump (as long as you're ready!)
B)
The Escaped Ape
18-10-05, 09:15
Originally posted by Lavajava@Sep 15 2005, 06:55
My skimer is the Deltec MCE600, well capable of serviceing my tank size. So you think I should remove the sponges from my filters and slowly remove the Bio balls over a period of time?
What will act as a biological filter? and will I get unclear water as without sponges I'll have nothing to remove the particles? :unsure:
Apologies for the long delay in replying but I've been a bit hectic with stuff recently (work and personal life!).
On the biological filtration point, the live rock and sand bed are the best biological filtration you can get, much better in fact than your bioballs. Bioballs are a useful tool for freshwater tanks, but opinions are split on using them in a reef tank given coral sensitivity to nitrate levels (though they are still useful in fish only tanks). I'd recommend you remove them little bit by little bit and monitor your nitrates as you do so. Given your extremely fast stocking, it's probably a bad idea to do this quickly.
As for the sponge, you're probably ok with it, as long as you replace it/clean it regularly (which is why I use a filter sock - easy to run through a washing machine (without detergent!) every few days).
I'd echo the advice of others to do rather more research before buying stuff. At the moment, to be a bit blunt, you're going for the "buy lots of pretty stuff now" approach. Seeing as you seem to be doing very well with water changes etc, your tank is still doing well. What you're going to have to be vigilant about (and I'm not saying it's impossible to maintain your success, just you'll have to be v.v. careful) is future problems. One is the incompatibilty between corals already mentioned, particularly as they grow, fighting each other, usually with sweeper tentacles at night (a few corals can actually digest each other by extruding their guts).
Another is that, by having a very high bioload in your tank, you're giving yourself a very small margin of error. If you miss a water change in a lightly stocked tank, the consequences are not as serious as missing one in a tank very highly stocked.
My advice? Slow down for a little bit, assess how things are doing over a period of time (2-3 months), don't buy anything more in that time and enjoy the changes you notice as things grow!
Found Nemo, what now?
18-10-05, 21:04
Originally posted by burntom@Oct 18 2005, 08:15
(a few corals can actually digest each other by extruding their guts).
:lol:
Was someone watching Blue Planet last weekend then???
:lol:
:thumbsup:
Thanks again Burntom, your advice is as usual impecable and I agree with you completely. I know I have stocked too fast (got the bug and find it very hard to resist). You'll be happy/relieved to hear that my tank now has all the inhabitants both coral and fish/invert wise that I intend to put in there. I do ask LFS about corals positioning and feeding (if any) requirements and keep a watchfull eye even in the middle of the night as to what is happening in there, so far all is well and manage to keep corals apart.
I have bought several books but do find that they all contradict one another with what you can and cannot do and this is where I believe a little experimenting is required.
I have removed one set of Bio balls from filtration with so far no obvious change in water parameters, still keeping up regular water changes and water sample checked once a month with LFS in case I have missed something.
Tunze Streams have made an incredible difference to tank with regard to coral growth and fish seem very healty and active, even Blue Cheek Goby still feeding on flake, brine and first to attack the green seaweed put in for Tang. No fatalities to date exept for Green Carpet Nem who ate two Coral Sea Clowns, one green Chromis and fataly wounded a Heralds Angel - needless to say he was taken back to LFS after purchasing latest clowns who were hovering around him looking for a home.
The Escaped Ape
19-10-05, 06:36
Originally posted by Found Nemo, what now?+Oct 18 2005, 20:04--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Found Nemo, what now? @ Oct 18 2005, 20:04)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-burntom@Oct 18 2005, 08:15
(a few corals can actually digest each other by extruding their guts).
:lol:
Was someone watching Blue Planet last weekend then???
:lol:
:thumbsup: [/b][/quote]
:lol: Sussed! It's one of my favorites! That bit is really quite scary. :huh:
The Escaped Ape
19-10-05, 06:40
Originally posted by Lavajava@Oct 18 2005, 20:32
Thanks again Burntom, your advice is as usual impecable and I agree with you completely. I know I have stocked too fast (got the bug and find it very hard to resist). You'll be happy/relieved to hear that my tank now has all the inhabitants both coral and fish/invert wise that I intend to put in there. I do ask LFS about corals positioning and feeding (if any) requirements and keep a watchfull eye even in the middle of the night as to what is happening in there, so far all is well and manage to keep corals apart.
I have bought several books but do find that they all contradict one another with what you can and cannot do and this is where I believe a little experimenting is required.
I have removed one set of Bio balls from filtration with so far no obvious change in water parameters, still keeping up regular water changes and water sample checked once a month with LFS in case I have missed something.
Tunze Streams have made an incredible difference to tank with regard to coral growth and fish seem very healty and active, even Blue Cheek Goby still feeding on flake, brine and first to attack the green seaweed put in for Tang. No fatalities to date exept for Green Carpet Nem who ate two Coral Sea Clowns, one green Chromis and fataly wounded a Heralds Angel - needless to say he was taken back to LFS after purchasing latest clowns who were hovering around him looking for a home.
Well, having fallen into one of the tempting traps of buying everything at once, it now looks like you're being careful, so hopefully everything will go well for you. Just keep on reading/researching and asking questions!
I know it's frustrating that not all the books tell you the same thing, but that, to be honest, is the point where we all have to plump for one lot of advice or the other and take a chance. Then, when it's either worked or not worked for you, share the experience with everyone here. That way we all learn from each other. :thumbsup:
The Escaped Ape
19-10-05, 06:42
BTW, I can't remember whether I or anyone else has already recommended this, but there's one coral book I'd recommend over all others. That's Eric Borneman's Aquarium Corals. Well worth buying if you haven't already. ;)
Hello There, I have a coral book by Julian Sprung - Corals - A quick reference guide but will order the one by Eric Borneman today seen as someone has recommended it.
Really chuffed as last night Percula Clown decided to take up residence in my Bubble Tip Nem, seems she stayed there all night as all I could see was a little face peeping through tentacles at me this morning.
:dance: really cool to see in your own tank :dance:
Will try and get a pic if she is still there tonight. Thanks for that recommendation Burntom.
The Escaped Ape
19-10-05, 07:43
Good news! I have some cinnamon clowns in my BTA. Very cool, as you say, to watch them peeking out at you. Look forward to seeing that pic. ;)
quite supprised that linkia has slipped through as they usually dont miss a thing to burn people with
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