Amy’s Tank

[rfgonzo]

First thing I would do is Read Read and Read some more. This hobby can be extremely rewarding or a complete headache. Take your time and move slow. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby. Only the bad.
#1 Ask questions
#2 Get some good test kits for Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium, Salinity, Nitrates and phosphates. There are others, but this this a good start.
#3 Try to keep those parsmeters as stable as possible
#4 Find a reef club in your area to learn more. The hobby isn't really that hard but it's a lot to take in for a new person.
#5 Don't add anything to your tank without researching it first, and don't just listen to the person at your local fish store. Their job is to sell things not help you succeed,

Good luck...

 

[rfgonzo]

We acclimated it the way the guy at the store told us to. it was just white fluffy stuff with the legs. It was getting sucked up into the pump but we got it. There was no real body though.

Then it's still alive and just molted.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Yep, that shrimp is probably just hiding until it's new skin sets in. I've had 2 BTAs, like yours, close up. If its closed too long, like a couple weeks, it could die but yours is still attached. It may take a while for it to come back out all the way. Just try keeping your parameters stable. Nice score on the full tank set up!

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

We acclimated it the way the guy at the store told us to. it was just white fluffy stuff with the legs. It was getting sucked up into the pump but we got it. There was no real body though.

My hawkfish ate mine the night I got it. Are there any predators in your tank?

 

[Amyschingeck]

Not that I know of. I have 2 clownfish, a little silvery fish that looks like a normal fish that you’d have in a normal tank, a yellow tang, starfish, a sand sifter of some sort and some coral. Oh and two shrimp(I think) and snails.

 

[Amyschingeck]

The BTA (I'm getting the acronyms down) are opened. Sorry I didn't update earlier. Thank you! Now I have this worm looking thing and it pokes his head out of the rocks every now and then. There's so much on the internet that I don't know what to believe and it looks as though there's a thousand or so possibilities. It's brown, skinny and has some spiky looking things on his sides. flatter than an earth worm. is he harmful? I told my husband to just grab him and pull, but apparently its a good thing he didnt because I guess they are harmful? We are trying really hard to care for this tank with as little chemicals as possible.

 

[Amyschingeck]

Also, how do I take pics that dont show as much of the blue light? I see great photos around this site but mine are too blue.

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

Yo have to get a special lens. I don’t know the best ones. It be best to ask someone with an awesome build tread.

 

[Radman73]

That is an awesome set up you inherited. If you haven't figured out how to log in to your Apex yet, I'd so ASAP. You can always call their support or ask in the controller specific forum here.

For your lights, post a pic of them with the lights off and your camera flash on so people can identify the lights, then they can start to assist with how to adjust them. You can most likely make them white, which helps with tank pics.

In fact, it may be worth taking pics of every piece of equipment you have and get it identified. Definitely jumped in head first but it's a great hobby and it looks like you have the equipment to do it right!

 

[El_Guapo13]

If you can switch your lights to white light mode, that would make taking pics easy peasy.

And I agree. Take pics of each piece of equipment to get them identified and by extension instructions from others here on how to use them.

 

[Dragon52]

Reading this will help.

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Jon Fishman]

Welcome. Nice tank

 

[Amyschingeck]

You asked for it!

 

[Fishnut]

OMG what a beautiful set up. It would may help to ask your LFS "local fish store" owner to stop by and go over the equipment with you and get an estimate from them to maintain the tank.

 

[Amyschingeck]

He’s been by here a few times. He showed us how to change the water a couple times and now my husband is a pro at that. and he installed that algae scrubber. Super super cool guy. He owns The Corner Reef here in St. Louis. He’s expensive though but someone with his knowledge should be. He’s teaching us in very small baby steps. He often tells me to “calm down” when I get frantic lol. I just want to learn this stuff on my own too. The people before were apparently managing it using a lot of chemicals and under feeding to keep the nitrates down. We’re doing as little chemicals as we can to keep it natural! I have been craving corals so he gave me this one. He said no one can kill this thing. Lol

 

[Amyschingeck]

The bubble tips are doing great now!!!