From Fresh into Salty water... Clearseal 900.

[Darkzy]

Hey guys,

Just jumped from freshwater into the saltwater world, it's a bumpy ride which I didn't make easy for myself LOL.

I'm going to make a build thread in the relevant place to keep things in one spot. But looking for any advice as I can

Thanks

Pics include rock additions over last couple of days (more curing)

My first pest or not pest? Anyone give any insight as to what it is.

Today's tests :O water change galore. I got some dry rock, but didn't realise about curing so had a load of dead sponge that's caused my ammonia to sky rocket. Nitrates are present now so fairly sure my cycle is getting there, just fighting the left over ammonia and nitrite spike with a passion any tips?

Can I use prime to lock up the ammonia and nitrites without risk to my cycle?

Also I am getting another test kit, I've heard api are the best lol

Also any tips for sump set up?


Thanks, sorry for all the questions haha

 

[Darkzy]

Api aren't the best* sorry.

 

[Reefer_kano]

Hanna checkers will be your best option for testing the water API test kit is not. the best recommendation I can give you is Be patient and let the tank do its thing and mature on its own. If you don't, you will be spending AND loosing alot of money.
(Speaking from my own personal experience)
I come from a large freshwater collection and now transitioning to saltwater.
Some of the principals will be the same but Patience is the KEY .

 

[killer2001]

Typically you want to put the rock in first, then the sand. If you are planning on having any sand sifting critters, their actions could cause the rocks to shift.

 

[vetteguy53081]

API are perhaps the worse and notorious for false readings. Hanna and salifert brand are more reliable.
The bug in picture appears to be a NON-aquatic insect.
Do Not lock up ammonia especially durinng a cycle. You want to add your bacteria and then ammonia chloride . Then you want to monitor ammonia, and When your ammonia is steady at zero for 5 days and Nitrate is steady at 20 or below- You are cycled. Ignore nitrIte Unless sky high
The tank will go through two phases in which ammonia will rise then fall and nitrate will rise and fall which is normal. When fish are added, the bacteria population will increase with the new bio load, converting waste to nitrate.
Get a pet store that does not use Api anything to test water for you until you get a better test kit(s)

 

[Darkzy]

Cheers guys, already got a salifert ammonia test today, showing ammonia at 0.25ppt, nitrite at 4-5ppm, nitrates not being tested yet due to high nitrite presence.

Currently trying to bring nitrites down a little with small periodic water changes from 10 - 20%

Rocks have been placed on very shallow layer of sand, all my other rock work is currently bleach curing waiting for rince, dechlorinate and scaping. Then I'll add more of the live sand in to set in place. Luckily all the rocks when tested on flattish surface have to lean over a considerable amount before they hit there fall angle, if that makes sense?

Loving all the tips though so far

Regarding Hanna testerd, what's the most important ones for starting out? The digital readout makes things so much simpler lol

 

[Darkzy]

Holy cr*p didn't realise I'd forget to update this post lol

So currently tank is going okay...Ish?, massive GHA outbreak which I'm trying to combat like mad, lots of critters in the sump, amphipods, copepods etc. Got a bristle worm in the sump luckily not in the display. Trying to find the bugger again to remove him but not that fussed.

Need way more live rock and build an actual scape and now looking to add a skimmer. however want to deal with my algae problem first.

Main issue? at moment is I believe i have Spinoid worms, again in the sump. Judging by the "tunnel / cocoon" it's made and the 2 tentacles I see every now and then I think i'm ID'ing correctly. Are these a huge problem?

Bristle?

And the general state of tank. I know, please tell me off as needed lol. I'm desperately trying to get a skimmer to help nutrients and new light is on the way as that's what kicked my Algae problem off i think.

Am using a Mars Aqua 150w fixture but the blue channel died, am running my whites at approx. 70 percent due to the corals but fairly sure it's causing the hair algae to go wild. Also awaiting a siphon that will successfully pick up the dirt and algae on the sand bed as the normal bit of hose doesn't seem to be doing the job without removing 50% of the sand at the same time lol

Can i keep this Algae wall I've got going on without it affecting the rocks or is it a case of remove it all due to it's nature to spread. Only reason i ask is the Clowns seem to of made it there home lol.

Currently in the tank are 2 Clowns, 1 Cleaner shrimp, 1 Six line wrasse, Lawn mower blenny, Orange spot goby. A Hermit crab and approx. 5 Turbo snails.

Currently getting enough rock etc and the equipment ready for my RedSea 650 and to move to a bigger tank, in the process I'll probably use all new rock + substrate for the display and these rocks will end up in the sump system.

Have upped waterchanges to 25% per week, parameters seem really stable and i'm happy with that. But must be an excess of nutrients somewhere? Light cycle is 10am till 8pm. Too long?


Any help would be appreciated and feel free again to give me a telling off and where I'm going wrong. Any criticism at this point can only help!

Thanks again guys.

 

[Darkzy]

Just to add, that was after a week of scrubbing in tank with a toothbrush on the rocks to tackle the algae. Although some seems deep rooted and I'm apprehensive of scrubbing too near the Zoa's. but it does get bad enough to stop them opening sometimes. Again be as harsh as needed lol

Really do appreciate it.

 

[robotrash]

What are your nutrient levels at (nitrate/phosphate)?

What kind of lights are you running and how long?

How/what are you feeding?

Off the bat I will say your CUC could be much bigger. In my 20G I have 2x nassarius snails, 10x blue leg hermits, and 10x Astrea snails and they still aren't keeping it all down currently.

 

[Darkzy]

What are your nutrient levels at (nitrate/phosphate)?

What kind of lights are you running and how long?

How/what are you feeding?

Off the bat I will say your CUC could be much bigger. In my 20G I have 2x nassarius snails, 10x blue leg hermits, and 10x Astrea snails and they still aren't keeping it all down currently.

Will get a reading in the morning, i know nitrates are good pretty close to 0 but haven't checked phos in a while

Lights as mentioned I had a mars aqua 150w (blackbox) but the blue channel died so currently 75 percent white channel only to keep the corals happy.

Feeding Hikari seaweed extreme small amount possibly a pinch twice a day and some brine shrimp once every 2 days.

I did think this regarding CUC, didn't want to over do anything as always hear about over population etc. I knew alot regarding freshwater, i know nothing of marine in comparison hahaha I'll run to LFS tomorrow and grab some snails in.

 

[robotrash]

Check out the packages on reefcleaners.com. Not suggesting you buy them but they have them built out for all different tank sizes and list what comes in them making it much easier to have an idea of what you might want to pick up from your LFS.

Someone else can chime in here but you'll want Nitrates and Phos to be above zero otherwise your coral will suffer, especially being softies. Algae taking off to this extreme is also a side affect (currently dealing with this myself). It'd be worth grabbing the algae control test kit from Red Sea with nitrate and phosphate pro tests which have done well for me (unless you have the money to splurge on Hanna).

 

[Darkzy]

Well new light collected today got a really good deal on a Radion xr30 pro with the reef link for £100 so not too bad. Came with tank stand kit to sell as well lol

Looking a lot better, I'm hoping now with less whites / reds the algae will be a bit easier to control.

Will get myself a RedSea algae control kit asap.

 

[Darkzy]

Got some photo's of livestock today, minus the Six Line.. Seems impossible to get a photo lol

Colours on the Star Polyp is finally starting to come out with the new light, same for the Zoa's. No idea what type they are as of yet. Any clues?

Also in the Zoa photo is it Bryopsis or GHA?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Got some photo's of livestock today, minus the Six Line.. Seems impossible to get a photo lol

Colours on the Star Polyp is finally starting to come out with the new light, same for the Zoa's. No idea what type they are as of yet. Any clues?

Also in the Zoa photo is it Bryopsis or GHA?

Love seeing all the livestock in your tank!

 

[Darkzy]

Love seeing all the livestock in your tank!

Just a shame with all the pest algae haha but will hopefully get there.

Going to order some Flux RX tonight as seems to be a generally accepted good method of fighting both GHA and Bryopsis. We'll see

It's all an adventure right!!

 

[Darkzy]

Also any recommendations on good softie starter corals are welcome

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I recommend GSP or Xenia. Both Grow relatively fast, but aren't too difficult to keep.

 

[Darkzy]

I must admit I didn't post a photo of the xenia as it seems common haha, figured everyones probably seen it already.

Might get a duncan for now lol while i make my mind up.

 

[Darkzy]

Got some combatants for my algae problem we will see how they prove

Also managed to pick up a new Phosphate test kit as the reagent lid wasn't fully closed on my old one just didn't trust it

Picked up a NTlabs Po4 test, anyone have any experience with the brand? If I'm reading it right I'm somewhere between 0.06ppm and 0.08ppm Po4

And the API Nitrate showing between 5 - 10ppm, doing a 20% water change tonight and will probably up to a bi weekly WC whilst having the algae issue.

First up, Tuxedo Urchin when first added,

Then 45 mins later, camouflaged

And a Sailfin Tang! I was stuck on Tang choice and ideally wanted to wait until I had finished stocking. However with my Algae problem as it is and also seeing this little dude at my LFS I couldn't help myself he's still hiding every time he sees me so photos are hard work.

Couple of hours after adding him he's already at work on my back wall.

Also seeded display and sump with more copepods.

 

[Darkzy]

Oh, refugium light fixture ordered. Chaeto ordered as well.

Still looking for a skimmer but in meantime installed a filter sock holder and sock to help with nutrient export. For time being this will be replaced every day, cleaned and socks cycled over. Have 5 so will be replacing 4 times, removing and cleaning at once