New to the Salty Life

[Mastiffsrule]

 

[revhtree]

Welcome!

 

[AtlasReef]

De

Hello and welcome!!! We are glad to have you part of our reefing family.

You are off to a good start, asking questions right away. Remember, dont rush. Only thing that can and will happen quickly is devastation. Take your time adding livestock, and that includes corals and anemones. personally I wait at least 6 months if not longer to add corals and anemones

Now if you would like to add a clean up crew (snails, crabs, shrimp) that will be good after about a month once some algea starts growing and they have something to eat.

Also, as funs as it might be, especially for the kiddos, unless you are familiar with the water chemistry at the beach and what you are collecting, leave the critters at the beach and out of your tank. There is no telling what parasites or whatever else they could introduce into your system.

Please continue to ask more questions and post some photos.

Definitely! Was never mama’s plan & there have been tears shed.... but in fact, without those stowaways we wouldn’t have started this adventure & for that I’m forever grateful!

We had some snails, brittlestars, & one anemone hitchhike in on our most recent live rock.

We had a diatom bloom & a few days after that, an algae bloom- which the hermit crab seems to be enjoying. Pic is one of the youngest getting an education at our LFS.

 

[AtlasReef]

Welcome! Seems like a good plan to start. I would recommend (as you have said) just go slow and research as much as you can on the needs of an inhabitant before purchasing it. You can always ask here- plenty of folks that will help!

Thank you. I definitely will!

 

[tupes]

De


Definitely! Was never mama’s plan & there have been tears shed.... but in fact, without those stowaways we wouldn’t have started this adventure & for that I’m forever grateful!

We had some snails, brittlestars, & one anemone hitchhike in on our most recent live rock.

We had a diatom bloom & a few days after that, an algae bloom- which the hermit crab seems to be enjoying. Pic is one of the youngest getting an education at our LFS.

Awesome to see little ones involved. especially holding something that looks like it might eat you. Lol.

 

[rodney]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[AtlasReef]

This last photo is an unknown to me. I am assuming it is bacterial in nature and part of the cycling. Any ideas?

 

[Deep dive coral]

Was this dry rock or live rock you received from someone?
Also you are going to need more flow in the tank with more surface break to help with gas exchange.

 

[AtlasReef]

Was this dry rock or live rock you received from someone?
Also you are going to need more flow in the tank with more surface break to help with gas exchange.

It was wet live rock from our LFS.
A second filter instead of an upgrade or like a wave maker?

 

[Deep dive coral]

Second filter would be ideal. One on either side.

Most likely what I think you are showing g us or questioning in pics are some sort of sponge.

Are you seeding the tank with anything during the cycle? Or any water changes?

 

[AtlasReef]

Second filter would be ideal. One on either side.

Most likely what I think you are showing g us or questioning in pics are some sort of sponge.

Are you seeding the tank with anything during the cycle? Or any water changes?

Yes seeded with some ‘stuffs’ from our LFS tank. Forced water change due to the food ‘accident’ but I will start regular 7-10 gallon changes once the tank is more stable in a few weeks.
I can totally do a second filter with better room for filtration media.

 

[Deep dive coral]

I love and live by 2 products. Brightwell aquatics Microbacter7 and aquavitro Seed. Especially for new tanks. With the Aquavitro Seed you can have fish and coral in the tank the same day as setup. And then follow the regiment. I also dose it with WCs and anytime If i get a nitrite or nitrate spike.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[AtlasReef]

This is Atlas!

 

[AtlasReef]

Second filter would be ideal. One on either side.

Most likely what I think you are showing g us or questioning in pics are some sort of sponge.

Are you seeding the tank with anything during the cycle? Or any water changes?

We added the second filter (oversized) and WOW!

 

[Deep dive coral]

We added the second filter (oversized) and WOW!

Major difference already!!!

 

[AtlasReef]

My ammonia is **FINALLY** down to zero, nitrites have spiked and now the nitrates are showing high (hoping this means nitrites will start falling now), the diatom BOOM (not bloom) seems to be leveling off and I’m getting hair algae now. So I’m right on track in the tank cycling? I hope. The second filter set me back a bit I think as it is cycling too. Any other advice besides just keep topping off and water change this coming week?

 

[Deep dive coral]

You are in the right spot of the cycle. The filter doesn't need to cycle. Since ethe pads get replaced it does t really matter. If anything I think it may have helped. More surface area for bacteria to grow.

 

[BeejReef]

Pulling for Atlas. He's certainly not going to starve to death with your diatom BOOM.. lol.
They're normal and can't really be avoided. When you get tired of looking at them in a week or two, you can throw in a snail or three

 

[AtlasReef]

Pulling for Atlas. He's certainly not going to starve to death with your diatom BOOM.. lol.
They're normal and can't really be avoided. When you get tired of looking at them in a week or two, you can throw in a snail or three

He was guarding this hole for the longest- must be something good in there but he’s king of the mountain this morning.