Not a reef but a new set-up

[toulene]

Hi all !

As bad as it sounds I'm new to the SW side, heck the FW too! Ive had the FW a few months but always wanted SW. I have a 75G with 50lbs (LR) and about 50lbs (LS) I think, 3 bags? I went to Alamo Aquatics, very helpful! I don't know which way I want to go, but not the reef for now. I've noticed most of this if reef related but I have other questions. I added half the rock 1 day after set-up, it's doing fine and the next half last week, so back to square 1, no problem. I even have a macro-algae growing on the first half, well on one rock :) . I'm in no hurry to add fish or inverts. Heck I haven't checked the vitals yet but the 4 damsels are alive after 2 wks so it can't be too bad. I've got a Pro Clear aquatics 150 wet-dry, 2 Rio 1700s below, and 2 Maxi-jet 1200s to get things going. Should I do a partial water change or let the system go? I had a small algae outbreak on the sand but it went away, again no problem as I know I'm setting up a new tank. I hope to have 1 less damsel, as it is too agressive and I want no major problems. How long should I wait for adding new fish/inverts and how about light. Oh I have the hood I bought with tank and a 10,000K 4ft bulb too, on timer.

Thanks, John

[NaCl_H2O]

Hey, first post - welome to MAAST! You are lucky, our next meeting (March) will include a presentation of algae, which will be good timing for you ;)

So, was the live rock "cured", or do you know? If cured, it is probably pretty clean (not much die off since you bought it), and it probably came from a nice clean looking tank of rock at the store.

If cured, you tank will cycle a litle quicker and "gentler". But, your tank WILL cycle. Cycling is a normal process of a gradual build up of helpful bacteria in the tank's LR, Sand Bed, and that Wet-Dry filter you bought. Do a Google or MAAST search on "Aquarium Cycling" or "Nitrogen Cycle" and you will find lots of info.

It doesn't sound like you have a Skimmer? If the rock was uncured, that could be a big problem. Read up on skimmers, you may want/need to add one down the road. By the way, it wil eventually be a "reef tank", the tempation is too great once neat little stuff starts growing on the live rock :D

Time to add more livestock depends completely on how quickly your tank cycles. Get your lights going - this will cause more algae, but it needs to run its course to get the nutrient/nitrogen balance going.

Definately do water changes while your tank is cycleing. At least 15% once every two weeks, and up to as much as 25% once a week if you have time/money for that. After it is established, the 15% once every two weeks is a good routine.

Lots more to learn, keep posting your questions - WELCOME!

Don't forget the meeting in March, looking forward to meeting you!

BTW - SW side of what city?

[NaCl_H2O]

John, a question for you!

Where did you hear about MAAST? Did the good folks at Alamo Aquatics point you in our direction?

[toulene]

OK

I luckily got a protein skimmer with the wet/dry :) The rock was semi, I took it to mean I needed to cure it. Smell isn't bad now hehehe! Actually one of my co-workers gave me the site, so that's why I came. You all have a lot of good info, now I need to hunt down that agreesive blue devil damsel! I'm waiting on the paypal thing to go through and then I can send in pics of my bare looking tank :)

[NaCl_H2O]

Sounds like you have a nice little setup :D


I'm waiting on the paypal thing to go through and then I can send in pics of my bare looking tank :)

So you joined as a Charter Member before your first post, way to go dude :D :D :D :D :D :D

FYI - The MAAST site is having a little technical difficulty with posting pics, should be resolved in a day or two ... looking forward to the pics.

BTW - We are all equipment junkies, so post pics of all the under the tank stuff too!

[toulene]

Thanks

I'm off Bandrea and Huenber, by the bank. I'd rather ask the guys/gals who've been doing this than watch everything die. I wanted to be an oceanographer but hey how far are we from the sea? I've loved the ocean since I was a kid, not so young now but are any of us? hehehe? I just want to try and get a stable ecosystem going and then enjoy the life. Once I get the confirmation from Misti, I'll try and make it to Alex's when I know where he's at. I have reserves that weekend but they might let me out.

[alexwolf]

i am at bandera/eckhert area, right by rudder.

[falcondob]

I am only about 5 min from Alex. If you need anything let me know.

[falcondob]

Forgot to add that I don't know much more than you do. Just getting started myself. Alex, NaCL_H2O, ~pete~, Joshua, and the others are very knowledgable. They are also very friendly and helpful.
Alex can get you almost anything you need and Pete is a superb craftsman in wood, acrylic, etc.... If your are into SW or FW this IS the place to be. Don't be afraid to ask questions, these people want to see you succeed! Go ahead, send in dues and come to the meetings. Oh yeah, support the MAAST sponsors. Guys and gals, did I leave anything out?
John

[GaryP]

OK, so who was it that is supposed to bring the "reef virus" to the meeting so we can innoculate all the newbies? We'll get them over this "I just want fish" stage so we can start stealing frags from them. We're actually doing them a favor. We might as well get it over with up front. It'll save them alot of money in the long run. They've just never seen a nice reef tank and haven't gotten "reef fever" yet.

This has been a publice service announcement brought to you by the MAAST Education Committee.

[toulene]

No virii please :) Thanks for the welcome too. I'll try and get some pics of what I have so far, I had to hunt down the charger for my camera. I'm still trying to trap my 1 damsel because he reeeally wants to become a freshwater porcelain fish :) Unfortunately all the rocks make it hard to snag him. Think I'm gonna go get the water checked to day and see if I've made any progress in cycling yet. I'll make sure to get some pics of the wet/dry too so you all can see what a wonderful mess I've hidden under the tank.

[GaryP]

Folks always buy damsels to season their tanks and then regret it for years to come. You'll probably never catch it and they live for years and years.

Sometimes I think the only reason LFS bring them in is to sell them to new tank owners that are looking for a "cheap" fish to season their tanks.

My wife brought home a blue damsel that I will pay a bounty on if someone can get rid of it for me.

[toulene]

Well the nitrites are a little high but thats okay, I can wait a few for them to come down

[MikeDeL]

My wife brought home a blue damsel that I will pay a bounty on if someone can get rid of it for me.

How much is that bounty Gary? If its big enough I will send my fieance over with a net. On time I spent an hour trying to pull a small yo yo loach out of a heavily planted tank. These things move around like darts, and wedge theirselves into anything to avoid the net. After all this she walks up and say "let me try" I hand her the net thinking "yeah right". I swear it took her no more then 30 secounds and she had that thing scooped up in the net. :o . I had to tell her she was luck I wore it out for her. LOL

[GaryP]

Mike,

I'll rent her from you. What do you charge by the second?

[OldSalty]

Cool, Im at eckert and abe lincoln by around the bend bar. Welcome to MAAST ;)

Kelly

[dan]

welcome to MAAST john. i live right off bandera and heubner and i don't recall a bank? my street is timberhill. i'm sure you've been on that street. any body going to igram park mall comes down timberhill :angry if you want you can come over and check out the tank when you have time.

[NaCl_H2O]

OK, so who was it that is supposed to bring the "reef virus" to the meeting so we can innoculate all the newbies?

This has been a publice service announcement brought to you by the MAAST Education Committee.

Not needed, the virus is transmitted from one MAASTard to another on the surface of raffle tickets :o


I'll rent her from you. What do you charge by the second?

I can rent you Karen! Remember that buterfly that was in the corner tank yesterday? It's out now! She spent probably 2-3 hours and had 2/3 of the LR yanked out before the butterfly was captured. Karen was on "A Mission"!

[MikeDeL]

Gary, there is no set rate. But she gets to bring home any frags she might "happen" to knock over into the net. :D

[Ram_Puppy]

Virus? nothing so complicated is needed... someone give Toulene a shroom and a few zoos and he will be a proper member of society in no time. :) it only takes one! :)

[MikeDeL]

It took me about 10 yellow colony polyps 15 or so green star polyps, 2 mushrooms, and 3 button polyps.

[Ram_Puppy]

you are a highly resistant individual!

[MikeDeL]

No not really. That all came in on 5 lbs of rock I got from Jim Norris when he moved. Its all his fault, I should send him the bills. LOL

[Ram_Puppy]

LOL... I can do the same with my buddy Brian... I was thoroughly out of the hobby a couple years ago and he sucked me back in... funny thing is, I am the one who got him started.

[Polkster13]

And now you are working at a Pet Store and sucking in even more unsuspecting innocent victims!

[toulene]

I think the name of its the Jefferson St Bank, I'm behind it and Pep boys is beside it. Took a few pics will wait to post thought.
I've heard not to put aquarium too near a window, to late now :) How about when it only gets the late afternoon sun that the building doesn't block, seem to be no problems so far.

[GaryP]

That's not necessarily true about windows with a reef tank. We call that free "kilowatts"

A lot of FW tanks don't have the filtration to handle the nutrient load and window light can encourage an algae bloom. In most SW tanks we have to be a little more aggressive about nutrient control.

We usually can't get enough light to do everything we want to do.

[alton]

Gary I will send you our secretary, I was trying to catch a chevron once with no avail and our secretary walked up and the chevron just staired at her, so I put the net in and caught it easily like it was memorized?

[toulene]

Everyone must have normal jobs, as I've seen the post times. I'm still sleeping then, lucky me :) Thanks for the support and advice so far, I really do appreciate it. I work 2 to 10 so I get to see my fish run in terror and then feed like crazy, once I catch that D%^n damsel I'll sleep better though. A few more weeks and I hope to add my first real fish. We'll see from there.