Newbie, introduction...

[Jynxgirl]

Joined the group a few weeks ago and pretty much have visited every day since finding it.

I bought a 135 gallon tank a few weeks ago. It was a FOWLR and not really much substrate on the bottom. It looks completely different then when I first saw it and am hoping that it keeps going in the direction its going. I am hoping to get the canopy done this weekend and finish the outside. I wish I had saw the tank being sold by ansonluna. I so would have liked to have gotten that setup as that is kind of where I am going as far as the color and the canopy, hopefully. I will be building and painting this weekend 8) So, will have updated pictures next week hopefully.

This is pretty much what I have so far, some thanks to a member on the list. (Thanks, everything is doing great!)

Pictures are here http://blackmansaints.20megsfree.com/photo.html


135 gallon
Soon to be in a canopy, but now just 'above' the tank for a few more days -
36" 192w power compact, 36" T5 unit two bulb 39w actinic and 39w 10000k, and 2-250 10K metal halides.
2 to 3 inches (90lbs fine sand and 20 lbs crushed coral that I added, plus the 30lbs of crushed coral that was in there) depending on where the clowns have made their paths
50 lbs original rock, 76 lbs just purchased rock - all LR though.
Wet/dry with bio balls that I am researching on changing to a refugium
Protein skimmer - Aquarium systems but unsure of ?? model #
1 power head (not sure of type, but soon to be upgraded)

1 yellow striped maroon clownfish with its sebae anemone
1 tomato clownfish
1 yellow tang
1 sailfin tang
1 fish that I have no clue what he is but was told is a brack water fish that was rescued (silver with yellow on the bottom fin, thin like a tang)
3 of the plain regular blue/purple damsels that are always at the LFS
1 3 striped damsel
1 medium open green brain
1 clam darsea
1 coral banded shrimp

Its only been up and running now for about 2 weeks but so far so good. I am going to hold off a few weeks before adding anything just in case. But when I do I am going to purchase just a few and make sure they are ok and then I plan to purchase quite a few in a bulk purchase of frags. Where would you guys suggest going? Anywhere in Austin/Dallas/Waco? There is nothing pretty much here where I live, Killeen. I would also like to add that this site is set up very well, moderated very well and is an overall AWESOME site. I will be joining but am curious if there are couple discounts? I have a feeling my saltwater addiction will be contagious and my boyfriend will be involved with it soon enough. We also have a 55 gallon freshwater. It did have a prized wolf fish in it up until a week ago :( We still have a freshwater version of a baracuda (not an arawana) and some left over chichlids that the wolf fish didnt eat. :o So, going to keep them both for now, but I am guessing saltwater will win in the end. I don't want only one of us to have a membership. Curious if there is anything like that. Thanks.
Jill

[NaCl_H2O]

Welcome to MAAST Jill! Looks like you have jumped into saltwater with both feet!

One concern on your tank is that even with some established live rock, your tank will still likely go through a nitrogen cycle. Do a google search on "Nitrogen Cycle" if you aren't familiar. I would give the tank a good 30 days before adding anything else, and monitor the cycle. You may need to do some aggresive water changes if you get amonia, Nitrite, or Nitrate spikes.

We don't offer any "couples" discounts. Lot's of our members will share an account until they get so hooked they can't share anymore ;) Web Member or Charter Members, you are both welcome to create an account, attend meetings, and browse through the forums.

Good luck!

[Jynxgirl]

Thanks... Well I will have to be the chater but something to maybe look into for the future. I am involved with dogs and this raises a little extra revenue for our club by doing that.

My nitrates have been high so I have done two water changes so far. I am going to do another one tommorrow even though its not so high. I am hoping to get a refugium set up next week and that helps out a little as well. I did jump in but am trying to read up and get caught up on the learning curve. I had oscars for years and they caught an awful fungus in the fall and I fought it for months. In the end, I lost them. My boyfriend took over that tank and he told me to get my own. I went looking and ran across a few saltwater tanks, and a month later, I bought a tank. My brother has quite a few saltwater tanks so I have a little telephone support :D Is there someplace I can get like a 800 number to a saltwater counselor LOL :lol j/k

Jill

[NaCl_H2O]

High Nitrates are actually a good sign that Ammonia and Nitrite cycles are already working! Crank up the skimmer into a wet skimmate if possible and water changes will help a bit, but probably not a great deal if the cycle is that far along.

If it gets real bad, there are nitrate sponges (used in a similar fashion as carbon) that some folks have success with. The Nitrate will be tolerated fairly well by the fish, but corals will do poorly in high Nitrates. The fuge is definately a good direction to be headed.

Feel free to ask anything here - there are no stupid questions, just stupid mistakes. And we can answer your stupid questions because we all make stupid mistakes :lol

Regarding that 800 number, you already have it: www.maast.org ;)

[Richard]

Very nice start!

The brackish fish is a Mono (Monodactylus argenteus) but they do very well in sw also. I'm probably going to add one to my tank someday. They are also known to sometimes eat aiptasia so he might come in handy for you one of these days.

Here's more info...
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/monos.htm

[GaryP]

Its not uncommon for a tank that has been moved to go through a "mini-cyle" As NaCl_H2O said, it sounds like your are well into it now. Water changes skimming, and carbon will help out a lot. I would also anticipate that you may have an algae bloom somewhere in the near future. Its to be expected, just be prepared for it and ready to respond. Adding some phosphate binder might help head it off.

I moved my tank across country 3 times in a 14 month period. I've been there and know the drill. Good luck and welcome to MAAST.

[Jynxgirl]

Thanks for identifying the fish. I do have an apstasia that I am hoping come in handy.

I am waiting for the algae to come... I know its coming.... I am still holding off on buying more crabs but I think I am going to order some so that by next week they will be here. Is $4 a crab in a fish store the normal price for a hermit? I think this LFS doesn't want anyone to buy anything there.

Jill

[GaryP]

It depends on what hermit you are referring to. I'm sure you don't have a lot of selection when it comes to LFS in Killeen. The hermits that I have found to be the most effective for algae control are the mini blue legs and red legs hermits. They are also good detritivores. I think they are usually aroung $1-$1.25 a piece down here. If you have a big outbreak it takes a lot of them though. 1 per gallon is a good rough estimate for them. If someone wants to get a lot of these kind of guys we usually get them online a lot cheaper then what the LFS are able to sell them for. The only way buying them online is cost effective is to order enough so that you get free shipping and unless you have someone else to go in with you on a group order that may not be practical. Places like CB Pets down here have a volume discount on large numbers of them. Check with your local LFS and see if they will work you a deal.

What did you mean by having an "apstasia" coming in handy? Do you mean "aiptasia," the glass anemone? They rarely come in handy and can be a hard to get rid of pest.

[Jynxgirl]

Sorry, I ment I hope that fish comes in handy with that aiptasia. I am thinking about taking that rock out and letting it dry and hopefully kill it! I only have one at this point, so maybe it would work.

I think I spoke too soon, I seem to have a crop of hair algae on my back glass this evening :lol At this point I think its great because its doing what I have read is pretty normal. I will do a water change tommorrow and hopefully get some stuff ordered. I can see why group buys are so great now. I feel like I have to buy that certain amount not to have to pay for shippping but its pretty easy to make the minimum I can see already.

Is there anyone on the list that is in Killeen or the surrounding area? I guess just hoping.

Jill

[GaryP]

Unfortunately we do not have any sponsors in the Killeen area. Yopu might want to check with Monica on here. She is in college station but does a lot of orders for MAAST and the club in Houston. Your only other optionis to jump into one of the Austin group orders. I'm not sure how easily you can get to Austin to pick up your part of the order.

I would NOT suggest taking the rock out to dry. Its like throwing out the baby with the bath water. You would be left with uncured live rock that would cause more problems then the aiptasia ever would. There are a lot easier ways to deal with aiptasia. There are several threads on here about aiptasia control. Try doing a search. In addition, if you see one aiptasia, there are probably more that you don't see, or some that have yet to grow out to a visible size.

Is the hair algae you are seeing on the glass short and fuzzy or long strands? That can make a difference in what critters will work best in your clean up crew. Snails will work better on glass, hermits better on rock and substrate in my experience.