Questions on my setup

[erikharrison]

I have a 47 gallon column and I was wondering how many and what types of inverts (no fish please) should I have as a cleanup crew?
My list of fish/inverts as follows (minus hermits/snails)
Mandarin Goby (Dragonet)
Midas Blenny
Lawnmower Blenny
Blue Damsel
Spiny Boxfish (Striped Burrfish)
Yellow Spotted Boxfish (Cowfish)
True Clown
Maroon Clown
Sebae Anenome
Bulb Anenome
oh yeah, and an orange linkia (which at times seems fuzzy and pourous, feeding?)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/8296/newrockssmallru7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I am getting a wet/dry sump setup tomorrow with a venturi style skimmer, and I am going to use my airstone (Berlin) skimmer with it as well to test them out together to see what kind of skimmate I get. My fish eat alot of food, not really leaving anything behind. I usually feed them
1 clam
2 brine
1-2 bloodworms
(cubes not individual pieces, duh)
Yes, theyre fat, eat well and poop firm. I am wanting to move towards a more reef oriented setup, but thats probably for the next aquarium, unless you all have some suggestions on how I can have a decently reef friendly aquarium with the setup that I am using....
I have some xenia, a yellow gorgonian, and some kenya trees that seem to do great, and I have one piece of sps (idk what) but it is always polyp'd out.
Filtration until tomorrow is a filstar xp2
http://www.aquariumguys.com/filstarxp2.html
which is a great product IMO.
I also have a coralife clamp on 150 watt mhde that I use for lighting
1 20k bulb
1 15k bulb
1 10k bulb
Primarilly I use the 10k
Any little gems that you all could offer would greatly help. Just kinda looking for ideas on stuff to research.... My tank was setup way to fast and I overloaded the CRAP out of it. It's getting there though!

[thedude]

First,

You're feeding way too much with no protein skimmer. Organics will begin to pile up and at some point, you'll reach the breaking point.

Second,

Carbon will go a mile in your tank. Tank clarity in the pictures is poor and the water is yellow. Try a filter sock of Hydrocarbon by Two Little Fishies and you'd be amazed at how much more light gets to the corals.

John

[Jeff]

lose the box fish, they will get to big for the tank real soon.

[Mr_Cool]

How are you keeping a maroon clown with a perc? (or is it an ocellaris?) I've never tried it, but everyone says it's not a good idea. My bet is they're young so the maroon is still behaving itself. Looks like they're both hosting, though. Maybe that'll keep them out of each others way?!

How long have you had them? And, let us know if/when the maroon starts to rule the tank. Nice looking set up, though.

[erikharrison]

Dude, I do have a protein skimmer, which I did post... Can't use carbon because I have been treating ICH, and the water is ugly because I had just but in some base stones which I happened to find while out rock crawling at Trees ranch in some riverbeds, which were an AWESOME find. (Rock crawling in trucks, not on foot)
Mr. Cool, the maroon punks out the true, but since they bost have been hosting everything has been alot better. The first night I wanted to punch my maroon because he kept nipping at my true. He has calmed way down, and I am happy with their friendship. If he does try it again, I probably will punch him, or maybe slap, idk what is better to do to a fish. :D

[demodiki]

Is that a Berlin Airlift skimmer? I would recommend upgrading that bad boy quickly. Are you using some type of medicine for the ICH and that's why you can't use carbon? There are very spotty results with medicines such as Rid-ICH. I have a maroon as well and he's grown up to be a beast. I would really watch those box fish with him. That blue damsel may be a mean one as well.

Just some things to look out for...

[erikharrison]

Here's a CLEAR pic from today....
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7539/nemoinsebae1ol0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
This one is BEFORE I knew ANYTHING...
It's scary so close your eyes and just scroll down!
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6171/beforekp5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This one is from today...
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/1521/afterrx6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Yes I have a Berlin, but in the first post I mention my skimmer situation. Hopefully you guys and gals can see that I have mad a large progression in my tank keeping skills, and hopefully have made some educated guesses that are steering me down the path of success! I have had A WHOLE LOT OF LUCK...

[erikharrison]

bumpity

[erikharrison]

bump

[Louie3]

Hey what Kind of air pump are you using on that skimmer ( I have one in my 10g Nano) are you also using a limewood airstone or one of those blue ones from wally world?

[erikharrison]

I have a ten gallon air pump on it, the skimmer was only 30 bux at Alamo Aquatic, and the stone is limewood, its the one that came with it. IDK, alot of people knock my airlift, but most times it fills with nasty skimmate,
in about 2 or 3 days.

[Louie3]

Same here I've had mine for 1 month or so on my 10g and it pulls nasty looking skimmate every night it will even overflow at times. I replaced the limewood airstone with a blue bubble stone from aquacultre and it does even better, IMO. I havent tried any other skimmer for small purposes.

[BIGBIRD123]

Erik.
For the most of us that don't have 29" monitors, try and re-sign your images, please?

Steve

[MattK]

Erik.
For the most of us that don't have 29" monitors, try and re-sign your images, please?

Steve

Yes please do that.

[cbianco]

Erik.
For the most of us that don't have 29" monitors, try and re-sign your images, please?

Steve

&


Yes please do that.

Next thing you two are going to tell us is that your 50" Plasma is not working! :P

Back on track... Eric, I'm glad to see your tank back to normal. I sucks to not know what exactly is going on.

Christopher

[erikharrison]

so, anyway....... i just wanted to scare yall with the big ugly nub pic. Can someone answer my questions?
HOW BIG OF A CLEANUP CREW SHOULD I HAVE? =P Geez Louise, talk about an offtrack thread!
ARE STARFISH FEEDING WHEN THEY ARE POUROUS? (Ventricles maybe?)
Now that I have a wet dry I am going to shove my Filstar (Canister) with carbon!
BTW where can you get activated carbon cheap?
TELL ME PEOPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEe
haha!
Erik

[SoLiD]

Your pictures look fine on my 37" :skeezy

[erikharrison]

haha yeah its a little big on my 20' widesecreen =P

[dfowlks]

Yea Solid your 37" monitor is awesome. My poor 15" laptop screen. :P

[cbianco]

...HOW BIG OF A CLEANUP CREW SHOULD I HAVE?...

Do you have any clean up critters now?

If I had your tank I would start out with,

20 astrea snails
10 nassarius snails
3 trochus snails
20 assorted hermit crabs

I would see how these guys do and work my way from there.


...ARE STARFISH FEEDING WHEN THEY ARE POUROUS?...

Good question. I was under the assumption that starfish only feed using their mouth on their underbelly. I would be curious to know why they are porous as well.


...Now that I have a wet dry I am going to shove my Filstar (Canister) with carbon!...

I personally use regular old WalMart carbon, it works for me. I use it because it is inexpensive.

Christopher