Couple More Questions On A Marine Tank

[nike12301]

1) I posted a couple days ago about my conditions of my live rock, cycle, etc. for my 36 gallon tank. Well everything is settled with those issues, so I went back to the fish store yesterday to get my cleaning crew. I came back with some 6 hermit crabs and 4 snails. That's what the worker recommended to start. I didn't catch the names of the hermit crabs or snails. The snails are about the side of a Hersey Kiss with a purplish/reddish shell. Four of the hermit crabs are in the white cone shaped shells and have little brown legs with blue streaks sticking out. Two of the hermit crabs are small with black shells and black legs but move rather quickly. I hate to ask a stupid question but are these guys really that helpful for the tank? Because right now it just looks like I have a bunch of bugs crawling around my tank and I could go without them to be honest - haha.

2) What would you suggest next? I know I want to get a couple clowns, but other than that I don't really know. I love tangs but I know they're too big for a 36 gallon tank. What fish recommendations would you guys have for 36 gallons?

3) And finally, I like the way I set up my live rock, but I can't help but feel the tank is kind of bland -- tan sand, tan rocks, black background.

I'd love to try corals way down the line once I'm ready for it, but, for now, is there anything that can go in a marine tank that can liven it up a little? I've put in way too much time and money to start dropping in plastic plants or something, but I'd really like to find something that will spice it up a little.

Thanks as always.

 

[woody88]

Liking the scape mate! good job, good job! Give it a few months and that rock should be covered in the lovely pinky/purple coraline algae. Then it will stand out!

As for stocking I can only go by what I have in my tank.

1-green chromis
2-firefish
3-royal gramma
4-blue/yellow tailed damsel
5-clowns
6-black, white spotted damsel
7-yellow goby

The yellow tailed damsel, royal gramma, firefish, goby and chromis when together give a lovely variation of colour in my tank. Especially the Gramma. Beauty of a fish!

There's a nice variety of small compatible fish [colourful] fish you could have in that tank.

I only picked the fish I have because they were the most colourful, contrasting ones i could find that were compatible but there are loads others. Wrasses?

Inverts wise, You can't beat a blood/fire shrimp. Bright, bright red! Thats next on my list!lol

 

[nike12301]

Thanks woody. I seem to have encountered a problem guys.

The snails and crabs I got seem to be staying in one place pretty much - at least the ones I can see. The rest seem to be hiding. One of the snails is sitting on my substrate swirling a small shell around on its belly and has been doing that for 24 hours. I thought maybe he was "stuck" so I tried to turn him over and he just flipped himself right back on his side. Another has been sitting on the substrate in one spot. If I look carefully I can see their legs and mouth moving - they're all just staying in one spot.

Is this a sign that something is wrong with my tank?

The water parameters are fine. The temp is 82 - because it's just a warm day.

I read somewhere else that maybe this means there's nothing enough in my tank to eat. Should I go get a couple damsels or something to start getting some "dirt" in the tank?

I don't want my snails/crabs to die off already.

 

[Stampos]

How long did you acclimatise the CUC?

I've read that sometimes osmotic shock can cause crabs to seem quiet for a few days. Alternatively try adding some food to see if induces a feeding response?

Simon

 

[nike12301]

To acclimate, I dipped the bag from the store in for 20 minutes. Cut the top, poured out half the water. Added water from my tank. Let it sit for about a half hour. Then placed them into the tank. They were pretty active at first but not much since then. Maybe I should have taken it slower with the acclimation?

What kind of food would you suggest? Would regular freshwater flakes work? That's all I have at this point since I haven't purchased any saltwater livestock for this tank.

Should I try to get a couple damsels? Or should I wait for a few days to see if the CUC come to life?

 

[Stampos]

It does seem they went in a little fast, I've always been told anything with a shell needs drip acclimation for as long as possible. That said hermits are tough little fellas!

I would hold off adding any fish for now and let everything settle - nothing good happens quickly in marines!

I should the CUC would be ok foraging on any detritus that may have came on the rock, try not to panic and see if they pick up in the next 24 hours

 

[nike12301]

Great. thanks. I will see how they are tomorrow.

 

[nike12301]

Another thought for when I return to the fish store:
Do I need a powerhead?

Right now I have a Aqueon Power Filter. It seems to churn the water pretty well. I've never had a powerhead before, though, so I wouldn't really know if I need one or not.

 

[fishy55599]

you want no dead spots, so it is recomended one powerhead each side of the tank.

 

[Donya]

The water parameters are fine.

What is "fine"? What all did you test for and what numbers showed up?

Maybe I should have taken it slower with the acclimation?

Drip acclimate in the future, particularly if you haven't tested to see how different the bag water is from the tank water. Even though some animals are hardy and can tolerate fast changes, it's always better to remove stress than add it.

What kind of food would you suggest? Would regular freshwater flakes work?

I wouldn't add any food until they start looking for some, otherwise it risks compounding any water problems if they don't eat what you've added.

 

[nike12301]

The water parameters are fine.

What is "fine"? What all did you test for and what numbers showed up?

Maybe I should have taken it slower with the acclimation?

Drip acclimate in the future, particularly if you haven't tested to see how different the bag water is from the tank water. Even though some animals are hardy and can tolerate fast changes, it's always better to remove stress than add it.

What kind of food would you suggest? Would regular freshwater flakes work?

I wouldn't add any food until they start looking for some, otherwise it risks compounding any water problems if they don't eat what you've added.

Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are all 0. Nitrate might be a tick higher but negiligble. pH is 8.0.

What is drip acclimate? I've never heard of that before.

My smails/crabs were much more active today, so I'm not worried about that anymore. How will I know I'm ready for live stock? Am I ready now?