My Marine Adventure Begins

[ben1987]

i dont like cleaner shrimp either, they steal food out of corals or anenomes that your trying to hand feed. gets annoying after a couple of tries

 

[MissG55]

Thanks for the advice. Will knock those off my list and consider the peppermints. Are the blood red another option? Have read mixed reviews of these.

 

[Morri]

Bloods are fine but hide a lot as far as I know never kept them myself

 

[MissG55]

Will bear all that in mind. I am beginning to like the look of the peppermint shrimp even more now.
My tests are the same again today, just my Nitrate at 25 still. Am planning to do a water change on Thursday assuming the tests stay the same.

I have a 25l container of RO i bought on Sunday. If i put an airstone in Thursday morning and leave it running all day would this be ok to use Thursday night for the water change or do i need to get fresh/ leave for longer? I have been giving it the odd shake up each day!!

 

[john.o]

RO water can be stored for weeks at a time with no problems as long as it’s kept out of direct sun light .
With regards to your water change I would heat the water to the required temp then add your salt to the required S.g and air for 24hrs before use {gas exchange}

 

[MissG55]

RO water can be stored for weeks at a time with no problems as long as it’s kept out of direct sun light .
With regards to your water change I would heat the water to the required temp then add your salt to the required S.g and air for 24hrs before use {gas exchange}

Fantastic. Thank you very much. Will let you know how i get on.

 

[MissG55]

I have been a busy girl over the last couple of days...
My live rock is now secure... DD milliput made me cross but i got there in the end with little clouding. It has now fully cured and nothing is going to move!!

I have done a 10% water change and my Nitrate is now at 10. I am taking a sample to my LFS to double check for me and get some more RO for an additional water change. I am aiming for Nitrate at below 10 right.
The more exciting news now... I have found a little something on one of my live rocks. Can anyone shed some light?
Got very excited... It is only about 5mm across

 

[MissG55]

Have been doing a bit of research. Is it an aptasia anenome? iF so is this bad? There is only one that i can see.

 

[Anguilla82]

yeah its aiptasia i'm afraid.
generally considered a pest as they sting other corals, and can spread quickly.
either take the rock out and blow torch it, or get some aiptasia X.

 

[simonas]

I;ve found a couple in my tank as well, can you use a hot knife from a gas hob to burn it off

 

[Harry1996]

how many liters is this tank? loving it so far

 

[MissG55]

how many liters is this tank? loving it so far

Thanks
The tank is 280 litres

 

[MissG55]

Did another 10% water change and took a sample of my water to 2 different LFS. both gave Nitrate reading of around 8 and said ok to hermit crabs and snails

I bought 6 blue leg hermit crabs and 3 Nassarius snails.
All immediately got to work. The crabs seemed to do a lap of the tank before settling down on rocks at the front of the tank This meant i could sit and watch them!!
Here are the first piccies.. i am sure they are just like everyone elsesbut maybe a little smaller but here goes.
My first inhabitants....

Here are 2 of my lovely snails. The third buried itself.. Maybe a little camera shy

 

[MissG55]

Nearly a week with the start of my CUC. I have already seen one of my little crabs swapping shells so thought i would help him out. Found a bargin on our favourite auction site and bought a whole batch of shells for just £3.

I have lots of brown growth on my rocks and starting to appear on the glass too. Am i right in thinking this is diatoms? If so will the CUC help to sort this out? I have read that it will just be gone one day.. with the help of water changes??
Is there anything i should be doing? My water levels are still stable.

 

[Morri]

Diatoms are part of the normal cycle, As long as you are running a phosphate remover and have enough circulation they will clear in a few days

Before adding the shells make sure to boil for a good 10 minutes