My Underwater Adventure Continues

[sorgan]

i have just bought a Aqua One aqua Reef 200, its 2nd hand and in really good nick (the chap didnt use any of the filters because he kept malawis) and cost me a whopping... £90!

90 quid for a tank, i dont mind paying LFS prices for live rock now but wait... a local reffer is selling LR for £4 a kilo, and its still alive

i pick the tank up tomorrow, will buy sand, water ect on sunday. hopfully get LR the same day. i am super happy with myself.

2 questions tho, if i set the tank up and then put LR in will the cool temp of the tank (as the heaters would of just been put on) damage my rock?
also how thick should i make my sand bed?

 

[seffieuk]

i have just bought a Aqua One aqua Reef 200, its 2nd hand and in really good nick (the chap didnt use any of the filters because he kept malawis) and cost me a whopping... £90!

Sounds like a bargain

90 quid for a tank, i dont mind paying LFS prices for live rock now but wait... a local reffer is selling LR for £4 a kilo, and its still alive



i pick the tank up tomorrow, will buy sand, water ect on sunday. hopfully get LR the same day. i am super happy with myself.

Eh no, sorry to rain on your parade! Buy the salted water, bring up to temp and get some oxygen exchange going on with a powerhead for 24 hours, then buy your rock

2 questions tho, if i set the tank up and then put LR in will the cool temp of the tank (as the heaters would of just been put on) damage my rock?

as above

also how thick should i make my sand bed?

All according, if you intend keeping sand dwelling fish then about 3 inches or so. If not about half to an inch of sand - I prefer less sand so have about half an inch in mine.

and to the salty side - its a great place to be

Seffie x

 

[ben1987]

what she said ^

but and good luck

 

[sorgan]

my tank is now wet, i have a power head pushing the water around (and trying to mix left over salt) and my heater bringing the water to temp.
tommorow LR and sand will be added.

mr lobster will not be joining me, LFS have said they will find him a home.

so exited.

 

[seffieuk]

so exited.

I bet you are, its great setting up a new tank

Seffie x

 

[sorgan]

rocks in, chap had just over 20 kilos, cost me a whole 90 quid

sands in everything is a bit cloudy but its looking great. i seem to have a hitchiker, small beige coral lump on one of my pieces of rock, when the tank clears i will see if i can get a piccy of it (it may of turned into something to look at by then).

mr lobster seemed happy in the LFS, after a bit of head scratching we ID'd him as a common reef lobby, he was only a baby as they grow to 6 inches long.
if all my tests are ok the inverts will be moving next weekend.

 

[seffieuk]

Woo hoo, let the pet rock watching begin

Seffie x

 

[sorgan]

so this is my wierd thing that came with the rock, if you cant make it out it has a small stem like blob in the lighter middle area.

and this is the tank

 

[seffieuk]

I like that alot

Could the stalk and blob be a mushroom waiting to expand?

Seffie x
ps move the rock off the side glass, it will be a devil to clean otherwise

 

[sorgan]

ok i have been reading other peoples threads and they seem to have more life on the rock.
my rock has its purple stuff and grass like algae but should there be more? will more appear?

 

[sorgan]

Woot there is a worm! I have life! Granted I have only seen the one and he was only about 1cm long but it was alive.
I wonder what else is lurking in my tank, I have a theory that there is s little look out worm that tells the others I coming so they can hide.

Why am I so happy about a worm? Must be something in the water

 

[seffieuk]

isn't it funny how we all think that everyone else has got more life in their pet rock than we have patience sorgan and all will be revealed

Seffie x

ps where there is one worm there are many!!

pps can't get the image of a worm, sticking his head out the rocks and saying ' it's ok me old mates, he's gone done!!'

 

[sorgan]

i have found that i have another inhabitant. there is a blue/black crab (not a hermit) with red eyes hiding in a hole, he is alive but very shy so i cant get a picture of him. his claws dont seem to big but he is maybe a inch or so wide.

i have just been to the LFS and got some frozen food to put in so he doesnt die (i put a tiny amount in)

after worrying if he would die i did a test of my water

ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
ph - 8.4
nitrate - 0-5 (couldnt make up my mind)
salinity 1.026

so he has pretty good water to live in, will a non hermit fight with hermit crabs?

 

[sorgan]

ok so i got a piccy, its not to clear but its the best i can do.
anyone got any ideas what he is?

 

[seffieuk]

Well, im sure some people will say omg its got red eyes, get it out, but hang on a minute, are they paddle like claws I can see?

Seffie x

ps any hair? Crab not you