New Tank, New To Saltwater

[sukie]

maidenfan - trust me, when you dive into saltwater, there's no rush bout it. Tons of patience. I'm aware.

But the rush is the cycling - if you could find a more efficient way to do something to help other folks out then you too would take that leap. Given if I didn't have a good club to back me up then I would be doing the same process as everyone else.

There always something new to discover with my nano tank. When I first get home from work, that's the first thing I go look at. I see more algea on the dead rocks and I see my brown polyps growing higher. I see all the hermits munching aways. It's just a sense of joy that this is a tiny living world. (sorry to get all sappy)

But I'll be updating w/ pics at the end of the week

Thanks for all the support and feedback. I really do appreciated everyone's imput

 

[sukie]

Two weeks now. . . it's time to post some pics.

I took SH's advice and arranged the rocks to the center so they're not touching the glass (thanks SH btw). There's a bit a brown algea - if you can't tell, but I'm told that will go away and to let it take it's process. I've moved the rocks around just so I can clean the glass better. I like it the way it is now. Whatta ya think??

I got a small stars frag last night -

Here are some other frags that are doing well that I got from a local club member:
Xenia

Zoos - stinkin' hermit crab got in the shot:

I was rearranging the rocks last night w/ the hubby and the Kenya tree has attached itself to the rock so I didn't want to be mean and rip the sucker off - so I just left it there

And don't forget the original posse - my brown polyps! I think they're getting bigger for sure!! Longer at least

So that's Week 2. . . . . since I've got a clown in there (traded the chromis in) I've been doing 10% water changes every 3-4 days. I'm going to do a water test on it tomorrow night and update the numbers.

Any sugggestions what else I should put in there?? I was looking at a bristle star and a red cleaner shrimp.

 

[mj32]

It's looking realy nice 8)

Hope I can get somewhere like it in the coming months.

 

[sukie]

Well after reading SH's nano thread (took me 3days on and off) - I was inspired to take Week#3 of my tank.

So far the diatoms are dying down and I've got patches of hair algea here and there - but I've got some turbo snails to take care of that. I did get emerald crabs before the turbo snails and well when I saw one of the crabs take a huge chunk out of a polyp - it had to GO!!

The snails are huge and I know they're going to get bigger - hopefully I'll have a 55gal tank setup by then

I did a water test last night and everything is at the correct levels except I couldn't get a good reading on the nitrites. . . I tried again at lunch time (when I took these pics) so I'll see what the results are when I get home.

Here's the some tank pics:

Starz (I call these stars. . . but I know they're not. . (right?))

Xenia - loves the new spot on the rock (can you see the hair algea?? argh!)

Zoos & Purple Mushroom (below the zoos) - I can never get a good pic of these guys since they're at the top of the tank. . .I'll have to learn how to use a camera

The Kenya tree got mad at me for a couple days since I moved everything around. . but it's happy now

New additions - thanks to my bro-in-law, he recommended a friend that OWNS a lfs. . . dedicated to SW so I went to ck it out and spent a good chunk of $$$

Clammy!

(CRAP! I had the shrooms pic but didn't get them to upload - I'll update later tonight but they look so good!)

Edit: here's the mushroom lr:

I also got a couple frags as a trade w/ another local club member. But again forgot to take a pick of the zoos he gave me. . . (I'm on one today )

But here's a pic of a Pulsing sinularia frag:

and the more zoos!

And I did find a lonely zoo - so I stuck it in a rock:

And then the brownies!!!

Now reading over SH's thread I couldn't help but compare it to my experience (I guess that's why we have forum eh, for experience and know-how). The difference with my start-up was I was able to add corals sooner. But really it took only a week or 2 off w/ the whole cycling process - nothing to make a big "Wo0T" over.

I haven't experienced cyano growth like SH - (knocks on wood) but I'm only in it for a month so far.

As for fishies - Mr. Clown is doing swell but I need to make a good diet up for him. I'm thinkin of maybe adding a goby. . or some kind of shrimp in the next couple weeks - but super unsure of what. And I need to make sure of it - because fishing them out is a pain!

I'm not going to add any more corals - unless I get them as a trade for now. Sit back and watch them grow.

 

[Chac]

What lighting are you using

 

[sukie]

Well it's been almost a month since I last updated so here's more pics:

Here's the tank:

I only took a couple shots of the corals in the tank. . . as I was too lazy to get others:

Shroom Tree - as you can tell I need to frag it:

Mr. Clam - (Chac I posted somewhere my lights. . .but I'm too lazy to look at what they are, sorry I didn't respond) But he seems to be a happy lil' guy too:

My xenia is taking out the rock I set it on. . .

Here's some new ones that I added to the tank:

Hammer:

Candy Cane:

And I'm not sure what this guy is. . flower pot or something - if someone can id it for me that would be great!!!

And lastly - the ones that were in the tank the first day!! Brown Polyps!!

 

[bunjiweb]

I would also be interested to know what lighting you have if you could make the effort?

It is very rare to see a clam to well under any lighting other that Metal Halides or a large bank of T5s.

Yours being so open isn't necessarily a sign of it being healthy, it is fully opened out to allow the zooxanthellae to get as much light as possible. Keep a very close eye on it!

Ben

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Looks very nice

 

[CAC]

I really want to have a go at a Nano, but it seems like alot of hassel and money

It looks lovely though Sukie, you should be proud.


Mikey

 

[sukie]

I've asked the hubby. . . as he's the tech geek.

We've got power compacts. (1) 20k and (1) 10k actinic.

Thanks for the warning Ben! I've got my eye on it everyday!!

Thanks for the kind word Sf05 & Catfish.

As for being expensive - doesn't any hobby cost monies?? If you're not spending it on a hobby, you're spending in on something else.

 

[bunjiweb]

I was just passing on what I've seen / heard. I've never kept a maxima clam myself, although I would absolutely love to! Do you know what wattage your bulbs are? I am guessing at least 18W each considering tank size..

Its a great looking tank though! But maybe some more mushrooms?

Ben

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, tank looks great . I agree with Ben, clams are tough to keep on anything less than MH lighting. I have heard some successes in shallower nanos with PC or lots of T5 lighing so you might be ok. just keep an eye on it like ben said

 

[Chac]

sukie I really dont think your lighting is suitable to keep a Clam healthy for any length of time or that your tank is near mature enough

You will need to test & stabilise you Kh, Mag, Calcium & pH, temp. salinity - Swings in reading are disaterous for clams & being a nano & young your tank will be get these I have no doubt

Are you feeding the clam (Bowl method??)

IMO the earliest anyone should be adding a Clam is 1 year not months

PS. Keeping an eye on the clam wont help either as when you start noticing any problems it may be to late

 

[mj32]

well I hope it all works out - that tank is looking amazing! great mix of corals.

I only wish my algae ridden disaster would look like eventualy

 

[sukie]

I am feeding phyto every other day and I'm target feeding the corals that need it.