newbie to Reefing

[xexe12]

Started My Reef Oct 2011. It was my birthday gift.
I have a 29G Biocube. I took out the biocubes and put live rock. I read somewhere that they were nitrate factories.
Components:

about 25 lbs. live rock
oceanic protein skimmer
about 30 lbs. live sand
Coralia circulator.
Ordered Ecoxotic actinic stunner lights (not yet in)

Livestock:
1 clown fish
1 yellowtail damsel
4 snails
anemone (which the clown adores)
corals (1 toadstool, 1 colt coral, 1 carnation, 1 flowerpot, 1 brain, 3 floridia)

I'm thinking of adding 1 Randall's pistol shrimp and 1 Blackray shrimp goby in a month or so.
also thinking of maybe upgrading my skimmer. The oceanic seems too small for the tank......I think.....I may be wrong

I welcome any advice you give a newbie like me. Its very much appreciated!!!!!

 

[redsea]

Welcome! What kind of anemone do you have?

On another note, do you have any pictures of your tank?

 

[xexe12]

I have a bulb anemone. I'll post some pics.

 

[xexe12]

Here are the only pics I have to far.

 

[xexe12]

And by the way, I forgot to ask, Is my circulator enough or do I need to get a powerhead? Thanks!

 

[BallinCrew10]

Has your tank even cycled yet ? If not all of your livestock is in serious trouble. Also, nems usually need a tank that's been running a year and with strong lighting.

 

[xexe12]

The tank is actually cycled. I didn't know the anemone has to be in a tank already running 1 yr.... Yikes. Hope it fares well. Don't want I break my clown's heart . Not much I an do now but watch his tank closely......

 

[Nomadu571]

Tank looks great! I think everything looks healthy. Doing a good job. From what I've read about on here, not being sw myself, people say you dont necessarily need a skimmer, so I'm sure yours is ok unless you want to upgrade it which wouldn't do any harm at all. People will correct me of I'm wrong. Think it looks great tho,

 

[carey]

Very pretty tank!

I have a 29g cube and don't run a skimmer but I do weekly water changes which is good enough. If you have one powerhead already I dont see that you need another one. If you have any "dead" spots where the water isnt moving then you can easily adjust the one that you have.

 

[xexe12]

Thanks a lot guys for your help and support. I do partial water change weekly and I'm trying chemi- pure and purigen for extra filtration. Just gotta watch the tank more closely for now. Praying all will keep on going

 

[xexe12]

Just an update. Got a barnacle blenny complete with his very own barnacle. Having algae problem for now. No ammonia, nitrates or nitrites. My my ph and alkalinity a little but high and added actinic stunner lights. Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[davePM]

Just an update. Got a barnacle blenny complete with his very own barnacle. Having algae problem for now. No ammonia, nitrates or nitrites. My my ph and alkalinity a little but high and added actinic stunner lights. Any advice greatly appreciated.

0 nitrates? Sure? How did you cycle the tank?

 

[xexe12]

I brought the water to my LFS for testing yesterday and that's what they said. Tank has been set up for a 2 months now. Some of my live rock and sand came from my friends old 14 G reef tank.

 

[davePM]

I brought the water to my LFS for testing yesterday and that's what they said. Tank has been set up for a 2 months now. Some of my live rock and sand came from my friends old 14 G reef tank.

You really should get your own testing kit. It's important to know what's happening. It's just unusual to have 0 nitrates.

 

[carey]

Blenny is adorable, I have one as well! I also bought the barnacles like you did and he really seems to like it.

 

[xexe12]

Thanks Dave I really should. I just have ph and alkalinity test kit for now. For now I just bring my water to my LFS for testing until i get one. @ Carey thanks. They are really cute fishes as well as entertaining.

 

[SwimsWithFish]

Nice! Why is that huge orange coral?!

 

[xexe12]

Thanks! The only big one I have that looks like a small plate is the toadstool.

 

[ChizerBunoi]

Awesome birthday gift. Looks very nice.

 

[redsea]

The tank looks great! Nice Blenny too!