miniflea84
Aquarium Advice Regular
The new tank (biocube 29) has been up and running for about a week and a half now. The live rock must have been fully cured because even after a week of testing every day, ammonia and nitrite were still undetectable. Nitrate has stayed constant at 20ppm, but I did originally use tap water (which I later tested) and that is where most of the nitrate is coming from. This past Friday I added a yellow watchman goby, five hermit crabs and a zooanthid frag. Over the weekend added another ten hermits, another zoo and a pulsing xenia. So far everyone seems to be doing very well.
A few questions:
I'm for sure going to add a pair of ocellaris clowns. Should I wait? How long?
I would also like to add a cherub angelfish (centropyge argi). I originally had my heart set on a flame angel, but I know that is pushing things. Now, I'm sure someone is going to tell me the cherub is too, but they only grow to be three inches, so wouldn't I have enough space? Assuming for the moment this is an acceptable fish to add, how long should I wait? A few months, for my tank to become established? My lfs has told me they MAY be getting one in this week. I've never actually seen this fish in a store, so I'm not holding my breath. I COULD order one from liveaquaria, but shipping would double the cost plus I'd just feel more comfortable buying it in person. What if I bought one of those bottles of live copepods? Would that allow me to introduce the fish sooner?
Do I have enough hermits? (15 total, albeit the tiny blue ones) Do I have too many? Should I add some snails? What about a couple of the slightly larger red hermits?
What about a starfish? I'd love to have one but I don't know much about them. Are linkia species suitable for small systems? My lfs mentioned something about a "sand sifting" star. Good to get?
I know I don't want to use tap water, but I'm not sure I'm ready to buy an ro/di unit just yet. Would I be ok with grocery store distilled water?
I'm at the diatom bloom stage, and i know its normal, but is there anything I can do about my sand turning brown?
Anyway, if you're still reading, thanks, and I know I've got a lot of questions. This is my first saltwater tank, and I'm super super exited about it. I don't have much in there yet, but even just watching my zoos (which are very, very, very pretty under the moonlights especially), crabs, and the goby is really really fantastic. I've been reading a ton, but always seem to have more questions. Anyway, thanks a ton for any advice you can give me.
A few pics, cause everyone likes pictures:
A few questions:
I'm for sure going to add a pair of ocellaris clowns. Should I wait? How long?
I would also like to add a cherub angelfish (centropyge argi). I originally had my heart set on a flame angel, but I know that is pushing things. Now, I'm sure someone is going to tell me the cherub is too, but they only grow to be three inches, so wouldn't I have enough space? Assuming for the moment this is an acceptable fish to add, how long should I wait? A few months, for my tank to become established? My lfs has told me they MAY be getting one in this week. I've never actually seen this fish in a store, so I'm not holding my breath. I COULD order one from liveaquaria, but shipping would double the cost plus I'd just feel more comfortable buying it in person. What if I bought one of those bottles of live copepods? Would that allow me to introduce the fish sooner?
Do I have enough hermits? (15 total, albeit the tiny blue ones) Do I have too many? Should I add some snails? What about a couple of the slightly larger red hermits?
What about a starfish? I'd love to have one but I don't know much about them. Are linkia species suitable for small systems? My lfs mentioned something about a "sand sifting" star. Good to get?
I know I don't want to use tap water, but I'm not sure I'm ready to buy an ro/di unit just yet. Would I be ok with grocery store distilled water?
I'm at the diatom bloom stage, and i know its normal, but is there anything I can do about my sand turning brown?
Anyway, if you're still reading, thanks, and I know I've got a lot of questions. This is my first saltwater tank, and I'm super super exited about it. I don't have much in there yet, but even just watching my zoos (which are very, very, very pretty under the moonlights especially), crabs, and the goby is really really fantastic. I've been reading a ton, but always seem to have more questions. Anyway, thanks a ton for any advice you can give me.
A few pics, cause everyone likes pictures: