3 Questions in 1

[Baby Ray]

Ok, Well I have a few questions that have nothing in common but I didn't want to make 3 threads so here we go-

Question #1-
My friend is setting up a new tank and he doesn't need his Reef octopus because it doesn't have a sump. He gave it to me but I have a 29 gallon reef and it is rated for a 125. Can I still use it? How should I clean it? (Ill post pictures)

Question #2-
That same friend of mine wanted to know if he could reuse the rock from his old tank. He told me that he has bleached it already and rinsed it. What else should he do to be able to clean it to be ready for his new tank? (His new tank is SUPER nice!!!!!!!! He got top quality EVERYTHING)

Question #3-
I just got a culture of phytoplankton and I was wondering how exactly to you take care of it. Right now I have an air pump in the tank and my desk lamp on it. I was planning on adding it straight to my tank to get my pod population up. I have heard that people use Micro Algae Grower so it will grow back. Is that necessary or will it grow back on its own? What are your hints to keeping it alive? Can it survive a normal tank salinity because most everything I've heard says that it needs a salinity of .020?

Sorry for all the question at once
Thank you so much for all of your help

 

[Humblefish]

Question #1-
My friend is setting up a new tank and he doesn't need his Reef octopus because it doesn't have a sump. He gave it to me but I have a 29 gallon reef and it is rated for a 125. Can I still use it? How should I clean it? (Ill post pictures)

You can. If you have a problem with overskimming down the road, put it on a timer to only run 8 hrs (or so) per day.

Question #2-
That same friend of mine wanted to know if he could reuse the rock from his old tank. He told me that he has bleached it already and rinsed it. What else should he do to be able to clean it to be ready for his new tank? (His new tank is SUPER nice!!!!!!!! He got top quality EVERYTHING)

Well, if he had high phosphates in his old tank he might want to give the rock a muriatic acid bath to remove any phosphates that the rock may have absorbed.

Question #3-
I just got a culture of phytoplankton and I was wondering how exactly to you take care of it. Right now I have an air pump in the tank and my desk lamp on it. I was planning on adding it straight to my tank to get my pod population up. I have heard that people use Micro Algae Grower so it will grow back. Is that necessary or will it grow back on its own? What are your hints to keeping it alive? Can it survive a normal tank salinity because most everything I've heard says that it needs a salinity of .020?

I keep my phytoplankton in a sealed container in the fridge.

 

[Baby Ray]

I keep my phytoplankton in a sealed container in the fridge.

I meant I want to culture it so when I add some to my tank it will grow back so I don't have to pay for it over and over.

 

[moulton1853]

I have been doing lots of research on phyto as I am going to try to culture it. Melev has info on this also. Salinity should be 1.019.
Run lights on it for 16 hrs a day. You need to add some growth food to every new bottle you start.

 

[Baby Ray]

Here is the skimmer

 

[Baby Ray]

Here is my phyto culture. I am going to keep an eye on it because I feel like it has gotten darker

 

[Baby Ray]

Here is my phyto culture. I am going to keep an eye on it because I feel like it has gotten darker

I have had it for only 2 days now

 

[redfishbluefish]

With dry rock, it first needs to be cured. Search curing reef rock and you'll find out how to do it. Basically putting it in saltwater with a little flow (powerhead), a heater and letting it sit for a month or two to allow the death that was within to leach out. Monitor N and P and do water changes on occasion.

Phyto cultures need fertilizer (Guillard's F/2)....check out Melev's site for info or do a search....plenty of info out there to tell you how to do it.

 

[briancarterkc]

Here is the skimmer

It's actually in pretty good shape. If you soak it in a 1:1 vinegar:water bath overnight it would loosen up those worm tubes. I'd pitch the foam and get new stuff.

 

[Baby Ray]

Thanks you for our replies
I will probably add the other skimmer because my Eshopps has been acting up

Where do you guys get your Micro Algae Grower in a place other than online?