First saltwater!

Tateopotatoe · Apr 13, 2016

powers2001 said:
Yeast is actually a good ingredient. You will look high and low for a fish food without yeast. It is basically 95% vitamins, especially B vitamins and 5% minerals.

Thanks! I'll keep it for now.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 15, 2016

Does anyone know why I haven't gotten an algae bloom yet? There's a little on the reminents of the food I used, but that's white. I used live sand and dry rock (the sand may have died, I ended up mixing the salt and water in the tank).

Flameback Pair · Apr 15, 2016

Shhhh!!! don't mention the A word. You'll have plenty sooner or later.

Naiad · Apr 15, 2016

What is your lighting cycle currently?

Tateopotatoe · Apr 15, 2016

Naiad said:
What is your lighting cycle currently?

I really don't have any lights on it, I'm using the light currently on my freshwater right next to it. I would think I'd have algae, however, because the tanks are really close, I have a window nearby, and I also have a full spectrum led plant grower.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 15, 2016

When I get the first animals tomorrow I'll move the light.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 15, 2016

I moved the light and did the big water change! Everything's on track for tomorrow. Make sure you check this in the morning, I'll post the parameters and I need your feedback on what animals I can get right now. Thank you guys so much! This has helped a LOT, and I appreciate all if your advise!

Tateopotatoe · Apr 16, 2016

What life am I ready for? Fish? CUC? Coral? Thanks!

Naiad · Apr 16, 2016

I always side on caution and start with just cuc. Watch to make sure ammonia doesn't spike over a week of light feeding the cuc then one or two fish.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 16, 2016

Naiad said:
I always side on caution and start with just cuc. Watch to make sure ammonia doesn't spike over a week of light feeding the cuc then one or two fish.

Sorry I disobeyed you... [emoji26] I got a CUC (two hermits three snails), macro algae, a mushroom, and a bicolor benny. Acclimating now!

Naiad · Apr 16, 2016

Tateopotatoe said:
Sorry I disobeyed you... [emoji26] I got a CUC (two hermits three snails), macro algae, a mushroom, and a bicolor benny. Acclimating now!

Lol my word is far from law. Just be sure to keep checking the ammonia regularly.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 16, 2016

How long should I acclimate for? Please be specific for the different things I got, they all come from different tanks.

Naiad · Apr 16, 2016

I would drip acclimate everything but the macro. How long depends on. The difference between Sg of the waters. Generally 30 min to 1 hr if the water is similar. Let me see if I can scrounge up the link.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 16, 2016

Naiad said:
I would drip acclimate everything but the macro. How long depends on. The difference between Sg of the waters. Generally 30 min to 1 hr if the water is similar. Let me see if I can scrounge up the link.

Thanks for the advise! Everything's in!

Sorry I couldn't get a picture of the blending or hermit crabs (I'm sure you've seen blue legged hermit crabs, though [emoji6] ). The bicolor benny is shy right now, and the hermit crabs are small, so I don't know where they are. Does anyone know what kind of snails and macro algae I have? The people at the fish store were good in helping me pick out the CUC, I just don't know what most of them are. The macro algae I didn't even buy, they stuck it in there because I don't have a lot of algae for them to eat. One less thing for me to buy!![emoji23] [emoji23] Thanks!

Naiad · Apr 17, 2016

The algea is grape caulerpa. The snails looks like a margarita snail. Unfortunately those guys like cooler water so if your tank gets on the warm side they may not fair well.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 17, 2016

Naiad said:
The algea is grape caulerpa. The snails looks like a margarita snail. Unfortunately those guys like cooler water so if your tank gets on the warm side they may not fair well.

Thank you! I'm working on putting in a cooling fan for the summer.

Tateopotatoe · Apr 17, 2016

Does anyone know if the freshwater from top offs can hurt or stress coral, fish, inverts, or anything? I see the salinity difference when I top off, and I'm scared it's going to kill something.

danielsreefs · Apr 17, 2016

Tateopotatoe said:
Does anyone know if the freshwater from top offs can hurt or stress coral, fish, inverts, or anything? I see the salinity difference when I top off, and I'm scared it's going to kill something.

How much salinity differents is there and how much dose the temperature change

Tateopotatoe · Apr 18, 2016

danielsreefs said:
How much salinity differents is there and how much dose the temperature change

Well I'm topping it off with pure freshwater, so 100%. I'm topping it off at room temperature, so the temperature difference isn't too bad.

Naiad · Apr 18, 2016

Tateopotatoe said:
Well I'm topping it off with pure freshwater, so 100%. I'm topping it off at room temperature, so the temperature difference isn't too bad.

I have never had a problem. Try to top off every day or other day so the total change in SG is not more then .01 or so. If you have a refugium of any type slowly add water in there so you don't stress your more delicate critters. If something happens and your SG gets way high it is often best to bring it up over a period of time by adding lower SG saltwater and doing wc.