My first tank

[jdwmba88]

So I'm at the 2 month mark of my first saltwater tank. It's 29 gal and I started it with dry rock and live sand (not sure if the sand helped at all). I've got an Aquaclear HOB filter with purigen, filter floss, sponge and bio rings in it. I've also got a Reef Octopus BH1000 skimmer and 2 powerheads at 530 gph each. For livestock I've got a green chromis, 2 ocellaris clowns, Midas Blenny, Yellow watchman Goby, cleaner shrimp, 2 emerald crabs, peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs, and a variety of snails. I have lost a green chromis and a Royal Gramma, but other than that it seems to be going well. I tried adding a green star polyp (circled) and the crabs destroyed it, but I left the base in there and it looks like it's starting to grow back.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Hello hello!

 

[BeejReef]

Nice work! Looking good.

Is your CUC getting enough to eat? Not unheard of, but you don't hear about them straight devouring corals often.. more like nibbling.

 

[jdwmba88]

How would I tell if they're getting enough to eat? I assumed that they just scavenged for food. Do I actually have to feed them?

Nice work! Looking good.

Is your CUC getting enough to eat? Not unheard of, but you don't hear about them straight devouring corals often.. more like nibbling.

 

[BeejReef]

How would I tell if they're getting enough to eat? I assumed that they just scavenged for food. Do I actually have to feed them?

It's hard to say. Hopefully a veteran will chime in. People's opinions on emeralds vary. Some swear by them, some swear they eat all their corals. I have seven in 65 gallons and they do not eat the coral. Even a bad crab, I don't think they typically feast upon corals unless they're hungry.

Are your rocks growing a little algae yet? It's not excessive, IMHO, but you have a legit clean up crew in a younger tank. They do scavenge for food. Whether they find any depends on how liberal or stingy you are with your fish and how mature your rocks are.

beautiful scape btw

 

[eea60123]

It depends on how much you feed and the dirtiness of the tank. They hunt for food and will eat uneaten food, fish waste, and algae’s. If there is not enough of that in the tank then they can starve to death and some may eat the others. This can cause you to have water quality problems because as they break down they produce waste. It’s good to have some but not over do it to the point that they starve and die.

 

[jdwmba88]

My rocks are just now starting to get green on them and a little purple too. I've never noticed the crabs getting aggressive towards other inverts or fish so I assumed they were getting enough to eat. But yeah, a few hours after putting that gsp in there he sat right on it and chowed down.

It's hard to say. Hopefully a veteran will chime in. People's opinions on emeralds vary. Some swear by them, some swear they eat all their corals. I have seven in 65 gallons and they do not eat the coral. Even a bad crab, I don't think they typically feast upon corals unless they're hungry.

Are your rocks growing a little algae yet? It's not excessive, IMHO, but you have a legit clean up crew in a younger tank. They do scavenge for food. Whether they find any depends on how liberal or stingy you are with your fish and how mature your rocks are.

beautiful scape btw